The Simpson College cross country teams have been training in a different fashion this past fall. Assistant Coach Dave Griffith has introduced heart rate monitors to the 2002 team.

“Before Dave joined us he was a personal trainer so we are lucky to have him bring his expertise to us,” Head Coach Erin Bresnan said. “He used the monitors while personal training and brought them into our attention.”

“The goal of the monitors is to lower our resting heart rate,” senior Derek McChurch said. “Our heart will pump blood more efficiently so the oxygen can get to our muscles.”

The cross country teams decided to purchase a few monitors at the beginning of the season and since then many of the runners have purchased their own.

Senior Tony Ekman believes the monitors are benefiting the team in its training.

The Storm had a chance to see how the monitors are working at this past weekends home meet, the Simpson Buxton Open.

The men placed fourth as a team with Ekman leading the way with a sixth place finish. Fellow seniors Bryan Maher and Doug Besch went back-to-back finishing in 13th and 14th place.

“Both Bryan and Doug really stepped it up,” Ekman said.

The Storm finished in fifth place on the women’s side. Freshman Stephanie Shenefield led the way with a 37th place finish.

“We need to start coming together as a team and just all try to be on at the same time,” said freshman Grace Johnson.

The women continue to battle injury with three members of its limited roster being out.

Simpson changed up the course at the home meet this past weekend.

“Our course was really different than what we are used to,” freshman Kirsty Moreno said. “There was a lot of hills and nobody on the women’s side even broke 20 minutes.”

“Overall I thought the meet was a huge success,” Bresnan said. “Many coaches told me they were pleased with the level of competition.”