MENLO SCHOOL Since 1915
About the Team
The trailblazing cross-country team continues to raise the bar. Not only have the Knights set school and league records in recent years, they have had more athletes participating than ever.
In 2018, the girls’ team brought home the first section championship and the first one in program history since the boys won in 1997 and 1998. The girls advanced to the state meet and finished 11th among 25 Div. IV teams. The girls defended their title at the league championships with all seven placing in the top 16. The boys took sixth and sent two to CCS. The 2016 girls became the first cross country team in school history to advance to the state meet then took top-20 finishes. Both the boys’ and girls’ teams qualified for the CCS Championships in 2017 and 2014. The boys’ team won back-to-back West Bay Athletic League titles in 2009 and 2010—its best finish since winning five consecutive from 1996-2000.
The goal of the program is to encourage all student-athletes to discover the pleasure and benefits of running and is geared to the needs of each individual.
The Coach
Jorge Chen (10th season)
Jorge Chen, is entering his 10th season as cross country program director and has been coaching at Menlo for 22 years.
Chen has led the charge in taking the Knights to the state level, and generating high participation numbers in the sport. Menlo’s longtime cross country, track & field coach and assistant soccer coach won a Positive Coaching Alliance National Double-Goal Coach® Award in 2019 for his positive impact on youth sports and was one of four to be recognized at the National Youth Sports Awards.
Chen, who is also Menlo’s track & field head coach, was just named CCS Honor Coach - Spring 2023. Chen, who has developed a successful middle school cross country and track program with Donoson FitzGerald, was honored by Menlo in 2009 with the Bagshaw Family Award for Coaching Excellence as an assistant cross country, soccer, track and field and Middle School coach.
At Stanford, Chen ran the 200 and 400 from 1993-1995 and competed in crew in 1996 and 1997. Chen was a top-level runner for San Mateo High School track and field, including the Peninsula Athletic League 1990 and 1991 championship teams.
