With the school year started , the cross country team is running under new leadership this season.

Simpson College recently hired former University of Iowa runner Heath Moenck to lead the Storm this season.

“Simpson College is involved in a great conference and is a great private institution for me to be a part of,” Moenck said.

Moenck, a Webster City native, spent many successful years in his own running career, lettering in cross country and track and field at the University of Iowa. Moenck also served as captain of the cross country squad during his senior year.

Athletic director John Sirianni believes Simpson College is very fortunate to have hired such a young head coach with personal experience in competitive sports and leadership.

“He (Moenck) has a tremendous amount of energy and drive for success,” Siranni said. “We are looking forward to his leadership in the program.”

Moenck feels that his passion for running and coaching really began to stand out during his running career at the University of Iowa.

“Working with the kids and helping them achieve individual goals is a great feeling,” Moenck said. “Once individual goals are met, team goals can be met together.”

Moenck spent two of the last three years coaching at Augustana College and one year at the University of St. Thomas.

Senior cross country runners Maddy McAreavy and Matt Stone are both looking forward to running their last season under such great leadership.

“He’s been a really great coach for the team,” McAreavy said. We are doing new workouts with plyometric and agility components that really help. He is extremely enthusiastic about our program and being a part of the Storm.”

Stone feels that Moenck has done a good job coming in and holding each runner accountable for every workout.

“We are putting in the extra time and effort and I know if we continue to work as hard as we are currently, only good things will come out of this season,” Stone said. “Coach Moenck has come in and done a nice job setting his training into place.”

With 14 men and 11 women, Moenck feels his experience being a part of the Simpson College running program has been off to a terrific start.

“Everyone is motivated and working extremely hard this season,” Moenck said. “I look forward to seeing the team grow as a whole and helping bring out the team’s strengths.”

Both the men and women’s cross country teams took fourth at the season opener last Saturday, Sept. 3 at the Central Dutch Invitational.