cross country

In 2024, Coach Jeff Cannada began his first year as the PVXC Head Coach. In his first season at the helm, Ponte Vedra Cross Country delivered the best collective single day performance at the Florida State Championship. The Girls team recorded their second 3A state championship in the schools history and the Boys finished third which matched their best team finish ever. Coach Cannada came with an abundance of experience. His 15-year competitive career encompassed age-group, high school, college, post college and international success. This vast experience at various levels combined with his ability to work with four Hall-of Fame Coaches, during that span, provides a unique first-hand experience he feels an obligation to share with young and developing track and cross-country athletes.

 

In high school, Coach Cannada was a 7-time Arizona High School State Champion, Two-Time Track & Field News All-American and held 5 National High School Class Records. Collegiately, he ran for the University of Arizona and University of Texas and was a Three-time All-American, Pac-10 Champion at 5,000m and held the University of Texas School Record at 5,000m for 30 years which is still #4 on All-Time List. Post Collegiately, Coach Cannada was a member of four U.S. National Teams – competing in two World Cross Country Championships. In 1985, he finished 12th in the World Junior Cross Country Championships and was the top American finisher. He also competed in the 1991 Pan American Games and was a member of the U.S. American Record Setting Team that competed at the Chiba Ekiden Relay in Japan. Additionally, in 1991, was the Olympic Sports Festival Champion at 5,000m.

 

In 2018, Coach Cannada relocated to Jacksonville, Florida with his wife (Lisa) and his daughter (Annalise). His wife is an orthopaedic trauma surgeon and active cyclist. His daughter is a collegiate soccer player at The University of Kentucky with aspirations of becoming a nurse. Coach Cannada is a Global Account Director at Intel Corporation where he has been employed for almost 25 years.

 

Coach Cannada feels team culture is paramount to fostering a sustainable and successful program. Although he absolutely wants to compete for state championships, his goal is to instill and develop life lessons with these young student-athletes via the great sport of Cross Country. In his opinion, this sport rewards discipline, dedication, consistency and perseverance – valuable traits that carryover once an individual’s running days are behind them.