HARTSVILLE, S.C.- With a combination of new faces, the Coker University men's and women's cross country teams are looking forward to hitting the ground running this fall. Newly hired head coach Gus Schmader will lean on his upperclassmen to lead as an example for the younger members of the team.
The men's cross country team features four newcomers to a squad that returns two runners. Mahliqe Andrews is the lone senior on a roster that also features three sophomores and two freshmen.
"The returners play a pivotal role on this team by providing leadership to the freshman and their experience will help them become some of our better runners," said Schmader.
The women's cross country team has more experience featuring four returners from last season, along with two newcomers. The women's cross country roster features one senior, one junior, two sophomores, and two freshmen.
"Our incoming freshman will be able to immediately contribute as all are in our top five," said Schmader. "Although this will be new, especially for the men who are going up in distance, I believe that they will rise to the occasion."
He also discussed the developing chemistry between the returners and newcomers. "The newcomers and the returners have meshed extremely well," said Schmader. "They've been social and motivating each other on the tougher days."
Both teams start the 2021 season at the Fleet Feet XC Invite on Sept. 4, before competing in the Bulldog Stampede on Sept. 18. The Cobras will then travel to the Queens City Invite on Sept. 24. The month of October will see the teams participate in the Royals Challenge on Oct. 8 and the Upstate Invitational on Oct. 16. They will finish up the season by competing at the South Atlantic Conference Championships in Charlotte, NC on Oct. 23.
"The toughest part of this cross country season is that it will be brief," said Schmader. "Our conference championship is early this year which gives us minimal time to reach our peak. We will navigate it the best that we can and be ready for the challenge."
The teams begin the season Saturday (Sept. 4) at the Fleet Feet XC Invite in Salisbury, N.C. The men's race begins at 8:30 a.m., followed by the women's race at 9:15 a.m.