Under One Coach, ISU Cross Country is One Team

AMES, Iowa ? When Corey Ihmels was hired as Iowa State's director of track and field and cross country by Cyclone athletics director Jamie Pollard, the Cyclone head coach and former Iowa State All-American would face a challenge never executed at ISU. Not only would Ihmels now oversee the both the men's and women's track and cross country teams, he was charged with bringing the two programs together and building a sense of “one school, one team.”

Although increasingly common among collegiate cross country and track and field programs nationwide, Iowa State's men's and women's programs had been segregated since the women's track and cross country was started in the early 1970s.

Ihmels has a vision for the future of Iowa State's cross country and track and field programs. His first extended opportunity to implement communicate team and individual goals came late this summer, just before the start of school and the collegiate cross country season.

“We wanted our kids to feel the change in the program and have time to discuss our goals and vision for the future,” Ihmels said. “We could do this most easily in a relaxed environment while learning together the goals and potential contributions of each runner.”

To build a sense of unity among the men and women who would race for the Cyclones, Ihmels brought both squads together for a week of training and goal-setting at “Team Camp.” Iowa State's cross country runners converged at Pine Bluffs Park near the northeast Iowa town of Decorah. The teams practiced as a group and developed a sense togetherness. According to Iowa State's runners, it was very rewarding.

“It was a great time to bond with our teammates,” said Cyclone Kiel Uhl. “It gave us a chance to get to know everyone, including the newcomers and for us to understand coach's vision for the program. He talked to us about his expectations for us as a team and as individuals. Coach Ihmels has high expectations. He is intense and his passion rubbed off on all of us.”

Ihmels had held the camp as the men's cross country coach in 2006. This year, with both teams under his supervision, the women's team participated. All-American Lisa Koll gave the retreat high marks.

“We came into the camp ready for the challenge,” Koll said. “We heard (Ihmels') plan for us this season. We stayed in cabins and roughed it a little. Coach Ihmels talked about how taking care of the little things on a day-to-day basis will add up to big things.”

The Iowa State men's cross country program has consistently been a Big 12 Conference first-division finisher under Ihmels. Now both programs will pursue the Cyclone head coach's vision of challenging for future conference titles and advancing to the NCAA Championship -- as one team.

The Cyclone cross country season moves into a new gear Sept. 23 at the Roy Griak Invitational in Minneapolis, Minn. The Big 12 Championship is Oct. 27 in Lawrence, Kan.

Under One Coach, ISU Cross Country is One Team

Players Mentioned

Lisa Koll

Lisa Koll

Kiel Uhl

Kiel Uhl

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Under One Coach, ISU Cross Country is One Team

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