Hart Tenders Promotions to Assistant Track Coaches

Larry David and John Ahart, assistant track and field coaches at Hart High for the past three years, have been named to replace cross-country Coach Gene Blankenship and track Coach Dan Houghton at the Newhall school.

David, 38, will take over the boys’ and girls’ cross-country teams and the boys’ track program.

Ahart, 27, will be in charge of the girls’ track team.

David and Ahart, who are teachers at Hart, will be taking over programs steeped in a winning tradition.

Blankenship has guided the Hart boys to the last three state Division I cross-country titles, and the boys’ and girls’ teams have won or shared 10 consecutive Foothill League titles. Blankenship announced in November that he was moving to Spokane, Wash., this summer.

Houghton announced last month he was stepping down from his head coaching position to spend more time with his family although he will remain on the staff as an assistant.

During his five years at the helm, the boys’ track team won five league titles, capped by a second-place finish behind Pasadena Muir in last month’s Southern Section Division I championships.

The girls’ track team has won three consecutive league titles.

“I’m just going to try and not put any pressure on myself,” David said of replacing Blankenship. “I’m still savoring the thrill of getting the job. . . . My feeling is that if we can get the kids to run close to their potential, we’ll be in good shape.”

Ahart said he does not anticipate making big changes regarding the girls’ track team.

“I don’t see us going away from the philosophies that (Houghton) started here,” Ahart said. “My philosophy is, ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’ ”