New coach excited to take reins of tradition-rich Hampton cross country program

By: John Grupp
Saturday, July 19, 2025 | 11:01 AM

New Hampton boys cross country coach Kim Masarik knows all about running fast and clearing obstacles.

Masarik, the most decorated female hurdler in North Allegheny history and a two-time NCAA Division I championship qualifier, was hired last month to replace longtime coach Dean Longwell, who stepped down following the 2024 season.

Masarik takes over a cross country program fresh off its golden age, with three WPIAL Class 2A titles, a state championship and four PIAA berths in the past four seasons.

“I’m very excited,” said Masarik, who competed at NA and Penn State from 2000-07 when her name was Kim Markel. “There was a nervous excitement, and obviously, I have big shoes to fill. With the recent success that the team has had, I’m very excited to try to keep that tradition going.”

Masarik has worked as a Hampton track and field assistant for the past seven seasons — a position she will continue — and joined Longwell’s staff last fall as a volunteer assistant. While pondering retirement after 15 seasons, Longwell shared time running practices with Masarik in hopes of grooming her for the vacancy. She had never before coached cross country — nor did she ever compete in the sport in high school or college — but the 40-year-old preschool teacher and mother of two had proved her worth with the Talbots’ track program.

“In the fall of 2023, I started thinking about (stepping down),” said Longwell, 56, who remains a social studies teacher in the district. “Kim and I split time at practices this past fall. It worked out fine. … I’d like to think the program is going to remain solid. Kim is great. She really goes all-out, and I think she’s going to do well.”

Masarik called becoming a head coach for the first time “the next natural step.”

“What I love about cross country is the camaraderie that the whole team has,” said Masarik, a member of the North Allegheny Athletic Hall of Fame. “The track team is bigger, and sometimes the events are separated in practice. I love the team aspect that cross country brings.

“It’s definitely seeing a variety of different workouts that you use in cross country versus track. … I can come up with track workouts off the top of my head because I’ve been doing it for 20-plus years. It was exciting to learn all of the different (cross country) workouts that we have in our repertoire.”

The boys will likely face a rebuilding season this fall. All of the top runners from the 2021-23 WPIAL three-peat teams are long gone, and while the Talbots placed third in the district and reached the PIAA finals last season, they are young. Three of the top four runners from 2024 were seniors.

But Masarik said a couple of track runners are coming out for the cross country team, and the boys started voluntary workouts in mid-June, which includes running three days a week and lifting once a week. Official practice for the 2025 season begins Aug. 11.

“I’m really excited to see the growth that some of our younger kids have,” she said. “They are so motivated. They are so determined. They are hard-working. I think all of that is going to lead to a successful season for everyone.”

Longwell had a lot of success. All told, he coached at Hampton for the better part of three decades, including a stint as the head wrestling coach in the 1990s. His 2023 cross country team won a third consecutive WPIAL title and the first PIAA championship in program history.

“It definitely wasn’t easy (to step down),” he said. “I miss working with the kids. But it was time. I was a little tired.”

Masarik is energized to continue the program’s success. Her coaching philosophy is to make the experience enjoyable while still stressing dedication.

“Hard work doesn’t mean it can’t be fun, right?” she said. “They are not mutually exclusive. If you work hard and grind it out and give your best on the course that day, how can you not be proud of yourself?

“(But) if you are not having fun, you’re not going to love it. You’re not going to put forth as much effort. You are not going to want to show up to practice. My goal is to create an environment where the kids enjoy it and have fun, but they are also working. And that’s ingrained in them. They are such hard workers. I just try to keep the mood light. You can have a smile on your face, and then go run a (personal record) on the course. That’s OK.”

Tags: Hampton