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Knights track coach inspires dedication

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By SCOTT PURKS

Tribune correspondent

Published: September 23, 2009

TAMPA - When it comes to running, or life for that matter, Robinson High cross country coach Mark Altimari is old school in the deepest sense of the phrase.

His mindset reaches back to the late 1970s, when he ran for Leto coach Bobby Ennis, up to 800 miles during the summer and 60 miles a week during the season: Hard, fast miles that pushed him to a personal-best, three-mile time of 15 minutes, 5 seconds.

And get this: He wasn't the fastest on his team.

"Which was a good thing," Altimari said. "You always had more to shoot for and that, really, is a big key to everything."

Now when he's not on the beat as a 46-year-old police officer, he is giving back what he has learned and loved about running.

And this, as his Robinson runners will tell you, is a great thing.

Altimari "teaches you life lessons," said Robinson's No. 1 runner, senior Bryan Garcia. "He shows you the value of running, of how if you work hard you will get rewarded."

Part of the proof is in the times, which featured three guys - Garcia, Michael Shuey and Josh Epperson - running a 5K in the low 16-minute range. Add them to four more boys running around 17 minutes and under - Justin Ramirez, Riley Parks, Ricky Mills and Daniel Carpenter - and you have one of the best teams in the state.

It's not inconceivable that Robinson could place fifth or better at this year's state meet.

"The best part is that we've worked hard for it for years," Garcia said. "We're a team and we're all trying to get better for the team."

Altimari said it has been a steady progression in his six years at Robinson: From getting enough boys out to field a full team, to getting them decent shoes, to showing them the value of the grueling work, to the threshold of a significant breakthrough.

Making it to the Class 2A state meet last season was one of the bigger steps. And though the Knights placed 19th, it was a finish that only made them work harder.

"We knew we could get more out of ourselves," Garcia said. "We knew we could get better. So now we're ready to go out and get it done."

Which is what Altimari wants to hear from his runners for as long as he coaches, which he hopes is for a long, long time at Robinson.

"I'll be at Robinson for as long as they'll have me," Altimari said. "I love Robinson."

His son Matthew graduated from Robinson and his son Timothy is a junior at Robinson, running for the Knights.

"We're laying a foundation at Robinson. Now we just have to keep trying to get better."

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