Meredith College Women's Cross Country

Payne joined the Meredith College athletics staff in August 2015 as the new Head Cross Country/Track & Field Coach. Meredith will compete in track and field for the first time in spring 2016. Payne offers more than 20 years of coaching experience to the athletics team, most recently with a 10-year stint at Ravenscroft School in Raleigh. She directed the cross country team and managed primarily the distance runners in track, while teaching physical education classes. During her tenure with the Ravens, Payne elevated the girl's program to a state championship contender as one of the top-three private school programs in North Carolina. The boy's moved from a bottom-tier team to a seventh-place finish last spring. In 1999 Payne served as the venue coordinator for the Special Olympics Track and Field World Games where she managed the 10-day international competition. During her two years with Team USA, Payne trained Special Olympics track athletes in a variety of events and traveled with athletes to multiple competitions. A graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill with a Bachelor's in Physical Education, Payne advanced her knowledge with a Master's in Recreational Administration from North Carolina State University. Additionally, she completed her Level 2 USA Track and Field Coaches Association certification with an emphasis in endurance training. After receiving her master's Payne served as a physical education instructor at N.C. State for four years while coaching at a local, private middle school. Payne lives in Raleigh with husband Scott, and their son Alex will begin his freshman year in college this fall.

Roelofs joined the cross country coaching staff in August 2015 as a volunteer assistant coach. New to Meredith College as an instructor with the Department of Nutrition, Health, and Human Performance, Roelofs four-year collegiate career at NCAA Division III Gustavus Adolphus College added a significant layer to the Meredith staff. Roelofs competed in the heptathlon in track and served as captain of both cross country and track and field as a senior with the Golden Gusties. While a student-athlete at Gustavus, Roelofs served as a running camp counselor during annual summer camps. She taught proper goal setting techniques, correct running form, and motivational and leadership skills to youth campers. After graduating from Gustavus, Roelofs coached hurdles and high jump as an assistant coach for the varsity program at Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial High School in Minnesota. She also served as the head coach for the junior high team. Roelofs earned a bachelors in health and exercise science from Gustavus Adolphus College and traveled to the east coast to earn a Masters of Arts in exercise physiology the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Meade joined the Meredith athletics staff in August 2015 as an assistant cross country coach and will extend this role beyond the fall running season to help manage the colleges new track and field program. An avid runner and longtime coach, Meade trains distance runners of all levels from 5,000 meters to ultramarathon. He owns 813 Coaching, which provides endurance training for runners, triathletes, and obstacle course athletes, and oversees training for beginners to seasoned competitors. A certified coach through the Road Runners Club of America, Meade recently completed his Level 1 coaching certification through the USA Track and Field Association. He remains informed of current trends on training techniques, gear, and nutrition in order to offer athletes the best program possible to meet their personal goals. In addition to training runners, Meade serves as a fitness instructor for a local gym and teaches a variety of group exercise classes. He works alongside a physical therapist group to assist with analysis and consulting on rehabilitation and injury prevention protocols for runners. Most recently, Meade completed the Massanutten Mountain Trails 100 mile run in May 2015. He finished in the top half of the nearly 200 runners who started the race at George Washington National Forest in Fort Valley, Virginia. Meade serves as the president of the North Carolina Roadrunners Club. A Raleigh-based running club of more than 400 members, NCRC provides members with a social, service, and training rapport with other area runners.