University of Arkansas-Fort Smith cross country coach Jason Merritt said he is excited about the Lions’ and Lady Lions’ upcoming seasons.
The Lions and Lady Lions endured their share of growing pains during their inaugural season last year, but the second-year coach expects both squads to be much improved with experienced, deeper rosters.
“Last year’s training will allow us to train deeper into the energy systems. This will take the returning runners to new records of performance without question. One reality that we will be facing is the fact that we will have some very inexperienced runners which could make our top runners a bit too confident during practice,” Merritt said. “This ‘team average’, as I identify it, will have to be watched closely. I don’t want to injure the beginning runners, but we have to push the experienced runners. It will be a difficult balancing act.”
UA Fort Smith will once again compete as a provisional member of NCAA Division II, but Merritt still has his Lions and Lady Lions competing in some of the toughest meets in the region, including NCAA Division I meets hosted by Baylor University, Oklahoma State University and the University of Arkansas and Division II meets hosted by Missouri Southern University and East Central University.
The Lions and Lady Lions will open the season on Friday at Waco, Texas, in the Baylor Bears Twilight Invitational.
“The only way to improve your body’s performance is through stress. An athlete will always train to the minimum allowable standard when it comes to endurance sports. With the athletes knowing that their performance must be at our schedules’ level, they listen closely at practice and use every day of training like it counts,” Merritt said.
“I am certainly not trying to prove anything personally, but rather, it is simply a stress level that I want my runners at during training. Honestly, the athletes like knowing that I feel they are capable of eventually competing at that level, too. We will get there. It is just a matter of training, recruiting, experience and time.”
Two starters return from last year’s inaugural men’s team – sophomores Sean Geraghty of Fort Smith and Rylan Williams of Waldron, Ark.
Geraghty was the top Lions runner a year ago. He finished 43rd in the Baylor Twilight 6k Invitational with a time of 22:44.5, 278th in the Missouri Southern 8k Stampede with a time of 29:02.42, 93rd in the OSU Cowboy 8k Jamboree with a time of 25:57.40, 36th in the 4-mile Naimadu Classic with a time of 22:24 and 44th at the 8k Heartland Conference meet with a time of 31:07.
Williams finished 46th in the Baylor Twilight 6k Invitational with a time of 23:55.1, 302nd in the Missouri Southern 8k Stampede with a time of 30:06.10, 37th in the 4-mile Naimadu Classic with at time of 24:28 and 45th at the 8k Heartland Conference meet with a time of 31:33.
“Geraghty should have a real breakthrough year. I really expect big things from Sean this year. Without question, when his performance moves up, several other runners will follow,” Merritt said. “Williams’ biggest asset is the attitude he brings to the team. He is a much stronger runner this year. More experience could really push Rylan into a Top 5 runner position. I will be watching him very closely.”
The Lions’ lineup will be bolstered by a host of newcomers, including redshirt freshmen TaBaris and TaTaris Earnest, who are twin brothers from Conway, Ark; freshmen Kolby Jones of Marion, Ark.; Josh McDonald of Muldrow, Okla.; Blake Branham of Hackett, Ark.; sophomores Josh Garcia of Booneville, Ark.; and Tyler Davis of Charleston, Ark.
Davis and Garcia also are members of the Lions baseball team, and Branham is a member of the Lions basketball team.
“It is family first. I demand that our experienced runners welcome our new runners to the team like they have been here for years. We have a huge spectrum of ability level this year, but each runner is willing and expected to contribute everything they possibly can to the team’s success,” Merritt said. “Every recruit wants to be here and wants to be part of this family. I see only a successful season coming in every way. The team and I are very excited about starting. It is going to be tough year physically, but they will pull each other through nicely.”
Two starters return from last year’s women’s team – senior Erica Burgess of Converse, Texas, and sophomore Jacqueline Bowen of Rogers, Ark.
Burgess, who ran track two seasons at Cloud County Community College, was the Lady Lions’ top runner a year ago. She finished 47th in the Baylor Twilight 4k Invitational with a time of 17:34.7, 212th in the Missouri Southern 5k Stampede with a time of 21:13.27, 186th in the OSU Cowboy 5k Jamboree with a time of 21:35.10, 26th in the Naimadu 4k with a time of 16:37 and 24th at the 6k Heartland Conference meet with a time of 26:17
She also holds the school record in the 4k, 5k, 6k and 10k.
Bowen had her season cut short because of injuries but still competed in two meets. She finished 48th in the Baylor Twilight 4k Invitational with a time of 17:37.8 and 232nd in the Missouri Southern 5k Stampede with a time of 21:30.05.
“Both of these runners were on fire last year. Both Jackie and Erica have the potential to absolutely blow this season away. I see a bright year for these two runners,” Merritt said. “I know we will have some new school records this year, and I also expect both of these runners to really start a history of excellence for our Lady Lions team. They are strong, motivated, focused and committed. When I see that combination, I know exciting things are going to happen.”
Merritt replenished the Lady Lions’ roster with a host of newcomers as well, including freshmen Pamela Chavez of Van Buren, Ark.; and Debra Silva of Muldrow, Okla.; sophomores Nancy Guillen of Booneville, Ark.; Carter Honea of Fort Smith; and Hanna Watlington of Fort Smith; junior Monica Burgess of Converse, Texas, who is the sister of Erica Burgess; Sarah Snyder of Fort Smith; and Amanda Moore of Cabot, Ark.; and senior Rebecca Wheeley of Rogers, Ark.
“Everyone is excited about the women team’s growth. There is a big range of experience there too, but I know they will really pull each other along during training,” Merritt said. “I have a lot of testing to do before I make my final decision about training workloads and racing strategies, but I have no doubt they will perform well together this season.”
