Cowboy Preview 
The Greiner Family Cross Country Course – Stillwater, Oklahoma 
Thursday, September 1, 2022  
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DALLAS, Texas (SMU) -- Cross Country is back in swing with the Mustangs' first meet in Stillwater, Oklahoma for the Cowboy Preview on Thursday. Head Coach A'Havahla Haynes already has her eyes set high for SMU this season as they take the course for the first time this year on the same course that will be used for the NCAA Championship race later this season at Oklahoma State University. 

"This first race is to stimulate race pace again while also viewing the NCAA Championship course in a less chaotic environment," Haynes said. "My goal is to position this group of women to compete for an AAC Championship title and qualify to the NCAA Championships." 

This is a goal that the individual athletes on the team hold as well. 

"Individually, I want to qualify for nationals in November and run under 20:30 for 6k this season," Sophomore Kaitlyn Gearin said. "I think that, as a team, we have a ton of potential this year. I would like to see us compete for the conference title and a top four spot at the South Central Regional." 

Gearin was awarded AAC Freshman of the Year last cross country season and said she will be reminded herself to run with confidence this season when the start gun goes off. She said that confidence in herself and the overall confidence of the team will be important. 

"Having the confidence as a team that we can compete with any team that we face will be important," Gearin said. "I think we have put in enough hard work to have that confidence in ourselves and each other going into races." 

In this first race of the season, Gearin hopes to put herself in the race early and still have energy left to kick at the end. 

"I'm excited to start off the season strong with the team," Gearin said. 

Senior Maddie Hulcy said they had a strong season last year, but she knows they are capable of much more as a team and will be fighting for that this season. 

"My goal right now is just to improve our conference and regional standings from last year," Hulcy said. "Personally, I just broke into all-conference last year, so I would love to have a single-digit finish this year!" 

With a shorter distance race of a 3k for the first meet, Hulcy said it is a great opportunity to see how the first block of training has gone for the team and get a strong starting point for the rest of the season. 

"OSU is a tough course, so I'm less focused on time and more focused on competing," Hulcy said. "I think we have a great group of women, and it's awesome to train in such a supportive and fun environment. So, I'm hoping to see that translate on the course this week!" 

This year, Haynes wants her athletes to focus on managing the chaos in each and every race. 

"Cross country is about focusing on an internal monologue and outputting one's peak ability in any environment -- not allowing the outside environment to dictate a result but facilitate accomplishing our goals," Haynes said. "This season is about opportunity. Positioning this team to be confident to compete with every opportunity we have." 

The race starts at 8 a.m. on Thursday.