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The cross-country team prepares for its first meet at Texas State University.

Saints cross-country program off and running

Mon, Sep 14, 2009 - [Women's Cross Country] - by

In just over 20 minutes, history was made. That's how long it took for freshman Miriam Vazquez to put the Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) cross-country team in the history books. Minutes later, freshman Jessica McGlothlin and sophomore Katherine Brunner joined her. With the runners' efforts, the Saints cross-country program was officially on the map.

The Saints competed Sept. 5 in San Marcos, Texas, in the first of six scheduled meets this year. For the first year program, expectations are both low and high for the Saints.

Nothing starts perfect," said cross-country coach Stephen Sherman, who is coming to OLLU after serving three years as an assistant cross-country coach at McMurray University in Abilene, Texas. "However, considering where we're at as a program, I couldn't be more pleased."

Although Sherman considers himself "happy-go-lucky" when it comes to his new program, he knows there is plenty of hard work to be done.

"The goal for us as a first-year program is to establish a clear-cut way of doing things here and establish consistency," he added. "This will establish a solid base for the future."

Sherman noted that recruiting was tough this year, due to the program's late start.

"I recruited from campus and talked to every high school coach I knew," Sherman said. "It was not a standard way of recruiting."

That being said, Sherman feels fortunate in the team he has put together.

"I think we're solid. I feel very fortunate to have the team we have," he said. "I have five girls who are willing to go out there and put it on the line every day. I really appreciate them for being willing to put in the effort to start things out right for this program and the university."

Two runners Sherman points to are Vazquez and sophomore Brandis Hurt, a transfer from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.

"Vazquez is a very talented runner," Sherman pointed out. "The longer she's here, the better she'll become."

Hurt was interested in attending school in San Antonio, but was considering attending St. Mary's University before she decided to help start the first-year program at OLLU.

"She's a really strong runner, and I'm very happy to have her," he said. "I feel very fortunate they both chose to come here."

With his inaugural team set, Sherman keeps his eyes focused on two meets later in the season when the team will travel to Winfield, Kansas, for the Midstates Classic Oct. 24, and the Northwood University Conference meet Nov. 6 in Cedar Hill, Texas.

"The Midstates meet is a highlight for us because it is the only NAIA meet on our schedule other than the conference tournament," said Sherman. "A lot of the top programs run there. It will be a great measuring stick to see where we're at before the conference meet."

Although Sherman considers himself, "happy-go-lucky" where the program is concerned, it doesn't mean he takes his team lightly. With more than a month before those two meets, the team plans to build on each week's experiences.

"We can't expect immediate success, but by the time November comes, we should be running at our best," he said.

"They'll work hard, every one of them," Sherman added. "We're gonna' scrap."

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