Cross Country Coach Hired!

The Trojan Cross Country and Track & Field Teams have a new coach - Tansey Lystad, which has a history of success in the NWAC in the past decade. "It's a privilege to be given the chance to lead the EvCC men's and women's cross country and track and field programs," Lystad said. "I hope to continue the tradition of academic and athletic excellence set in place by the coaches and athletes of the last 10 years." Lystad is a former assistant track and cross country coach at Bothell High School and is a lead coach for the Cascade Run Club, emphasizing on 5k to marathon training. Prior to her coaching experience, she was a two-time NCAA Division I All American, and four-time NCAA Division I national qualifier. She was the West Coast conference champion in women's cross country and also holds six University of Portland school records (6k cross country, indoor and outdoor 5k, 2k and 3k steeplechase and indoor distance medly relay). "We are very excited to have Tansey here and know that she will be a tremendous role model for our student athletes," Studer said. "Her organization and attention to detail along with her training philosophy will grow EvCC cross country and track and field into one of the top academic and athletic performing programs in the NWAC." The Trojan cross country programs have had a history of success in the NWAC within the last decade. The men's teams have placed second four times and won the NWAC championship twice, once in 2011 and most recently in 2013. Individually, 12 Trojans finished in the top 10 with one overall champion in 2011, Bereket Piatt.  The women have had an equally impressive run, placing second four times, most recently last season, and three NWAC championships in 2009, 2011 and 2012. Individually, 17 Trojans have placed in the top 10 and Shawna Schooley was a back-to-back NWAC champion in 2009 and 2010. Track and field has also shown some success, with five men's event NWAC champions and 12 women's event NWAC champions. "For the track and field program, our focus in the coming years will be an emphasis on building from a more distance-heavy team to a full-fledged NWAC-contending team for both men and women," Lystad said. "In addition to hiring a highly competitive and knowledgeable coaching staff to provide the best support team possible for the athletes, we will emphasize recruiting athletes who have the passion and drive to excel academically and athletically at EvCC and beyond."