"What's Buzzing Around SCAD Athletics" is a 12 week series that will feature interviews with the head coaches of all of SCAD's 22 sports.
Patrick Reagan is in his fourth year as the head cross country and track & field coach. During his tenure he has guided the women's cross country team to three straight Sun Conference Championships and the men's team to their first Sun Conference Championships in 2015. Overall Reagan has had 42 runners qualify for NAIA National Cross Country Championships, 29 runners qualified for NAIA Track & Field Nationals, and four All-Americans.
Q: The women's cross country team won their third straight Sun Conference title. What are your thoughts on this past season?
Our women did an excellent job in the later portion of the season to win their third straight Sun Conference Championships. They raced extremely well at conference and nationals with our top seven finishers consisting of only freshmen and sophomores. Lotti Zeiler and Caroline Cook both made significant progress improving on their freshmen year. This team has a bright future ahead of themselves.
Q: The men's team won their first conference title in school history and finished 12th at the NAIA National championship. What are your thought on their season?
The men's team executed this season perfectly. We have a great group of athletes that bought into the plan and listened to the coaches in order to peak at the championships. Winning our first conference title by finishing 1-4 at the conference meet was special. The 12th place performance at the national championships was drastically better than their 24th place ranking heading into nationals. I am extremely proud of Emmanuel Krieg for becoming SCAD's first men All-American.
Q: As we transition into track season, who are some runners to keep an eye on?
On the women's side I would keep an eye on Zeiler, Courtney Pansza, and Alessa Reuffurth in the 5k/10k. Cook will be doing a double in the 1500 and 3000 steeplechase, while Annie Tyner is looking strong in the half marathon/marathon. Jamie Gray, reigning Sun Conference champion in javelin, is looking to qualify for her second straight national championships. Our mid-distance team of Kendria Jones, Nicole Kurtz and Julie Wheatley should continue to improve and have a great season.
On the men's side I would keep an eye on Will Glaser and Matt Smith in marathon. Smith competed at nationals last year and knows what it takes to be competitive. Callum Drake is coming off of a fantastic cross country season and will be competing in the 5,000 and 10,000. Ace Brown set the school record in the steeple chase last season and is looking to build on that success. I would also keep an eye on Sebastian O'Dell in the 10,000 and Kyler Jourdan and Linden Weitz in the 800.
Q: The cross country program has seen a lot of success in recent years. What do you contribute that success to?
The program has been very consistent in both quality sessions and higher volume on both men's and women's team. The coaches have provided a setting that the athlete can flourish while the athletes have done an excellent job developing a team culture that keeps everyone entrenched in their discipline.
Q: When did you start running? What made you want to get into coaching?
I started running my junior year of high school. Ran at Slippery Rock University and now continue to run post collegiately.
I've wanted to be involved in athletics my whole life. I studied exercise science with focus on coaching and my coach at Slippery Rock helped motivate me and showed me how to make running fun. It's motivating for me to see our runners make progress and develop skills that results in full and rewarding life. Distance running has set a foundation for a great life for me.
Q: What events are you training for right now?
I'm training for several events right now. The next major event I'm going to race is The Way 2 Cool 50k trial on March 5 in California. After that I'm planning on doing the Ice Age 50 miler on May 14 in Lagrange, Wisconsin. I'm also training for three USATF championships in the winter, 50k trail, half marathon trail, 100k trail.
Q: You have had a very successful track career. What is your favorite memory?
On the women's side my favorite memory was seeing the women win their first Sun Conference Championship in 2013 at USCB course in Hardeeville, SC. We went into that championship as an underdog for a majority of the season and they pulled it together to make their first appearance at nationals. Jessy Scarpone was Newcomer of the Year and she finished her year with a double All-American performance at NAIA Track Nationals. Hannah Lieberman had a great cross country season and was runner-up in the marathon at NAIA Track Nationals.
On the men's side my favorite memory was the 12th place finish at NAIA Nationals this past season. This was the first time in school history that men got to go to nationals as a team and they represented SCAD so well. It was also awesome watch Krieg earn All-American honors for his 30th place finish.
Q: What is/was your favorite place/course that you got to play or coach at?
My favorite course was the NCAA D-II cross country champions in Joplin, Missouri. It was Missouri Southern's home course and it was the first time I earned All-American honors. Larry Kimball's USCB Sand Shark Invite in Hardeeville, SC is a close second.
Q: What do you like to do in your free time?
In my free time I'm training for my upcoming races. Right now I run about 100-110 miles per week. When I'm not running, I enjoy playing tenor guitar and banjo and read a lot of science-fiction books.
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