{"id":2544,"date":"2018-09-28T02:42:15","date_gmt":"2018-09-28T02:42:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/yearbook\/?p=2544"},"modified":"2019-10-16T16:00:47","modified_gmt":"2019-10-16T21:00:47","slug":"on-your-mark-get-set-go","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/yearbook\/2018\/09\/28\/on-your-mark-get-set-go\/","title":{"rendered":"On your mark, get set, go."},"content":{"rendered":"

By: Bethany Vonseggern<\/span><\/p>\n

Head coach Marc Bierbaum, alongside coach Cody Ingold<\/a>, have guided the young cross-country team through the trials and tribulations of being in a new program. They have taught the athletes to adapt to training in an indoor field, train for a year-round season and deal with unpredictable outdoor elements. <\/span><\/p>\n

While Bierbaum also understands working with a young and new team has it\u2019s challenges due to the lack of older influence, he has seen his team grow as athletes and leaders. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just as new for them [athletes] as it is for us,\u201d Bierbaum said. \u201cIt\u2019s about them learning us and us learning them; it\u2019s a challenge, but I think they\u2019ve done a really good job fighting through some of the adversity and being there for each other.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Before every meet the team does a rigorous routine from jogging a lap, stretching drills and a team gathering where a student leads a pep-talk. Throughout the season it was noticeable that these team gatherings created a strong relationship among athletes. <\/span><\/p>\n

According to Bierbaum the team trained diligently and it paid off. The women\u2019s team won their first meet in history, with six athletes placing in the top 10.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe won our very first meet; you can\u2019t script that too much better,\u201d said Bierbaum. \u201cTo go into the regional, which is one of the tougher regionals in the nation, and to have the girls place in the top half is pretty sweet.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

As both the cross-country and track and field team add more athletes each season Bierbaum is hopeful for the future. He believes they could not have been as successful without the hard work of the athletes, along with the tremendous support of Western and the local community.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t