Mary Jayne Harrelson enters her third season as the assistant cross country coach for Virginia Tech. She had a banner track career at Appalachian State University, where she was coached by Tech cross country coach Ben Thomas.
"She brings high energy and enthusiasm to the team," Thomas said. "She is all about the team and has been at the top level."
Harrelson joined the Tech program after serving as a volunteer assistant for Thomas at the University of Georgia. She was a six-time All-American and won two NCAA 1,500-meter titles at ASU. On top of that, she was named 2001 NCAA Woman of the Year for the state of North Carolina and made the finals in two events at the U.S. Olympic Trials. She was also named the Southern Conference Female Athlete of the Year in 1999 and 2001 on top of winning 23 conference championships.
Now in her third year as a post-collegiate runner, Harrelson is continuing to train in addition to coaching, and her hard work is paying off. Her most recent accomplishment included finishing fifth in the 1,500m finals of the 2004 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Team Trials in Sacramento. In 2003, Harrelson represented the United States in the Pan-American Games, winning a silver medal in the 1,500 meters. She produced second-place finishes in both the mile and the 800 at the 2002 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships, running personal records in both events. Furthermore, she broke the Rector Field House record in the 800 at the Last Chance Invitational in 2002.
"It's encouraging, because in high school Mary Jayne ran times much like the women on our team, and look at what she has accomplished," Thomas said. "This is a great time for her to continue coaching, but her goals for the future include a spot on the World Championship team and the Olympic team."
A native of Roxboro, N.C., Harrelson graduated from Appalachian State in 2001 with a B.S. in criminal justice.
Mary Jayne Harrelson enters her third season as the assistant cross country coach for Virginia Tech. She had a banner track career at Appalachian State University, where she was coached by Tech cross country coach Ben Thomas.
"She brings high energy and enthusiasm to the team," Thomas said. "She is all about the team and has been at the top level."
Harrelson joined the Tech program after serving as a volunteer assistant for Thomas at the University of Georgia. She was a six-time All-American and won two NCAA 1,500-meter titles at ASU. On top of that, she was named 2001 NCAA Woman of the Year for the state of North Carolina and made the finals in two events at the U.S. Olympic Trials. She was also named the Southern Conference Female Athlete of the Year in 1999 and 2001 on top of winning 23 conference championships.
Now in her third year as a post-collegiate runner, Harrelson is continuing to train in addition to coaching, and her hard work is paying off. Her most recent accomplishment included finishing fifth in the 1,500m finals of the 2004 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Team Trials in Sacramento. In 2003, Harrelson represented the United States in the Pan-American Games, winning a silver medal in the 1,500 meters. She produced second-place finishes in both the mile and the 800 at the 2002 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships, running personal records in both events. Furthermore, she broke the Rector Field House record in the 800 at the Last Chance Invitational in 2002.
"It's encouraging, because in high school Mary Jayne ran times much like the women on our team, and look at what she has accomplished," Thomas said. "This is a great time for her to continue coaching, but her goals for the future include a spot on the World Championship team and the Olympic team."
A native of Roxboro, N.C., Harrelson graduated from Appalachian State in 2001 with a B.S. in criminal justice.
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