Maryville Men’s Cross Country securefirst team win in almost two decades
On Sept. 13, Maryville College men’s cross country team made history with their first team race win since 2007. Competing at Berea College, the Scots had an unexpected victory against strong programs, including Berea and Asbury.
“After the race, I had no expectations for team placement,” Tyler Tangle (‘28) said. “When they announced we got first, I was so happy. I knew we had a good team, but that’s when I realized we have one of the best teams Maryville has ever had.”
This victory was the payoff of months of hard work and training for the runners and their coach.
“It was a very surreal moment,” Paul Kanios (‘28) said. “We showed up to the meet, and we were not supposed to win it at all. So hearing that we won [the meet] was definitely a ‘pinch myself’ moment. It felt really good knowing that we can perform at such a level, and we were very much the underdogs.”
The team’s success stems from a blend of camaraderie and preparation.
“The chemistry between this team is very solid,” Kanios said. “We’re very supportive of each other, and we hang out together whenever we can. We try to stay as close-knit as possible.”
Tangle agreed, crediting their success to their chemistry.
“We’ve all hung out as a team outside of practice basically every day this season,” Tangel said. “It’s awesome to know all my teammates personally and be such good friends with every single runner.”
Each runner also has their own pre-race ritual and mental strategies. For Kanios, preparing for a race involves both discipline and faith.
“When we’re about 20 minutes from the course, I’ll switch my music to more aggressive, lock-in music,” Kanios explained. “While we walk the course, I’m envisioning how I’ll approach every turn. Before the race, I thank God for letting me run, asking Him to keep all the runners safe, and to let me glorify Him by running.”
Even while battling sickness and adjusting to longer race distances, the Scots pushed through.
“A lot of our team was either sick or getting over sickness, and this race was the first 10k for all the freshmen,” Tangel said.
Alumni and Head Coach Kaitlyn Carringer-Adams (‘19) has been key to the program’s turnaround. Adams emphasizes teamwork, pack running, and personal growth in her coaching philosophy.
“I was extremely proud,” Adams said when recalling the moment she realized her team won. “It was the best I had seen the team run as a group since I’ve been at Maryville. Because they worked together, they were able to win.”
Adams attributes the team’s breakthrough to recruitment and team-building. She wanted to work on each individual’s weaknesses and strengths. Adams also said that relationships are the key to success.
Those philosophies clearly paid off. The team continues to run as a pack, posting record-breaking team averages and personal bests throughout the season.
Director of Athletics Andrew Wu praised Adams for her leadership and the team’s growth.
“The cross country team has been steadily growing over the last few years under Coach Adams,” Wu said. “She’s done a fantastic job recruiting and developing both teams.”
Wu also mentioned that both Rookies of the Year were in the Collegiate Conference of the South last year, showing where the program is headed. Kanios mentioned that being part of MC history is a big deal, and he is honored to be running with great teammates.
This victory is only the beginning, sparking confidence in the team. The Scots are aiming high and focusing on maintaining momentum as they prepare for the conference championships.
“At our very first team meeting, I told them they had the potential to do something great, they just needed to believe in me,” Adams said. “Now, they’re starting to believe in themselves.”