John Carroll University Women's Cross Country

Basista enters his third season for the John Carroll University men's and women's track & field and cross country programs.  He was named head coach for those programs in June of 2014. Basista's second season began quite well. The men's cross country team tabbed a second place finish in the OAC Championships and a seventh place spot in the NCAA DIII Great Lakes Regional. The JCU women's cross country squad also took second at OAC Championships and a fifth place finish in the  NCAA DIII Great Lakes Regional.  Basista made an immediate impact on the program during the 2014 cross country season. He guided the men's squad to its first-ever All-Ohio title, it's highest-ever NCAA Regional and OAC Championship finishes and had the men's team nationally ranked for the first time in program history. Three of his charges qualified for the NCAA Division III Cross Country National Championship.   Most recently serving the Blue Streaks as recruiting coordinator and associate head coach, Basista was an integral force in raising the level of performance of both cross country and track & field at John Carroll. Working with former JCU head coach Dara Ford, Basista helped guide both the men and women cross country to back-to-back top 10 performances in the regional championships and top three finishes at the OAC Championship. Basista has been a part of four coaching staffs honored by the OAC. In 2015, he was the "headliner: of the OAC Women's Coaching Staff of the Year along with assistants Jake Alexander and Bobby Over. The most notable team accomplishments included a second-place finish at the OAC Championships and fifth-place finish at the Great Lakes Regional. That season began with a win at the Penn State Behrend Invitational. Two weeks later, the team placed fourth out of 19 teams at the All-Ohio Championships. The other three honors came in his assistant coaching years. In 2013, the women's cross country staff was tabbed as the staff of the year by the OAC as JCU won its first women's cross country conference championship since 1991. The men's cross country squad was selected the Co-Coaching Staff of the Year in 2011, while the staff received the Coaching Staff of the Year honors on the women's side in 2009. Basista has mentored two school record holders in Will Rial (3,000M steeplechase, 2013) and Megan Lutz (10,000M, 2012) as well as record holder and 2014 Division III All-American Rocky Mitolo in the shot put.    During Basista's tenure on the JCU staff, the Blue Streaks achieved regional ranking distinction for the first time in both cross country and track & field  

Alexander has joined the John Carroll University track & field and cross country staff as announced by first-year head coach Kyle Basista. "I am very excited for Jake to join the John Carroll community and cross country/track & field program, said Basista. He brings a wealth of knowledge and success as an athlete and coach at GVSU. Our student athletes are going to greatly benefit from Jake's passion, enthusiasm, attention to detail and leadership ability. Jake is going to be a tremendous asset as we strive for excellence and will greatly impact the student-athlete experience." Alexander's duties will include serving as the head recruiting coordinator, sprints, hurdles and relays. As a volunteer coach at GVSU, Alexander assisted with hurdles, sprints, and jumps. Twenty of his charges earned All-American status. Additionally, 22 of his student-athletes had national qualifying times. Im truly blessed that Kyle gave me the opportunity to be a part of the program, said Alexander. I am really excited to join his team and his staff. Im looking forward to taking this program and what hes built to the next level. Alexander assisted with Grand Valley States recruiting efforts including conducting on-campus and off-campus visits. As a student-athlete, Alexander competed in both sprints and hurdles. He was a 5-time All-GLIAC performer. As a team Grand Valley State won seven out of eight GLIAC conference championships during his career. As a senior, Alexander was a team captain for the Lakers. He graduated with a history degree in 2013.

Mayer, class of 2011 from John Carroll University. Alicia is going into her third year as the jumps coach for the track and field program.  She was a four year letter winner during her career at JCU, and participated in long jump, triple, jump, 200 meter dash, 4x100,4x200, and 4x400. On the track for John Carroll, Giannell Mayer ended her career as an Academic All-American and a National Qualifier (14th place 2008) in Division Three.  She also received All-OAC honors in Long Jump, Triple, 4x400 relay, and the DMR.  Giannell Mayer also received All-Ohio honors in Long Jump and Triple Jump and was OAC Athlete of the Month in June of 2009. Alicia Giannell Mayer in a native of Perry, Ohio (Lake County) and a graduate of Perry High School and John Carroll University.  As a Blue Streak, Alicia graduated with a Bachelors of Arts degree in History with an education licensure and is pursuing a Masters Degree  in Humanities at John Carroll University.  

Over, a 6-time All-American from Allegheny College, has been named the new graduate assistant for the track & field and cross country programs. Over was a 3-time cross country All-American. He finished second at the NCAA Division III National Championship as a junior with time of 24:34 in the 8k race. As a senior Over finished ninth in the NCAA Division III National Championship. He added a 17th-place finish as a junior. On the cross country course, Over was a 3-time NCAA Mid-East Regional Champion. On the track Over was a 3-time All-American. He capped his career with a third-place finish in the 3k steeplechase at the 2014 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field National Championship crossing at 8:56.46. The Wadsworth, Ohio native finished fourth in the indoor 5k as a junior with a career-best time of 14:25. He picked up outdoor All-American honors in the 3k steeplechase as a sophomore crossing seventh. A member of SAAC, Over graduated with a degree in history with minors in economics and Spanish. He will be pursuing a Master's in non-profit administration.