The Indiana University East cross country program will head
to the starting line for the 2009 season with a new coach.
IU East athletic director Mark Hester announced Pam Mertz
has been appointed the Red Wolves' men's and women's cross country coach.
Mertz is a well-known figure in the Richmond area running
scene.
"We're really happy we could get somebody of Pam's
caliber on board," Hester said. "We have a strong running community
in Richmond, and she will allow us to tap into that interest and become a
strong program."
Said Mertz: "I look forward to joining the program.
It's a fairly new program and I am excited to have the opportunity. I hope to
have a respectable program".
Mertz qualified for the Indiana state finals in cross
country and track and field as a high school athlete at Hagerstown High School.
She competed in cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field at Ball
State University. She assisted with the Hagerstown girls program in 1996 and
1997.
Mertz is familiar with several IU East runners through the
Wayne County Challenge, a local running series in which Mertz is a six-time
champion.
"I have been running for over 25 years and enjoy
winning," Mertz said.
The IU East women's cross country team finished sixth in the
Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference during the program's inaugural
season. The men's team also competed in the KIAC meet for the first time.
"I'm expecting phenomenal improvement," Mertz
said. "I hope to take at least one runner and hopefully more to
national competition."
The national meet will take place in Vancouver, Wash. While
in Washington, Mertz would miss her first Wayne County Challenge series race. She currently is
one of only two runners who have never missed a race since the series started
in 2003.
"When I called the other runner, he was very excited that I
might miss a race," Mertz said. "It has been very challenging to never
miss a race, and both of us have been hoping the other one would miss first.
But I can't think of a better reason to miss a series race than to coach a
runner who is running at nationals."
Mertz also is a detective with the Richmond Police
Department. She resides in Richmond. She has one son.