SMU Cross Country Ready For Success
Sep 8 | Cross Country
By Alex Riley
Special to SMUMustangs.com
Â
The rumble of thunder and pops of lightning were a bit unnerving at first, but inside the bus SMU's cross-country team showed few signs of concern as the rain delay wore on.
The 2021 season was set to start late in the afternoon on September 1 at the Aggie Opener in College Station last week. Mother Nature had other intentions as inclement weather forced a nearly hour-long rain delay.
How did the Mustangs wait out the storm?
"Lots of goofy pictures and videos. That helped pass the time," grad transfer Steffi Jones said with a laugh. "But when it was go time, we had 30 minutes to warm up and we were all just zoned in, ready to race."
Change and being forced to wait is really nothing new for SMU recently, with COVID-19 wiping the 2020 slate down to one race – the American Athletic Conference Championship.
That's why, even as the rain moved through, the Mustangs were grateful for a chance to step off the bus and back onto the course, even if it took a little longer.
"We were on the bus and I was talking to the women and I said, "Ladies, we thought COVID was the last time we were going to have to be adaptable and make change, but it turns out change never stops and we have to continue to be adaptable. If we can do that well, we'll be a great team,'" SMU coach 'A Havahla Haynes said. "I think we're on our way."
When Haynes was hired in June 2019, she knew SMU's program needed help. COVID certainly made that job even more difficult.
Her first season featured only five full-time athletes. She actually convinced a multi-event athlete from the track program to run at the AAC championship race just so the Mustangs would have six athletes on the course and would be guaranteed to score.
The current roster features only two runners who were with the program during SMU's last full season. The other 10 are either incoming freshmen, sophomores who haven't experienced a full year or grad transfers.
The common ground for everyone on the roster – running. And that's where the rebuild is starting.
"The team now, it's just me and one other girl who were here in 2019," junior Maddie Hulcy said. "I think that everyone just gets along really well and has a passion for this sport and I think that's the most important thing, that we all have a passion for this sport."
Even with so many new faces, Haynes and her runners have high expectations. The goal is to be among the top three teams at the AAC Championship in late October. Moving up in the region is also on the list of goals.
The season-opening race certainly gave the Mustangs something to build on. SMU finished second in an eight-team field, besting the likes of Baylor, Houston and TCU along the way. If nothing else, it's a good place to start. Â
"While I do not think everyone is at their full capacity yet because it's so early, I do think us being top 10 in the region is realistic and I would love to see us be top five in the region, that would be great," Haynes said. "It's high expectations for sure, but this group is capable of a lot."
Â
Special to SMUMustangs.com
Â
The rumble of thunder and pops of lightning were a bit unnerving at first, but inside the bus SMU's cross-country team showed few signs of concern as the rain delay wore on.
The 2021 season was set to start late in the afternoon on September 1 at the Aggie Opener in College Station last week. Mother Nature had other intentions as inclement weather forced a nearly hour-long rain delay.
How did the Mustangs wait out the storm?
"Lots of goofy pictures and videos. That helped pass the time," grad transfer Steffi Jones said with a laugh. "But when it was go time, we had 30 minutes to warm up and we were all just zoned in, ready to race."
Change and being forced to wait is really nothing new for SMU recently, with COVID-19 wiping the 2020 slate down to one race – the American Athletic Conference Championship.
That's why, even as the rain moved through, the Mustangs were grateful for a chance to step off the bus and back onto the course, even if it took a little longer.
"We were on the bus and I was talking to the women and I said, "Ladies, we thought COVID was the last time we were going to have to be adaptable and make change, but it turns out change never stops and we have to continue to be adaptable. If we can do that well, we'll be a great team,'" SMU coach 'A Havahla Haynes said. "I think we're on our way."
When Haynes was hired in June 2019, she knew SMU's program needed help. COVID certainly made that job even more difficult.
Her first season featured only five full-time athletes. She actually convinced a multi-event athlete from the track program to run at the AAC championship race just so the Mustangs would have six athletes on the course and would be guaranteed to score.
The current roster features only two runners who were with the program during SMU's last full season. The other 10 are either incoming freshmen, sophomores who haven't experienced a full year or grad transfers.
The common ground for everyone on the roster – running. And that's where the rebuild is starting.
"The team now, it's just me and one other girl who were here in 2019," junior Maddie Hulcy said. "I think that everyone just gets along really well and has a passion for this sport and I think that's the most important thing, that we all have a passion for this sport."
Even with so many new faces, Haynes and her runners have high expectations. The goal is to be among the top three teams at the AAC Championship in late October. Moving up in the region is also on the list of goals.
The season-opening race certainly gave the Mustangs something to build on. SMU finished second in an eight-team field, besting the likes of Baylor, Houston and TCU along the way. If nothing else, it's a good place to start. Â
"While I do not think everyone is at their full capacity yet because it's so early, I do think us being top 10 in the region is realistic and I would love to see us be top five in the region, that would be great," Haynes said. "It's high expectations for sure, but this group is capable of a lot."
Â
Players Mentioned
/ Cross Country
Distance
/ Cross CountryMonday, October 05
Sunday, October 04
Sunday, October 04
Saturday, October 03
