Cross country coach chosen

The Cloquet school board on Monday approved hiring high school business and technology teacher Chandra Allen as the next head coach of the cross-country teams this fall. Allen has been teaching in the district since 2013 and has coaching experience in track and field while working in the Floodwood district. She is a former competitive runner and has worked with the Lumberjack program as a parent of a runner.

Allen told activities director Paul Riess that she wanted to “continue the strong tradition” of the cross-country program. Riess and former coach Mike Bushey recommended hiring Allen. Bushey said Allen is “positive and kind” and the program will be in good hands. Bushey and his wife, Jody Zeleznikar, ran the increasingly popular cross-country program for nearly two decades before retiring from coaching this year.