Kyle Hiser was thrilled with the Kansas Wesleyan women's cross country team's third-place finish in the Kansas Conference Championships last November at the GreatLife Salina course. With good reason.
Stephanie Martinez (SR/Horizon City, Texas) won the race with a blazing kick the final 800 meters and teammate Tabetha Deines (SR/Salina) placed 13th – both earning trips to the NAIA national meet in April. Martinez's time over the hilly course was 19 minutes, 8.4 seconds while Deines ran 20:02.39.
Hiser, who enters his third season, is greedy, though. While third was nice, second or first would be much better and that's the Coyotes' objective this fall. They open the season Friday at the Terry Masterson Twilight in Hutchinson.
The top five runners from last year's team return led by Martinez and Deines, who were sensational in 2020-21. Deines earned NAIA All-America honors in indoor track by placing fifth in the 800 meters and was an All-American again in the spring after placing seventh in the 800 in the NAIA outdoor meet. Martinez competed in the 10,000 meters in outdoor nationals.
"Combined they had five conference championships last year," Hiser said. "They bring so much experience across the board. Obviously we know what they can do on the track but I think their biggest strength is their leadership.
"They exemplify for the men's team, too – two ladies that have run at such a high level and do it with such humility. They're people to get behind and the team sees that."
Hiser expects both to depart on high notes.
"It starts with Stephanie at the top," he said. "Reigning conference champ, has had a really great summer of training so far and we're really looking forward to getting her started off well to begin the year. And Tabetha's been right there with her in workouts and hopefully we can put those girls in the top five in the conference meet. That's our goal that we chatted about with each other and would be something that continues to add their hall of fame legacy here at Kansas Wesleyan."
Joining Martinez and Deines are veterans Regan Rhodes (JR/Mullinville, Kan.), Christina Tripp (SO/Dayton, Idaho) and Daniella Gaona (SO/Clifton, Texas). Tripp placed 23rd, Gaona 36th and Rhodes 45th in the 2020 conference meet.
"(Rhodes) is going to be really strong; she had the best summer of training she's ever had, most consistent and has been healthy," Hiser said. "She kind of leads that chase pack behind Stephanie and Tabetha with her leadership.
"(Tripp) was three spots away from qualifying for nationals as an individual last year but she tripped and fell at the conference meet or otherwise might have been in position to qualify," Hiser said. "Gaona was injured in track last year, is healthy and is going to be racing for the first time since February. We're excited to get her back and going. Both of those girls have shown that they can run the 20-minute range."
Three freshmen have joined the squad – Hannah Ent (FR/Holton), Kylie Mouser (FR/Wichita) and Savannah Pilsner (FR/Columbus, Texas).
"They're really great girls and have a passion for the sport," Hiser said.
Moving up in the KCAC pecking order won't be easy. Defending champion and perennial NAIA power Saint Mary is ranked eighth and returns its top seven runners while Friends figures to have another strong team. Hiser also expects Tabor to be a factor.
"We're going to try and challenge Friends and the girls want to compete for second," he said. "It's going to take a really great day because Friends has a really strong squad up and down their lineup but we're going to give it our best shot. We've just got to stay healthy, keep training consistently and know that our time will come.
"In our sport it all comes down to one day and that will be November 9th at the conference championships (in McPherson). You either have it or you don't."