At Hamilton Southeastern High School, springtime is synonymous with track and field—but for Coach Alano, it’s also a balancing act.
As she leads the girls’ team through another competitive season, she’s also grading essays, planning lessons, and managing a full teaching load.
“It’s not always easy,” Alano said. “Teaching comes first. There are days I’d really like to plan more for track but just don’t have the time. There are also days my grading is a little behind, but I’m always prepared for my classes.”
It’s a rhythm she’s perfected over the years. Since beginning her teaching and coaching career at HSE in the 1998–1999 school year, Alano has found that both roles demand focus, flexibility, and above all heart.
While coaching adds extra hours and challenges to her schedule, Alano says the rewards make it all worthwhile.
“Coaching gives me a chance to get to know the athletes and help them be prepared for life,” she said. “We’re a competitive team, but the discipline and ability to face adversity is something all athletes will use in their lives, whether or not they stay in track and field.”
For Alano, those lessons extend well beyond the track. Many of her students recognize the impact a teacher-coach can have. Connecting with students both in the classroom and on the field creates a unique kind of mentorship.
“My favorite memories are the unexpected ones,” Alano said with a smile. “Like when a meet gets canceled and we have a training session on bikes in the cardio room, or when a meet goes long and we’re just hanging out watching the last event. The bus rides to and from state—those are moments that stick.”
Even with years of experience, the role continues to bring personal growth.
“One of the hardest things I’ve had to overcome is allowing others to help—especially in the events I coach, like the 400 and hurdles,” she said. “You get attached to the process, but part of coaching is learning how to step back and trust others, too.”
So what keeps her going after so many seasons? It all comes back to passion.
“I really enjoyed track in high school and college,” Alano said. “The thought of not being part of a team pushed me to coach. And my college coaches were a big motivation—they showed me what it looks like to lead with care.”
Now more than 25 years into her HSE journey, Alano can’t imagine spring without track.
“It would be difficult,” she said. “While it is time-consuming, I wouldn’t know what to do with that time—spring has always been about track in my life.”
Whether she’s in the classroom prepping a lesson or on the sidelines timing a relay exchange, Coach Alano shows up with the same mindset: be prepared, be present, and give it your all.
For her, teaching and coaching aren’t separate lanes they’re just different stretches of the same race.