Appalachian State University Men's Cross Country

Whitney Smyre was appointed an assistant coach at App State in 2019. The 2011 App State graduate coaches all five throwing events for both the men’s and women’s programs.    During the 2025 season, Smyre coached Christopher Stewart to a personal best toss of 17.19m (56’ 4.75”) in the men’s shot put to place fifth at the Sun Belt Outdoor Championships. His mark elevated him to fourth on the App State all-time list. Stewart also led the Mountaineers in the discus, recording a season best mark of 47.62m (156’ 3”) at the App State Open. Smyre also guided Jake Stewart, who led the Black and Gold in the hammer throw and javelin through the outdoor season. On the women’s side, Smyre guided Brittany Ellis, Dianna Boykin, Emily Edwards, and Abigail Goetz, who led the team in the shot put, discus, hammer throw, and javelin, respectively.    In 2024, Smyre coached Chris Wainscott to his second consecutive appearance in the men’s shot put at the NCAA East First Round, having qualified in the men’s shot put in 2023. Wainscott finished his career at App State ranked second all-time in the shot put, fourth all-time in the discus, and fifth all-time in the hammer throw. In the women’s weight throw, Daiyanna Cooper matched LaShanna Poole’s 2003 mark of 17.70m (58’ 1”) to rank eighth on the program all-time list at the Sun Belt Indoor Championships.    During the 2023 season, Wainscott rose to second all-time with a toss of 17.95m (58’ 10.75”) in the men’s shot put. Additionally, Wainscott rose to fourth all-time in the men’s discus with a toss of 51.26m (168’ 2”). Nathan Karl also cemented himself in the record book, where he ranks sixth in the men’s discus (50.79m (166’ 8”)) and eighth in the men’s shot put (17.01m (55’ 9.75”)). On the women’s side, Graysen Arnold recorded a toss of 18.00m (59’ 0.75”) to rise to sixth in the women’s weight throw on the App State all-time list. During the outdoor season Cooper rose to second all-time with a toss of 56.86m (186’ 6”) in the women’s hammer throw and posted a mark of 13.61m (44’ 8”) to move to ninth in the women’s shot put on the all-time list.    The 2022 season saw Karl lead the men in the men’s shot put with a mark of 16.19m (53’ 1.5”), which earned him a seventh-place finish to score at the Sun Belt Outdoor Championships. He also led the Mountaineers in the men’s discus with a toss of 50.24m (164’ 10”). Under Smyre’s direction, Zachary Weinstein led the Black and Gold in the men’s hammer throw with a season best toss of 56.13m (184’ 2”) at the Georgia Tech Invitational, where he finished fourth overall. Cooper led the Mountaineers in the women’s shot put and women’s hammer throw, with marks of 12.44m (40’ 9.75”) and 50.60m (166’ 0”), respectively. Smyre also guided Megan Plummer to a season best toss of 38.07m (124’ 11”) in the women’s discus.    The 2021 outdoor season saw Smyre coach Karl to all-conference honors in the shot put. In addition, Chrysitan Smith and Karl both scored points for App State in the discus at the conference meet.   In her first two seasons, Smyre has coached one all-conference honoree and seen her athletes post four top-10 outdoor marks (two male, two female) and one top-10 indoor mark.   Smyre returned to App State after serving eight seasons in the Division II South Atlantic Conference. Spending six seasons at Wingate University (2011-2017), and her last two seasons at Lenoir-Rhyne University (2017-2019).    During her time in the SAC Smyre coached:  - 3 - SAC Team Champions (Wingate University Men 2014, Wingate University Women 2017, and Lenoir-Rhyne University Women 2019) - 5 - Division II NCAA National Provisional Qualifiers (Jesse Lavelle: Hammer-2014, Hannah Hinson: Weight Throw-2016, Myles Braswell: Indoor Shot Put-2017, Haylea Salamon: Discus-2017, Autumn Drayton: Discus-2019) - 14 - SAC Conference Champions (8 Men, 6 Women) - 25 - Southeast All-Region Finishers (10 Men, 15 Women) - 46 - SAC All-Conference Finishers (26 Men, 20 Women) - 132 - SAC Top 9 Finishers (67 Men, 65 Women)   In addition to her coaching experience, while at App State from 2006-2011, she threw every event with the exception of Javelin under the guidance of former ASU coach April Smith. Smyre was a 4-Time SoCon Champion (Weight Throw 2009,2011/Hammer 2009/Shot Put 2009), 8-Time SoCon All Conference, 12-Time All-Region performer. But arguably her greatest personal accolade was being a Division I NCAA East Regional Qualifier in the Hammer Throw (2009).   Smyre earned her B.S in Health Promotions with a minor in Foods and Nutrition while at Appalachian. She is USA Track and Field Level I certified and USTFCCCA Track and Field Academy certified. 

Raymond Brewer joined the App State Track & Field staff as an assistant coach in 2018. Brewer, a 1996 graduate of Appalachian State, coaches sprints, hurdles, and high jump for both the men's and women's program.   During the 2025 season, Brewer guided several sprinters to high marks in the men’s 200 meters, and 400 meters in the App State all-time list. Under Brewer’s direction, Brandon Parker broke into the all-time list top-10 in the men’s 200 meters with a time of 21.17 as a freshman under Brewer’s guidance. Additionally, Parker, Armonté Ferguson, Jonathan Wilson, and Lee collected Third-Team All-SBC honors with a bronze finish in the men’s 4x100-meter relay at the Sun Belt Outdoor Championships. Parker Kinney also scored for the Mountaineers at the SBC Outdoor Championships, placing fifth in the men’s 400 meters with a personal best of 47.17.    In 2024, Brewer coached Harrison Robinson to a time of 13.93 in the men’s 110-meter hurdles, which launched him to third in the App State all-time list. Robinson earned third team all-conference honors and qualified for the 2024 NCAA East Preliminary Round, where he placed 35th with a time of 14.05. Brewer also guided the women’s 4x400-meter relay quartet of Nicole Wells, Sierra Smith, Daye Talley, and Jayla Adams to Second Team All-SBC honors after clocking a program record 3:40.01. The women’s 4x100-meter relay team of Kendall Johnson, Sierra Smith, Taylor Smith, and Adams also scored for the Mountaineers at the SBC Outdoor Championships with a fourth-place finish and time of 44.95. Additionally, Brewer coached the men’s 4x400-meter relay team, men’s 4x100-meter relay team, Kinney, Hiatt, Taylor Smith, and Nadiyah Byard to top-eight finishes to score for the Black and Gold at the conference meet. In the men’s high jump, Hiatt finished sixth at the outdoor championships with a leap of 2.02m (6’ 7.5”) to score for the Mountaineers. The 2024 campaign also saw Cole Krehnbrink move to sixth all-time in the men’s 400 meters with a personal best of 47.47.    During the 2023 season, Brewer guided Mariah Atwater to Second Team All-SBC honors and a silver finish in the women’s 400 meters with a time of 54.41 at the Sun Belt Outdoor Championships. During the indoor season, Brewer saw Atwater break the women’s 400 meter record with a time of 55.24 and guided the 4x400-meter relay team of Jelonnie Smith, Jada Branch, Hunter Robinson, and Atwater finish fourth with a time of 3:43.42, as both placed fourth at the SBC Indoor Championships. Brewer also coached Christian Gore to a time of 52.52 in the 400-meter hurdles, which moved him to seventh all-time at App State.    Brewer coached Dylan Blankenship to a fifth-place finish in the men’s 400-meter hurdles with a time of 53.10 at the 2022 Sun Belt Outdoor Championships. During the indoor season, Brewer saw Hunter Robinson and Atwater rise to fourth and fifth on the App State all-time list in the women’s 300 meters.    In the 2020-21 season, Brewer saw the Mountaineers place two in the top-five of the conference in the 400-meter hurdles. Blankenship placed fourth in the event and Dalton was right behind in fifth place. In addition, he saw the men's 4x400-meter relay team cross fourth at the Sun Belt Championships.   During the 2018-19 season, Brewer's impact was felt within the program. He coached Elliott Graves to the indoor 60-meter hurdle Sun Belt title and the 400-meter hurdles outdoor conference title. In addition, Graves also qualified for the NCAA East Regional qualifier in the 400-meter hurdles. Brewer also saw the men's 4x100-meter relay team take second at the Sun Belt Outdoor Championships and coached a combined eight marks that entered the top-10 in the men's and women's program.   Brewer came to the High Country after serving as an assistant coach at Charlotte for six seasons. While with the 49ers, he coached 26 all-conference performers, sent 15 athletes to the NCAA East Regional Qualifier and four athletes to the USATF Junior National Championships. He also coached athletes to a combined total of 78 top-10 performances. In addition, he helped lead Charlotte to the Atlantic-10 Women's Indoor Track & FIeld title in 2012 and 2013. He also saw the 49er women's outdoor squad win the Atlantic-10 title in 2012 and 2013 and the men's program win the conference championship in 2012.   Prior to his time at Charlotte, Brewer served as an assistant at Davidson from Sept. 2005 to May 2011. While with the Wildcats, he coached two NCAA qualifiers, including one All-American high jumper, and saw his athletes break 15 school records.   Brewer has also had coaching stints at Lees-McRae, where he coached eight NCAA Division II national and provisional qualifiers, and at Brevard, where he coached student-athletes to 10 NJCAA national qualifying marks, six NAIA national and provisional qualifying marks and a pair of school records.   He is USA Track and Field Level I and Level II certified and a United State Weightlifting Certified Sport Performance Coach.