EVANSVILLE, Indiana – While the majority of cross country teams across the country have already started their 2022 competitive season, the University of Evansville cross country team is still waiting for its first meeting. But for Brooks LeCompte, first-year director of cross country/track & field at the University of Evansville, the later start to the season has allowed him to put his stamp on the program.
LeCompte, who was hired on July 5 and arrived in Evansville on August 1 to take over the UE running program, has taken his first month on campus to get to know his men’s and women’s teams. He says his programs are “family first, then we’re a team, and then we’re competitors,” so LeCompte has worked hard to build that family bond with his teams. The first month together also allowed his runners to get used to LeCompte’s running program.
“I think our runners have adapted well to our running schedule and workload so far,” LeCompte said. “We started slowly and the load is probably a little higher than they are used to, but they have adapted well so far.
“When we race next week, some of them will probably be a bit tired, but I have no doubt that many of them will also be racing faster than ever.”
Evansville will make its 2022 debut this coming Saturday, September 17 in Terre Haute, Indiana by attending the John McNichols Invitational. UE will also compete in the annual Live In Lou Classic and 20th annual UE Invitational during the regular season before the postseason begins with the Missouri Valley Conference Championships on October 28.
This year’s UE men’s team consists of six runners, led by fifth-year runner Carson Kline (Terre Haute, Ind./Terre Haute South). This year’s UE women’s roster includes seven runners, joined by Michigan State graduate Melanie Helder (Hudsonville, Mich./Hudsonville).
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