Five state title teams highlight of Purpura’s 37-year career

Anne Arundel County had captured just one state championship in cross country when Ed Purpura began coaching the sport.

Purpura wound up leading teams that claimed the second and fourth cross country state titles in Anne Arundel County history.

Purpura began his coaching career at Meade High as an assistant indoor and outdoor track and field coach under Jay Cuthbert. He was named head coach of cross country and led the Mustangs boys to a region championship.

After a two-year stint as head coach of cross country, indoor track and field and outdoor track and field at Glen Burnie High, Purpura moved to Broadneck High to lead all three sports.

Scott Baker and Keith Bigelow finished sixth and seventh to lead the way as the Broadneck boys captured the Class A state championship in 1984. It was the first cross country state crown for a county school since Brooklyn Park took home the title in 1966.

The Bruins placed five runners among the top 14 finishers at the state meet held on the grueling course at Hereford High and Purpura was rather nonchalant about the accomplishment.

“What bothers me is that now, all of a sudden, I get credit for being a great coach. I didn’t do anything special. We just had more talent than anyone else,” Purpura said afterward.

It was quite a different story in 1998, when Purpura directed the Severna Park girls to the fourth state championship in Anne Arundel County history. The Falcons had been runner-up at the state meet in Purpura’s second season at the helm (1989) and had been working hard to get atop the podium ever since.

Dulaney High was blocking the way, winning five state championships in six years. Severna Park had five returning All-County