About Fernando Braz
After many years as a competitive runner on the national and international stage, Fernando Braz began coaching in 1992. He and those he coached quickly discovered his gift for guiding runners at all levels to reach their potential -- whether that potential is breaking five hours in a marathon, qualifying for the Olympic Trials, or gaining scholastic and/or national recognition.
His coaching philosophy is to develop the --
==> Average Runner into a Good Runner
==> Good Runner into a Great One
==> Great Runner into a Champion
His coaching programs have resulted in dramatic racing improvements and personal bests for his athletes.
Highlights of Fernando's Coaching Career
- Has 97% success rate of qualifying individuals for the Boston Marathon
- Named U.S.A. Coach for Women's Ekiden Team in Japan
- Named Coach of the Year by New England Runner Magazine.
- Named Lawrence Eagle-Tribune Sportsman of the Year
- Coached 10 women to qualify for the Olympic Marathon Trials between 2000 and 2008
- Coached a women's open team to 1st place in USA Track & Field (New England) Grand Prix Race Series in 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008
- Coached a women's masters team to 1st place in the USATF-NE Grand Prix Race Series in 2005 and 2007, and a women's seniors team to 1st place in 2004, 2005, and 2006
- Coached runners to 1st place in the open women's division of the Grand Prix Series in 1999, 2000, 2003, 2005, and 2007.
- Coached a runner to 1st place in the women's master's division of the Grand Prix Series in 2002 and 2003.
- Coached runners to 1st place in the women's senior's division in the Grand Prix Series in 2004 and 2006
- Coached four High School All-Americans
- Named Salem News Spring Track and Field High School Coach of the year
- Named by the Boston Globe as the Massachusetts Division 1 High School Cross Country Coach of the Year
Personal Running Highlights
Personal Bests
5K - 13:59
10K - 29:02
10 miles - 48:36
half-marathon - 1:06:10
marathon - 2:18:26
Olympic Marathon Trials Qualifier in 1988 and 1992
Boston College Career Highlights
New England and Big East 10K Champion
First Boston College distance runner to qualify for the NCAA championships in both cross-country and track
BC Cross-Country MVP three times
Named to the all-New England team 12 times (cross country and track)
2001 Boston College Hall of Fame
Peabody High School Highlights
Won 12 individual state titles in cross-country and track
Ranked 2nd in the country at 10,000 meters with 30:42
All-American in cross-country and spring track
Won back-to-back All-State titles in cross-country
1999 Peabody High Hall of Fame
Held all-time New England Indoor 5000 meters record 14:52.8 (January, 1980) for 28 years
