By Cody Herrmann (Whetstone, contributor)

A boost in recruitment has bolstered the Wesley running Cross Country program this season.

The sport, which was represented by a meager three men and two women last season, now competes with 12 runners for each gender.

Leading this latest surge is Head Coach Stephen Kimes. He has more than a decade of coaching experience starting at the middle school level.

Kimes has led his teams to several state titles. The only titles he hasn’t won are at the college level.

“I’m used to coming in with almost nothing and building from the ground, up,” he said. “I know what to look for in recruits and how to develop them quickly.”

When recruiting, Kimes said he looks to see what events the competition is weak nationally, then recruits with a focus on those events. Cross Country for him is training for track and field. It is on the track that the coach hopes to win a state title.

Wesley’s academic programs were a major selling point for recruits, he said, as well as the chance to compete against Division I teams.

Kimes will be getting help from his distance runners this spring with freshman Kevin Clements running the second fastest 8K time in school history, 27:31.9, in September. This was only 20 seconds slower than Wesley’s Mike Schroeder who set the record in 2002.

“I was skeptical at first about joining such a new program but I have benefited greatly from having come to Wesley,” Clements said. “There is a lot of support from my teammates and we help push one another to do better.”

Senior Alex Dello Buono, a veteran from last year, said he was excited to have such a large team.

“I’m being pushed from in front and behind me,” he said. “I have so much competition that I am just going to keep getting better.”

Dello Buono said Kimes has instituted tougher workouts. The competition from larger teams offers an even bigger incentive to push himself.

The entirety of the women’s team is freshmen. This has proven difficult for many. There are no role models or leaders to provide insight or encouragement.

“It’s hard to come into a program with no one there to take charge,” said says Elizabeth Moyna, a runner. “Many of us have had to mature very early into those roles reserved for veteran runners.”

Although made up of only freshmen, a strong core has formed with three women breaking the top ten best 6K times in Wesley women’s history: Dieunise Desir 24:33.10, Alexus Reese 26:24.20, and Miata Reese 26:33.

Kimes hopes that this young group will continue to grow and develop quickly as they continue to experience college level racing.