Southwest Baptist University Women's Track

McElhaney is entering his seventh season (2016-17) as the head cross country and track coach for the men and womens programs. McElhaney coaches the men and womens cross country team during the fall and coaches the men and womens distance/middle distance runners during the winter and spring.      In the fall cross country season McElhaney led SBU to 14th place finish at NCAA Nationals, the highest finish in school history. McElhaney also coached the second SBU All-American Cross Country Performer who placed 26th overall, the highest individual finish in school history.      Last season, McElhaney continued to the lead a strong track team. McElhaney's athletes broke 17 school records, hit 14 national provisional qualifying marks, had one male qualify for NCAA Nationals in the steeplechase, and had the first female individual runner earn All-American Honors.     In 2011, the track and field team saw massive improvements under McElhaney. 12 school records were broken, 6 national provisional qualifying marks were hit, and SBU had seven All-American's. During the indoor season, the women's 4x400 meter relay placed 7th in the nation, and during the outdoor season, the women's 4x100 meter relay placed 4th.     In 2009, McElhaney led the men's cross country team to the first national championship meet appearance in school history. During the season, the Bearcats were ranked as high as 12th in the nation, and finished 15th at the 2009 NCAA National Championships.     During the 2008 cross country season, McElhaney led the SBU mens team to an MIAA Championship. This win was the first cross country title in school history and to add to the successful weekend, McElhaney was also named the 2008 MIAA Mens Cross Country Coach of the Year. Success continued into the indoor and outdoor seasons, as SBU track and field athletes delivered 16 All-MIAA performances and six All-American honors.     During the indoor campaign, the men's distance medley relay was national runner-up, just missing a national title by three-tenths of a second. Michael Pierce took sixth in the mile and Sarah Bowling was seventh in the triple jump. At the NCAA Outdoor Championships, Pierce (1500m) and Bowling (triple jump) repeated their indoor success with eighth place finishes. They were joined by Shawn Etzenhouser, who took sixth in the 800 meters. Various squad members also picked up MIAA Athlete of the Week awards and several earned USTFCCCA and CoSIDA academic All-American recognition. Both the men's and women's track and field squads have been named USTFCCCA All-Academic Teams each year under McElhaney.      His first year at SBU also proved successful with fourteen school records and six national qualifying times during the 2007-2008 indoor and outdoor seasons. McElhaney coached the first SBU cross country All-American during the 2007 cross country season, when Michael Pierce finished 27th at the 2007 NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships.      McElhaney also took two athletes to the NCAA Indoor National Championships during his first year at SBU. Michael Pierce finished fifth at the 2008 NCAA Indoor Championships held at Minnesota State University, which was good enough to earn All-American status for the second time in one year. His time of 4:07 was ranked fifth in NCAA Division II during the 2008 indoor season. Shawn Etzenhouser finished ninth at the Indoor Championships, which was one spot away from All-American status.    "It has been a life long dream to coach at an institution where my faith plays a vital role in my coaching," said McElhaney at the time of his hiring. "My goal for this program is to make an impact on the conference and national scene with not only our running, jumping, and throwing but also with our character while in competition. I have a true passion for running and I enjoy coaching my athletes in not only running but in life."      McElhaney is a native of Elgin, Okla., where he graduated from Elgin High School. McElhaney then attended Coffeyville Community College, where he was a two-time All-American in the indoor 1000 meters and the outdoor 800 meters. McElhaney transferred to SBU and was a key member of the recruiting class that started the success of the cross country and track program. He was a five-time All-MIAA athlete at SBU.      When McElhaney was hired, SBU President C. Pat Taylor commented that he was "excited to have Corey join the SBU coaching staff. He has been a vital part of SBU's progress. Our students and staff look forward to his proven leadership on our cross country and track and field teams."      McElhaney graduated in December 2006 with a degree in physical education and is currently working on his masters of education. McElhaney exchanged wedding vows with former SBU women's track standout Christine Showler in July of 2006. Corey McElhaney Head Track & Field/Cross Country Coach Twitter: Corey McElhaney is entering his seventh season (2016-17) as the head cross country and track coach for the men and womens programs. McElhaney coaches the men and womens cross country team during the fall and coaches the men and womens distance/middle distance runners during the winter and spring.      In the fall cross country season McElhaney led SBU to 14th place finish at NCAA Nationals, the highest finish in school history. McElhaney also coached the second SBU All-American Cross Country Performer who placed 26th overall, the highest individual finish in school history.      Last season, McElhaney continued to the lead a strong track team. McElhaney's athletes broke 17 school records, hit 14 national provisional qualifying marks, had one male qualify for NCAA Nationals in the steeplechase, and had the first female individual runner earn All-American Honors.     In 2011, the track and field team saw massive improvements under McElhaney. 12 school records were broken, 6 national provisional qualifying marks were hit, and SBU had seven All-American's. During the indoor season, the women's 4x400 meter relay placed 7th in the nation, and during the outdoor season, the women's 4x100 meter relay placed 4th.     In 2009, McElhaney led the men's cross country team to the first national championship meet appearance in school history. During the season, the Bearcats were ranked as high as 12th in the nation, and finished 15th at the 2009 NCAA National Championships.     During the 2008 cross country season, McElhaney led the SBU mens team to an MIAA Championship. This win was the first cross country title in school history and to add to the successful weekend, McElhaney was also named the 2008 MIAA Mens Cross Country Coach of the Year. Success continued into the indoor and outdoor seasons, as SBU track and field athletes delivered 16 All-MIAA performances and six All-American honors.     During the indoor campaign, the men's distance medley relay was national runner-up, just missing a national title by three-tenths of a second. Michael Pierce took sixth in the mile and Sarah Bowling was seventh in the triple jump. At the NCAA Outdoor Championships, Pierce (1500m) and Bowling (triple jump) repeated their indoor success with eighth place finishes. They were joined by Shawn Etzenhouser, who took sixth in the 800 meters. Various squad members also picked up MIAA Athlete of the Week awards and several earned USTFCCCA and CoSIDA academic All-American recognition. Both the men's and women's track and field squads have been named USTFCCCA All-Academic Teams each year under McElhaney.      His first year at SBU also proved successful with fourteen school records and six national qualifying times during the 2007-2008 indoor and outdoor seasons. McElhaney coached the first SBU cross country All-American during the 2007 cross country season, when Michael Pierce finished 27th at the 2007 NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships.      McElhaney also took two athletes to the NCAA Indoor National Championships during his first year at SBU. Michael Pierce finished fifth at the 2008 NCAA Indoor Championships held at Minnesota State University, which was good enough to earn All-American status for the second time in one year. His time of 4:07 was ranked fifth in NCAA Division II during the 2008 indoor season. Shawn Etzenhouser finished ninth at the Indoor Championships, which was one spot away from All-American status.    "It has been a life long dream to coach at an institution where my faith plays a vital role in my coaching," said McElhaney at the time of his hiring. "My goal for this program is to make an impact on the conference and national scene with not only our running, jumping, and throwing but also with our character while in competition. I have a true passion for running and I enjoy coaching my athletes in not only running but in life."      McElhaney is a native of Elgin, Okla., where he graduated from Elgin High School. McElhaney then attended Coffeyville Community College, where he was a two-time All-American in the indoor 1000 meters and the outdoor 800 meters. McElhaney transferred to SBU and was a key member of the recruiting class that started the success of the cross country and track program. He was a five-time All-MIAA athlete at SBU.      When McElhaney was hired, SBU President C. Pat Taylor commented that he was "excited to have Corey join the SBU coaching staff. He has been a vital part of SBU's progress. Our students and staff look forward to his proven leadership on our cross country and track and field teams."      McElhaney graduated in December 2006 with a degree in physical education and is currently working on his masters of education. McElhaney exchanged wedding vows with former SBU women's track standout Christine Showler in July of 2006.

O'Brien will begin his second season (2016-17) as the Assistant Cross Country/Track & Field coach at Southwest Baptist.  He previously served as a Graduate Assistant during the 2013-14 season. Marshall spent the 2014-15 season as an Assistant Coach at Wartburg College where he worked primarily with the jumps team. O'Brien helped lead Wartburg to three conference championships (Womens Indoor/Outdoor and Mens Indoor), while also coaching two national qualifiers.  Prior to coaching at Warburg, OBrien was the Jumps Coach at Utica College where he coached two ECAC qualifiers in Indoor Track and had one place in the Top 6 at the ECAC in Womens Long Jump.  Marshall graduated from Emporia State University (Ks.) in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in Physical and Health Education and a Bachelor of Science in Health Promotion.  O'Brien competed in Track & Field at ESU where he cleared a national qualifying mark of 6 feet 10 inches in the Men's High Jump. He was a Top 3 finisher in both the indoor and outdoor high jump competition at the MIAA Championships and also participated in the long jump and decathlon. After using up his Athletic eligibility, he spent one season as a student assistant coach in 2009. Marshall, a native of Derby, Kansas, currently resides in Bolivar, Missouri.  

Blevins is entering his second year (2015-16) as the Graduate Assistant Coach for the Cross Country and Track & Field teams at Southwest Baptist. In his first year at SBU, Blevins coached an All-American high jumper in outdoor, and a national qualifier in the indoor high jump.  He also had two jumpers maintain 4.0 GPA's in 2014-15.  Prior to coming to SBU, Blevins had jobs as a personal trainer and as an AAU Long and High Jump Coach.  Derek graduated from Ohio State University in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science in Sports and Leisure Studies. While at OSU, he was a decorated long and triple jumper at the NCAA Division I level, and was a two time NCAA Regional qualifier in both events.  Blevins was a three-time Big Ten All-Conference award winner and was named to the Big Ten Academic All Conference team four times.  Blevins was a three-time State Champion for Raytown (Mo.) High School. Blevins, a native of Raytown, Missouri currently resides in Bolivar, Missouri.