'Outstanding' Track Coach Wins Award

Lori Poe, who coaches cross country, indoor track and spring track and field at Chartiers Valley High School, received the Outstanding Coach Award this month from Chatham University.

Poe was awarded the honor on Feb. 10 at the university’s 17th annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day celebration. Chatham officials said the award is for a coach “who positively affects their school and their athletes’ experiences.”

Poe said the award came as a shock, and that she was ”very surprised and honored” by the honor. She didn't know exactly what she was nominated for until the night of the banquet.

"I do what I love and to be recognized for it was nice," Poe said.

Besides coaching, Poe works as a nutritionist for the high school’s runners and created a program to inform athletes what types of food they should eat before competing. She works at Fritz Physical Therapy close to the high school.

“Her passion and experience in the sport is shared with the athletes, creating quite a few Chartiers Valley alumni who continue to compete at the college level,” Chatham officials said in a press release. “She has even created an annual alumni run.”

According to Chatham officials, the university awards female high school or college athletes who make a positive contribution in the classroom or on the field.

Poe was selected for her work to help build the track and cross-country teams, while she has also served as the president of the Pittsburgh Dietetic Association and as a personal nutritionist.

Poe competed as a runner at Ohio State University before coming to Chartiers Valley High School in 2000.

Like our Facebook page or sign up for the Daily E-mail Newsletter