Distance Running Coaching with Coach Chris Tatom

Chris Tatom is a dedicated distance running coach who has a proven track record in athlete development, specializing in training championship-level athletes while emphasizing character, leadership, and personal growth. With extensive experience at both middle school and high school levels, Chris has built championship running programs that are highly competitive, deeply supportive, and focused on long-term athlete development.

As the Co-Ed Cross Country Head Coach at Greenfield-Central Junior High School, Chris successfully led a rapid program growth from 20 athletes to over 40, consistently sending full boys and girls teams to the state meet throughout his tenure. Under his leadership, the 2024 girls team achieved a remarkable 5th place at the state meet, featuring a 6th-place individual finisher, and followed up in 2025 with a 19th-place finisher, all while numerous athletes shattered long-standing school records and made it onto the program’s all-time top-10 lists.

Chris has guided his teams to multiple conference and county championships, including both boys and girls county and conference titles in cross country, as well as several Hancock County and Hoosier Heritage Conference championships in track and field. His impressive total now stands at 11 combined county and conference team championships.

In his inaugural season coaching at the high school level, Chris played a pivotal role in steering Greenfield-Central to a Hancock County team championship, marking a historic year for the distance running program. His athletes not only set school records in events such as the indoor 4,000m DMR and the 1600m but also established Hancock County Meet records in both the 4x800 relay and the 3200m.

As a distance running coach, Chris has nurtured numerous all-state performers and helped athletes shine on championship teams, leading runners to elite performances on major stages, including a 7th-place finish at the Nike Indoor National Meet, where they narrowly missed All-American honors.

At the heart of Chris’s coaching philosophy is the belief that exceptional athletes are developed through consistency, accountability, discipline, and character. He prioritizes long-term growth, a healthy team culture, and athlete-centered development, ensuring that his runners not only maximize their performance but also evolve into confident, resilient leaders prepared for success beyond their sport.

Through Horizon Distance Co., Chris extends this intentional approach in individual coaching and program consulting, helping runners, coaches, and teams to build robust foundations, pursue elite performance, and achieve sustainable success.