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The University of Dallas named Jody Hawkins the new track coach for the 2008-2009 school year. She is also the UD cross country coach and has already led the team to a successful start to the 2008 campaign by winning the women's North Eastern Athletic Conference championship, and being named the NEAC's women's coach of the year. In her fist year as head track coach, the Texas native helped the 2009 team to 4 school records. Junior Greg Pivarunas broke 800 meter record with a 1:58.61 and the 300 meter record by running a 9:33.51. Fellow junior Angela Cuba also broke the 3000 meter record one the women's side with a 10:55.41 and 4 girls set the new 4x100 realy standard of 53.37. Freshmen Patricia Russo, Teresa Tesoriero, Melea Shimkus, and Rachel Yuengert set the record and showed promising signs for seasons to come.

Hawkins will be joining the University after a very successful stint at Centennial High School where she was named Cross Country Coach of the Year in 2007 for district 9-4AAAA. She had been a very successful high school coach for ten years in which she developed 90 district champions, 13 regional champions, and 8 state championship medalists. Hawkins also has had a very distinguished personal career in long distance running. During her college days, she was a five time All-American from 1984-89 and holds every distance record at UT-San Antonio. As she moved on to professional running, she continued to climb in the running world reaching a #6 ranking in the world by Runners World Magazine and a #1 ranking in the 10 mile in 1993. She currently holds the third best 5k for runners forty and older and set the American Masters 3k indoor record in 2007 with a time of 9:56.24. The University is glad that they are adding such a very successful and passionate runner and hope that Hawkins can help the Crusaders find success in the 2008 season and beyond.

Her success as cross country coach at UD during the 2008 season and her experience within the running community, have the Crusader track team set for a much anticipated breakout season. The 2009 track schedule has been announced and the team will open at the Trinity Open in San Antonio, TX on February 22.

2009 Season Recap

It was a year to go down in the record books for the for 2009 University of Dallas Track and Field team. The team broke four school records under first year head coach Jody Hawkins, and narrowly missed out on setting another. Junior Greg Pivarunas (Elma, NY/St. Francis H.S.) accounted for the two record setting performances on the men's side, while fellow junior Angela Cuba (Holliday TX/Holliday H.S.) and the relay team comprised of freshmen Teresa Tesoriero (Phoenix, AZ/Veritas Prep), Patricia Russo (Middleburg Heights, OH/St. Joseph Academy), Melea Shimkus (Columbia, MO/Helias H.S), and Rachel Yuengert (Moorpark, CA/Reina H.S.) set records of their own. Fresh off of being named NEAC and AD3I women's cross country coach of the year, Hawkins led the teams to 5 wins on the men's side and 10 more on the women's side.

Junior Greg Pivarunas had a great season once again and led the men's squad throughout a successful season. He broke the men's 800 meter record running a 1:59.46, which was previously held at 2:00.7. At the same meet, he also broke the men's 3000 meter run, blowing away the old record of 10:18 by running a 9:33.51. Pivarunas bested his 800 meter record later in the season by cutting his time from 1:59.46 to 1:58.61. Freshman Michael Falconer (Portland, OR, Portland Waldorf H.S.) also broke the old 3000 meter record at that meet with a time of 9:53.48, but Pivarunas' time was faster. In recognition of his outstanding season, Pivarunas was named team MVP from a vote of his teammates.

On the women's side junior Angela Cuba (Holliday TX/Holliday H.S.) also had an amazing season. Cuba broke the school record in the 3000 meter run, which was 11:00.26, by running a 10:55.41. Freshmen Teresa Tesoriero, Patricia Russo, Melea Shimkus, and Rachel Yuengert comprised the lone women's relay team. They competed in the 4x100 meter and 4x400 meter relays at almost every meet during the season. Their best time was a 53.37 in the 4x100 meter, which beat the UD school record of 54.3. They were also .10 off of the school record in the 4x400 meter relay.

The field team was also able to compete in several new and exciting events this season. Freshman Joe Blute (Houston, TX/Jersey Village H.S) discovered javelin throwing and was later joined by freshman John Paul Mulhern (Phoenix, AZ/Veritas Prep Academy). Freshmen Melea Shimkus (Columbia, MO/Helias H.S) and Joshua McGehee (Phoenix, AZ/Veritas Prep Academy) came into the school with limited experience as pole vaulters and were joined by newcomer and freshman Blaise Dufrain (Manassas, VA/Seton Home School).

Overall, the 2009 University of Dallas' track and field team did very well considering the average size of the team that showed up to compete, which was usually around 19 athletes. The team also fought through the inclement weather they faced at several of the meets. With coach Hawkins back next year and the growth of the athletes on the team, next year looks even better for the University of Dallas track team.

Two Cross Country & Track Runners Named CoSIDA Academic All-District

Junior team leaders Angela Cuba (Holliday, TX/Holliday H.S.) and Greg Pivarunas (Elma, NY/St. Francis Academy) were recently selected as CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District winners. Since both student-athletes were named to the first team, the two are eligible for the CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American team that will be announced later this month.

The duo led both the women and men to impressive cross country and track seasons under the guidance of first year head coach Jody Hawkins. Cuba led the women's cross country team in all eight races this season and ran a season best 6k time of 24:19, a season best 5k time of 18:40, was a five top ten finishes, won two races, was named AD3I Runner of the Week three times, AD3I Runner of the Month one time, NEAC Student-Athlete of the Week one time, was named first team All-NEAC, finished 2nd at NEAC meet & broke UD 5k record with 18:40. She was also named 1st team AD3I, and named All-Region after her 33rd place finish at NCAA South/Southeast Region and was honored as All-Academic by USTFCCA in 2008. She also holds the 3000 meter track record at UD of 10:55.41 set during the 2009 campaign. Since her arrival at UD in 2006, she has won various awards, including being named cross country MVP in 2006, an AD3I 2nd team member for cross country in 2006, and is a five time letter winner (three cross country, two track). The English major possesses a 3.73 GPA and has been named to the Dean's List all six semesters she has been at the University.

Pivarunas led the 2008 men's cross counry team in seven of eight races, had three top 10 finishes, and ran a best 8k time of 28:48.7. He also ran a school record 1:58.61 800 meter and 9:33.51 3000 meter during the 2009 track season. The five time letter-winner (three cross country, two track) was named the cross country MVP in 2008 and the track MVP in 2009, as well as a cross country captain in 2008. Other than the two track records he set this season, Pivarunas is the UD record holder in the cross country 5k and the track 4x4 relay. He was named to 1st Team NEAC All-Conference in cross country in 2008, 2nd team AD3I in cross country in 2008, Honorable Mention AD3I in cross country in 2007, and Honorable Mention AD3I in cross country in 2006. He was also a six time AD3I runner of the week for cross country during the 2008 campaign and NEAC student-athlete of week one time during the same season. The double major in English and Classics possesses a 3.756 and like Cuba has been named to the Dean's List all six semesters he has been at the University.

Greg Pivarunas

Crusader Track Program History

Track and Field is one of the newest varsity sports at the University of Dallas, having been added in 1998. The team currently competes in the NCAA Division III as an independent.

The program's most significant accomplishment is the achievement of Adam Todd. Todd was a NCAA Division III National Qualifier in the 100 meter race in the 2004 season.

The Association of Division III Independents

The University of Dallas is a charter member of the Association of Division III Independents. Please click on the heading below to check out all the latest information.