THETFORD — When it comes to top programs among Upper Valley sports teams, few schools can boast better success than Thetford Academy’s track and field, which this year won its fifth straight VPA Division III boys state championship and its 12th since 2004.

That success has been recognized by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, which named coaches Emily Silver and Joel Breakstone as the Vermont Boys High School Track and Field Coaches of the Year. Based in New Orleans, the association named 50 state winners for both boys and girls.

“It is hard to encapsulate how I feel,” Silver said, whose immediate thought upon receiving the award was about her mother and Breakstone’s mother. “They know how hard we work and how much we care, so I sort of felt happy for them because I knew they would be happy for us.”

Silver and Breakstone said it is an award shared among many.

“It’s really been an honor and it’s been an honor to be able to coach all of these years alongside Joe Deffner in cross country, alongside Joel in track and field and some great assistant coaches along the way,” said Silver, who began as a volunteer coach in 2002 and has been coaching track and field and cross country since 2003. “The athletes keep me entertained, keep me sharp and always learning.”

Silver, who ran in high school and for four years at Dartmouth, said from the moment she began coaching she was “addicted,” and her passion has not waned.

“I am always excited for an individual or team and their potential,” Silver said.

Breakstone began coaching with Silver in 2004, the year of the first boys championship, took a break in 2010 and returned in 2015.

“It is an incredible honor, and it is nice to be recognized,” Breakstone said of the award. “It is not only reflective of the work Emily and I have done but also the support from our assistant coaches, the school, the great athletes and the families who support us along the way.”

Cole Chapman, who was on the Thetford team before graduating in 2015 and then was on the Central Connecticut University track and field team, helps with the throwers.

“He can provide a lot of high-level coaching, so we are fortunate to have him,” Breakstone said.

Silver and Breakstone said they have worked to support all team members regardless of ability and kids look forward to being involved with that.

“We have been able to build a culture of kids being excited to participate on the team and create a team environment they want to be a part of,” said Breakstone.

One aspect of that culture is something that was started about 10 years ago. The day after a meet there is a captain’s meeting, Silver said.

“We ask them to find the story behind the results because you cannot see all the events, which often happen at the same time,” Silver said. “So they might tell about someone hitting a personal record in the high jump. They know who finished in the top three but may not know a shot putter improved by 3 feet. Everybody knows it’s a big deal, because we are all chasing our personal bests and the athletes are generally excited for each other.”

The coaches do not cut anyone from the team, and track and field is a sport where you do not need to have experience to participate, Breakstone said.

“So kids may not be the best as freshmen but slowly improve, and they are scoring points at the state meet by the time they are seniors,” he said.

Thetford’s success is even more remarkable because the school does not have an outdoor track. Breakstone said while they do have the equipment, they have to improvise with high jumping in the parking lot and cones set up on the school’s soccer fields for running.

The association’s award is for the boys track team but Breakstone said his colleague’s impressive coaching resume the last 20 years deserves recognition as well. In addition to the 12 boys track championships, Silver has coached the girls team to three championships and has eight cross country titles in Vermont D-III to her credit, six boys and two girls.

“That is a pretty impressive record since 2003,” Breakstone said.

Patrick O’Grady can be reached at pogclmt@gmail.com.