GoSpires.com: The University of Saint Mary Official Sports Site

Nov. 21, 2011

USM Cross Country runner Nick Haines competed in the NAIA National Cross Country Championships this past Saturday in Vancouver, Wash.

Nick finished 134th in a field of over 300 runners with a time of 26:03. Congratulations to Nick on a great season!

Two Spires Cross Country runners were also named as "Champions of Character" by the KCAC last week.

The winner from the men's team was Cameron Avilez. The USM Women's Cross Country "Champions of Character" honoree was Emily Gripka.

"Emily and Cameron are the kind of student athletes that we want in our program," said David Dominguez, USM's cross country coach. "Emily puts in as much work in the classroom as she does on the course. And Cameron provides the kind of leadership we look for in our students."

Nick Haines getting ready to get his medal for finishing in the Top 10,
he finished 9th out of 102 runners.

USM has signed the first two student-athletes for the university’s new track & field and cross country programs set to begin competition this coming fall.

Haines Nick Haines, a top runner from Cuyamaca College in San Diego, and Cameron Avilez, a championship competitor from Palomar College in San Marcos, Calif., will compete for the University of Saint Mary this fall. Haines and Avilez will participate in both cross country and track & field.

“These are high-character student athletes,” said David Dominguez, head coach of USM’s men’s and women’s cross country and track & field programs. “They’re the kind of student athletes we want to build the foundation of our programs on. These signings represent the beginning of a proud new USM Spires tradition.”

Avilez Haines was Cuyamaca’s no. 1 runner for most of the past season and the team's top finisher at the California Community College State Championship. During the most recent track season, Haines set school records four times in three events, posting a 9:38 and later a 9:28 in the 3,000 meter steeplechase; a 8:48 in the 3,000 meter; and a 15:30 in the 5,000 meter.

Avilez, in high school, was first team all-conference, first team all-league, and a California High School Cross Country State meet qualifier. In college, he qualified twice for the California Community College Cross Country Championship, was named first team all-conference, and was named Pacific Coast Conference athlete of the week for his course record 1:15:34 win at the Safari Park Half Marathon.

A video tour of the USM Cross Country facilities with coach David Dominguez

NEWS
The University of Saint Mary will expand the ranks of its Spires student-athletes starting in the Fall 2011 semester with the addition of track & field and cross country teams.

USM Athletic Director Rob Miller projects that the addition of cross country and track & field will bring about 25 to 30 new student-athletes to the Saint Mary campus.

As with all USM sports, the cross country and track & field teams will compete in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference.

Currently, the new programs are under development, and the university hopes to hire coaches by December of 2010 so they can begin recruiting during the Spring 2011 semester. Cross country would begin in Fall 2011. Track & field is a spring sport, and will get underway the following semester.

“We’ve heard a lot of interest in these programs from prospective and current students,” Coach Miller said. “This helps our athletic program grow, gives us the opportunity to expand our recruiting, and allows us to better serve and meet the demands of our student-athletes.”

For facilities, USM has an indoor track at Ryan Sports Center that could be used for indoor practices. The university will likely rent a facility from a neighboring public school for outdoor practices and meets.

USM currently offers eight varsity sports—football, baseball, softball, men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, softball, and volleyball—along with a cheerleading team.