Jacksonville University Women's Cross Country

July 2022-Present, Jacksonville University, Head Coach, Cross Country/Distance Coach Oversees all aspects of the men's and women’s distance programs. 2024-2025 The women saw a significant improvement compared to the previous year with a 9th place finish at XC conference (3 places higher than 2023, 6 points away from 8th). The top 5 women at the ASUN XC Championship 5k averaged 18:49. The men achieved their fastest and most competitive ASUN XC race in over 20 years. The women’s distance runners had a team GPA of 3.65 for the year. The men attained GPA records for spring semester (3.63) and the entire year (3.49 cumulative). Individual Accomplishments (improvements relative to prior year) Thomas Hellenbrand (Sr.)- 25:49 8k XC  (JU men's XC 5th all-time), 14:52 for 5k (fastest 5k by JU runner in over 20 years) Mya Bodrato (R-Jr.)- 17:45 5k at ASUN XC 2023 (XC PR) Jack Bolan (Jr.)- 26:20 for XC 8k (1:10 improvement) Zach Earley (So.)- 26:40 for XC 8k (1:40 improvement) Lana Grelli (So.)- 18:34 for 5k (never broke 20 before this year) Madeline Weiler (Jr.)- 18:45 in ASUN XC 5k (never broke 20 in XC before this season), 18:06 for 5k In distances ranging from 800-10kXC, this year 21 athletes ran PRs in distances they had run prior to fall 2024, with most of those who did PR doing so in multiple events 2023-2024 The men had their best performance since 2000 in the ASUN XC 8k. The women saw consistent improvements across the board from cross country through outdoor track. The men and women also both achieved GPAs above 3.4 for both semesters. Individual Student-Athlete Accomplishments Mya Bodrato (R-So.)- 18:32 5k at ASUN XC 2023, 4:35 for 1500m, 17:14 for 5k, 37:19 for 10k (8th place at ASUN Outdoor) Madeline Weiler (So.)- 5:15 for indoor mile (20+ second improvement), and 18:45 5k at ASUN Outdoor (first time breaking 20) Jack Bolan (So.)- 3:59.54 for 1500 (:10+ improvement) and 15:22 for 5k (:47 improvement) Victor Farfan (So.)- 15:17 for 5k, 3:58.09 for 1500, and 26:38 for ASUN XC 8k (:45 improvement) Thomas Hellenbrand (Jr.)- 25:58 8k at FSU and ASUN XC (JU men's XC 6th all-time) Zachary Mickler (So.)- 26:02 8k (JU men's XC 7th all-time), and best place in 10k by JU runner in 20+ years at XC South region In distances ranging from 800-10kXC, this year 20 athletes ran PRs in distances they had run prior to fall 2023, with most of those who did PR doing so in multiple events 2022-2023 The men had their best performance in over a decade in the ASUN XC 8k. They would have a significant improvement in scoring runners’ average time (29:10 avg. at Disney XC course in 2021 to 27:00 avg. at John Hunt Park in 2022). This would also be their first time beating an ASUN opponent outright in 9 years. In the classroom both sides excelled (men and women yearly GPAs above 3.3). The men also achieved their highest semester GPA ever in spring. Individual Student-Athlete Accomplishments Hayleigh Haid (Sr.)- All-ASUN XC 1st-team (16:49 5k- school record), ASUN Indoor 5k runner-up (16:38- school record), 9:35 for Indoor 3k school record, 10:04 for 3kSC regionals qualifier and school record, 16:29 for Outdoor 5k school record, JU AD Award (3.5+ GPA, exemplary person and athlete- picked by AD), 3kSC runner-up at ASUN Outdoor, 10:06 for 13th place at NCAA Regionals in 3kSC (her best place/time at regionals) Emma Sullivan (So.)- All-ASUN XC 3rd-team (17:35 5k- JU 5th all-time), and ASUN Indoor 800m champion (2:06.75- Indoor PR) Riley Maher (So.)- 26:07 at ASUN XC 8k (JU men's XC 8th all-time), 33:14 at South Region XC (fastest 10k time by JU runner in 10+ years by over 1:30) Thomas Hellenbrand (So.)- 26:21 at ASUN XC 8k (2:30+ improvement from previous year), 15:19 track 5k (1:10+ improvement from previous year) Owen Skelton (Jr.)- 26:59 at ASUN XC 8k (1:30+ improvement from previous year) In distances ranging from 800-8kXC, this year 19 athletes ran PRs in distances they had run prior to fall 2022, with most of those who did PR doing so in multiple events July 2021-June 2022, Jacksonville University, Head Coach, Men’s Cross Country Continued to oversee all aspects of the men's program and also began helping grow the women’s distance team. By the end of this year he built the men’s team to its largest roster size ever (20). The men also saw a significant improvement in the scoring runners’ average time in the ASUN XC 8k (30:43 avg. at MGSU course in 2020 to 29:10 avg. at Disney XC course in 2021), for their best performance in 4 years. The team’s performances were led by Owen Skelton (So.) running 28:30 in the ASUN XC 8k (2:00+ improvement from previous year). July 2019-June 2021, Jacksonville University, Assistant Coach, Cross Country Oversaw all aspects of the men's program including daily practice plans, competition strategy, and recruiting with the main focus being to grow the team (grew the roster by 9 runners by 2021). During this time, the team also saw a 15-second improvement in the scoring runners’ average time on a more difficult course in the ASUN XC 8k (30:58 avg. at FGCU in 2019 to 30:43 avg. at MGSU course in 2020). EDUCATION/AFFILIATIONS April 2018- M.S. Kinesiology, Jacksonville University, Jacksonville, FL (Graduated with 4.0 GPA) April 2016- B.S. Nutrition and Dietetics, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL (Graduated Summa Cum Laude- 3.8 GPA) USTFCCCA Endurance Specialist Certification USATF Level 1 Certified Track & Field Coach PERSONAL He is married to Olivia and they have one son. A native of Stuart, FL, he is also an avid reader and runner, having run a 2:36:59 to finish in 4th place at the hilly BMW Dallas Marathon in December 2022. He has also published research on running biomechanics.

Diego Vela enters his 12 season as Jacksonville University women's track and field assistant coach in 2025-26. In the 2025 season, Vela helped long jumper Julia Sue-Kam-Ling to the NCAA Championships where she was given an Honorable Mention All-American nod. Before the start of the 2024-25 season, Vela coached sprinter Mariandree Chacon during her time in the Paris Olympics running for Team Guatemala.  During the 2023 season, Kristi Snyman was crowned second time All-American in the High Jump at NCAA Outdoor Nationals (9th place) with a jump of 1.84m/6’-0.5ft. She finished top 17 in the 2023 Indoor National Ranking with a jump of 1.85m/6’-0.75ft. During the 2022 season, Vela coached three indoor conference champions, six outdoor conference champions, and four NCAA Prelims qualifiers. During the 2021 season, Adja Sackor qualified to the U.S Olympic Trials with a jump of 13.51m /44’-4”. Kristy Snyman in the high jump (1.82m) and Adja Sackor (13.51m) qualified to the NCAA Outdoor Nationals. During his time at JU, Vela has coached one U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier 2021 (triple jump), one Second Team All-American (HJ), six NCAA Outdoor National Championships qualifiers 2015 (2), 2019(1), 2021(2), 2023(1), 24 NCAA Prelims qualifiers, 37 Indoor Conference Individual Champions, 36 Outdoor Conference Individual Champions, seven ASUN Conference Jumps Records, seven JU Indoor School Jumps Records, 10 JU Outdoor School Records, 29 JU All-Time Top-Five Performances. The team has also averaged a 3.442 team GPA from 2014 until 2022. Vela, a native of Peru, graduated in 2006 from International School of Physical Education and Sports (Cuba) with a Bachelor of Physical Education and Sports; and earned his Master’s in Kinesiology at Jacksonville University (2020-2022). Vela spent five years in Cuba to enhance his coaching knowledge, witnessing the training of several World and Olympic champions at Pan American Stadium, spending time with coaches and the Cuban senior and junior teams which had their fair share of world-class athletes. Prior to his time in Jacksonville, Vela worked for from 2007 until 2012 in Guatemala as a track coach with the national federation team. He was a volunteer track coach at Creekside High School, the University of North Florida, and Jacksonville Track and Field Club from 2012 until 2014. Vela is proudly married to Mariaisys Gomez, a Cuban doctor and Nurse Practitioner. Vela wishes to thank Mariaisys and his family for the devoted love and support that make it possible to be a track coach and a family man. He is also very grateful to former Head Coach Ron Grigg, the student-athletes and Jacksonville University for the opportunity to work in such a great place, "JU didn't give me just a job. JU gave me my life back”. Vela is a Sprints & Hurdles, Jumps, Throws, Combined Events Specialist, and Strength and Conditioning Coach through USTFCCCA and Level II Certified Coach through USA Track & Field.

GriggJr Conference Championships: 20 / All-Americans: 10 / NCAA Champions: 1 Ron Grigg continues to raise the level of the Dolphins success as he enters his 15th season at the helm in 2016. Grigg became the director of track and field and cross country at JU in 2002 after serving as the associate head coach under former head coach Becky Motley for a year. Grigg originally came to JU in 1998 before leaving to serve as an assistant coach at Kansas State from 1999 to 2001. Grigg has made the Dolphins track program a beacon in the Atlantic Sun Conference by winning the A-Sun Indoor and Outdoor Championships in each of the last 10 seasons earning Coach of the Year in all 20 of those titles, as well as, earning the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association South Region Womens Coach of the Year in 2008.  Since taking over as head coach, Grigg has directly coached more than 120 conference champions in track and more than 250 all-conference performances.  The program has also produced greater than 300 Atlantic Sun All-Academic performers during that time.   In 2015, the Dolphins would sweep the indoor and outdoor titles for the 10th-straight year extending their conference record. The Dolphins have won every indoor title since the conference added the sport in 2006, while JUs outdoor team holds the record for the most consecutive titles in A-Sun history. At the 2015 NCAA Outdoor Championships, the 4x100 meter squad of Shanique Walker, Courtney Walker, Shadaey Campbell, and Ja'Mesha Richard ran a 44.70, placing 13th overall. Walker also competed in the 100 meter hurdles, placing seventh in a time of 12.96 seconds. The Dolphins earned five second team All-America honors. In 2013 Bienna Freeman became the fifth athlete in JU history to earn All-America honors after her performance in the 800m at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.  During the season she shattered the school record in the event by three seconds and nearly matched her record setting time in the semifinals of the NCAAs where she finished with a time of 2:04.71 which was the 10th overall time for the event. In addition to Freeman, Joane Pierre and sophomore Shanique Walker also advanced to the NCAA Outdoor Championships giving the Dolphins a program best three representatives.  Walker enjoyed a breakout season for the JU culminating with her record setting performance at the A-Sun Outdoor Championships in which she set the meet record for the 100m hurdles en route to earning 32.5 team points and Most Valuable Performer Honors. Charlene Charles added to her storied JU resume by becoming the first athlete in A-Sun history to win the long jump three times at the Indoor Championships.  She also was just one of 16 people in the country to qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships in the heptathlon before she had to withdraw due to sustaining a serious injury.  After missing the entire outdoor season due to the setback, Charles returned for the conference meet where she gutted it out in the heptathlon to win and end her career on a high note. The 2012 cross country season saw history made when Pierre became the first Dolphin in program history to win the individual conference title. She won with a time of 17:17.5 to win and secure first team all-conference honors for the third time in her career.  Pierre went on to finish seventh at the NCAA South Regional and advanced to the NCAA Cross Country Championships and finished her career as the program record holder in the 5K (17:17.5) and 6K (20:22.1). In 2009-10, the Dolphins became the first A-Sun school to win the Triple Crown after securing the cross country, indoor and outdoor track championships. The JU womens cross country built on its second place finish in 2008 by claiming six of the top 14 runners in the conference meet to win its first A-Sun Championship in 2009. They also produced a program-best ninth place finish at the NCAA South Regionals and were ranked as high as eighth in the USTFCCCA South Region Polls. The Dolphins ended the year by setting points records at the indoor (212) and outdoor (247) meets to secure their fifth straight conference championships. Due to the success, both JU relay teams and runners in the 400 and 800-meters earned spots to the NCAA East Preliminary Round. Charlene Charles was one of two freshmen to earn a position to the heptathlon at the NCAA Championships. From 2006-09, Grigg worked with Natasha Harvey, who finished her career as one of the best athletes in school history. Harvey earned a school-record five All-America honors in the long jump, secured seven berths in the NCAA Championships, produced 18 NCAA regional qualifying marks, won 22 individual conference titles and recorded 35 all-conference honors. She also won Most Outstanding Performer meet honors at the A-Sun Championships nine times and competed with Team USA twice (2006, 2008). Harvey got it done in the classroom as well, earning JU female Student of the Year honors and becoming the first female athlete in school history to be named A-Sun Student-Athlete of the Year for the 2008-09 school year. Grigg also recruited and coached Monique Tubbs, the school's first national champion (60-meter dash, 7.29) and a four-time All-America honoree; and Andrea Pressley, who finished fourth in the heptathlon at the 2004 NCAA Outdoor Championships. Besides the five All-America honorees and the 17 NCAA Division I Championship qualifiers, school records have been set in 20 of 23 outdoor events and 19 out of 21 indoor track events during Grigg's tenure as assistant and head coach. Grigg's teams have also shown success in the classroom, receiving the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team award for 14 consecutive years (2002-15). Since his return in 2001, the Dolphins have had more than 200 academic all-conference selections among the cross country and track teams. Also, the cross country, indoor and outdoor track teams have received NCAA Public Recognition for having APR in the top 10% nationally. While at Kansas State, Grigg served as the team's recruiting coordinator, sprints and hurdles coach and assistant meet director. In 2001, he helped lead the Wildcats to a Big 12 women's outdoor track championship. Grigg also coached 100-meter All-America selection and Big 12 indoor and outdoor champion Terence Newman, now a cornerback with the Dallas Cowboys. Prior to coming to Jacksonville in 1998, Grigg was an assistant coach at Division III power Wheaton (Mass.) College. Under Grigg's tutelage, nine Wheaton athletes earned a total of 21 All-America honors while capturing two individual NCAA championships and two national titles in the 4x400-meter relay. In addition, the 1997 men's team finished seventh in the nation and the women's squad finished as NCAA runners-up in both indoors and outdoors in 1998. Grigg began his coaching career at Carver High School in Baltimore, Md., in 1994 as the head cross country and track and field coach for one year before assuming an assistant coach position at Coppin State College in 1995. Grigg earned a Bachelor of Science in political science from Massachusetts-Dartmouth in 1993. Grigg holds USATF Level II coaching certifications in sprints, hurdles, jumps, throws and multi-events, and has instructed both USATF and USTFCCCA Coaching Certification courses with regularity.