Central Methodist College Men's Cross Country

Nelson oversees the development of the Eagle distance runners during the track season.  Nelson came to CMU after a 13-year stint as a high school history teacher and coach in Dixon, Illinois. During his time at Dixon, the track team won six straight conference titles. In addition, Nelson coached the boy's cross country teams to their lone state championship and also led the girl's team to a 4th-place finish; both of which occured in 2008. Nelson also coached at Sauk Valley Community College (Ill.), where he had a national top 15 cross country team finish in the NJCAA National Cross Country Championships. Nelson graduated from Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill., with a Bachelors Degree in Secondary Education and History. He earned his Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from National-Louis University. While at Augustana, Nelson competed for the Vikings in the triple jump. In 1996, Nelson earned NCAA DIII All-American honors in the event. He was a three-time national qualifier and five time all-conference performer in the long jump and triple jump. Nelson is a USATF Level II certified coach in the jumps. Nelson lives in Fayette with his wife Colleen and two daughters, Jennifer and Stephanie. Ed Stewart is originally from Kingston, Jamaica and is a 2013 graduate of Central Methodist University. Ed earned his Masters in Athletic Administration from William Woods University in 2016. As a student-athlete at Central Methodist University, Ed was a two-time NAIA National Champion in the 60m hurdles (2010-11), a two-time NAIA All-American in the 110m hurdles (2010-11), and broke the NAIA Indoor Championships meet record in the 60m hurdles (7.89, 2011). He graduated with five CMU indoor school records and five outdoor records. Prior to joining the Coaching Staff at Central Methodist University, Ed was a volunteer track and field coach at the University of Missouri-Columbia. While at the University of Missouri-Columbia, Ed coached 4 School records, 2 All-SEC First Team, 3 individual All-SEC team members, 8 West regional Qualifiers, and 4 NCAA National Championship Qualifiers.  Ed is a USTFCCCA Level 1 certified coach in Track and Field. Jacob Portock enters his second season as a graduate assistant with the distance runners at Central Methodist University. Portock graduated from Mansfield University, after competing for two years on their cross country team. Portock graduated from Mansfield University in May of 2015. Prior to attending Mansfield University, Portock spent two-years as a member of the cross country and track & field teams at Division I St. Francis University (PA). Prior to college, Portock was a four-year varsity member of track & field and two year varsity member of cross country at Souderton High. He was named 2nd team All-Continental League in 2010, earned 3rd team All-Continental League honors in 2009, he garnered All-Continental League honorable mention in 2008, and was a three-time recipient of the Coach's Award.  Jacob Dennis-Oehling enters his second year as a graduate assistant at Central Methodist University. He will be in charge of the long sprinters, relays and multi-events Dennis-Oehling comes to Fayette, Missouri, after spending a year as the Assistant Jumps Coach at the University of Wisconsin in Eau Claire. Last season, Dennis-Oehling assisted with the 2015 NCAA Division III Indoor National Champion teams, as UW-Eau Claire got runner-up in both men and women. He coached the WIAC men's indoor triple jump all-american and conference champion; in Cody Prince. He also coached and helped all four women he coached to qualify for the WIAC indoor and outdoor confernce meet in the triple jump. Dennis-Oehling had a very decorated career as a runner at UW-Eau Claire. Before graduating in the spring of 2014, he was a two-time National Champion in the indoor and outdoor 4x400m relays, he finished third all-time in the outdoor 4x100m relay in Division 3 and he was a two-time Drake Relays College Division Champion in 2012 and 2013. He qualified for Nationals nine times, was named an Academic All-American in 2014 and was team captain in 2012-13 and 2013-14.  ©2016 Central Methodist University. All rights reserved. 411 Central Methodist Square, Fayette, MO 65248