Coaches Randolph and Kaczor big motivation for cross-country team

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The cross-country season is long and sometimes motivation needs to propel a team.

Willie Randolph, director of cross-country and track for Central Michigan, and assistant coach Matt Kaczor provide that motivation.

“Motivation is such a huge part during the cross-country season,” said redshirt freshmen Ben Wynsma. “There are a lot of workouts that you have to complete in every week. Our coaches do a great job of motivating us to keep on track and do what we need to do.”

Fellow redshirt freshman Tanner Pesonen explains that cross-country is more than just physical work.

“Cross-country is a sport where your physical strength and mental strength both need to be in shape,” he said. “Physically, you are running everyday and you have all these different workouts every week. The coaches help us by preparing us mentally for all the physical tasks that we have ahead.”

The coaches have their own separate ways to motivate the team.

“We might huddle them up before a race and have a few words with the team,” Kaczor said. “We talk strategies and when to push as a pack or what hills to watch for. For the freshmen, it’s important to calm them down and help get rid of their first season jitters that they can sometimes get before a race.”

Junior Jason Drudge said while the coaches talk strategy to the team, there is usually one thing that the team does right before the race.

“After we get warmed up and see how everyone is feeling, the whole team gets huddled up and we get a really good ‘Fire up chips!’ chant going,” Drudge said.

The team agrees cross-country is more mental than people give it credit.

“The coaches really do a good job of helping get our minds ready for the season, workouts, practice, meets and whatever we have coming up, sophomore Nathan Huff said. “They do a good job of helping prepare us.”