Excitement surrounds IU cross country team as season kicks into gear

Excitement.

It could be seen in the runners’ faces as they crossed the finish line of the Indiana Open Sept. 11. It can be seen in practice as the runners cheer each other on, and it can be seen in the eyes of coach Ron Helmer.

“I’ve done this for 41 years, and I’m just as excited now about what the future holds as I have been at any time in my career because I know that anything we do is real,” Helmer said. “The work is in place, and in most cases their heads are in the right places and the commitment is genuine.”

Excitement is the word used by many coaches and athletes to define what makes this year’s men’s and women’s cross country teams special.

Helmer said the excitement level is very high because of the dedication his team is putting in.

“It sounds cliche, but there’s a whole bunch of kids here training at an extremely high level, committing to the lifestyle of a high-level athlete, and as a group they are supporting one another,” Helmer said. “They are having a great time doing what they are doing, which you would think would be the way it is every place, but it’s not like that every place.”

One reason for the excitement around the IU course is the return of several key leaders.

Among those leaders is sophomore Andrew Poore. Last year, Poore qualified for the NCAA Championships with a fourth-place finish at the NCAA East Regional.

Poore said what makes this young, diverse team different is the team’s humility.

“I think we are a pretty humble group of guys,” Poore said. “We like competing for the right reasons, to be successful. This year, we have pretty high goals, but I think we can do a little bit of the unexpected for what we are shooting for on the national level.”

Leading the women’s team this year is Sarah Pease, the only senior on either squad.
In June, Pease placed fourth at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, a similar event to those of cross country, and fourth in the same event at the USA Senior Championships.

For Pease, a lot has changed in the five years she has been here, but the team has always been a constant.

“We are a group of highly motivated, hardworking individuals that come together as a team and want to be good to perform on a high level,” Pease said. “This year we have high goals and come with a positive attitude every day, so everyone is excited.”

Helmer said he believes this season will be the year IU cross country surprises people.

“In year four, this is supposed to be the payoff year,” Helmer said.