Brickey has high hopes for AU’s men cross-country; women’s team looking strong

By Chris Rickerson | Sports editor

Augusta University men’s and women’s cross-country teams have been training for months and will start their season at the Eye Opener Invitational in Spartanburg, S.C., on Sept. 3. 

Both teams roster looks a little different this season after losing some key runners and gaining a lot of young talent.  

Even though AU men’s team lost top runners Hunter Kimball and Jacob Poston, the Jaguars still have high expectations for the new guys and returners going into the first meet and on the season. 

“Expectations are high for our new recruits,” said junior Kai Brickey. “The returners we have are experienced to pull through no matter what, so our depth relies on youth. It’s important that we keep them healthy and energized in the early stages of the season, so they can shine when we need them most at nationals.” 

Brickey is one of the top returning runners this year for the Jaguars and says he has learned from his mistakes from the past. 

“Last year, I tried to rush fitness and paid for it dearly by burning out mid-season,” said Brickey. “I improved on training with more balance this offseason and the main priority for this first meet is to throw down a performance that solidifies our team belief that we are consistently unbreakable.”

With all of the young talent and the upper classmen leaders for the Jaguars, Coach Adam Ward says he feels really good about the team. 

“I definitely feel really good about our core group and with those guys leadership and their experience and maturity, combined with a very mature freshman class, we look good,” said Ward. 

The women’s team, led by star defending PBC champion Mackenzie Taylor and senior Miranda Taylor, has a lot of young talent expected to step up right away. 

Ward has spoke highly about Hannah Beach, AU’s transfer from Anderson University, and has high hopes for her right away. Ward has also given Cassie Lagan, AU’s recruit from Ireland, high praise, along with other new members of the team. 

“Hannah is going to bring in some great maturity and leadership, and Cassie is a very tough, no-nonsense competitor,” said Ward. “I expect both of them to do quite well. I also expect some of our true freshman to surprise themselves and some of the competition once they get comfortable.”

Ward also said the women’s team as a whole is already looking much better than they did last season. 

“We are already in a much better spot than we were last season,” said Ward. “The women already a much more cohesive group.”

Ward is tempering expectations for the season-opening meet.

“It is important to start out strong for there confidence level, but it is OK if we don’t run extremely well at the first meet,” said Ward. “If you run PRs that’s great, but if we don’t, we don’t freak out and have to reconfigure things.” 

Contact Chris Rickerson at crickerson@augusta.edu.

Mackinzie Taylor was undefeated in her first season in cross-country. At the top of the page, Kai Brickey shows his distance form. (photos by David Troyer, special to the Bell Ringer)