Cross Country Embraces Patience, Growth Entering New Season
9/1/2026 1:21:00 PM | Track & Field/Cross Country
CONWAY – As Coastal Carolina cross country prepares to begin another season, Associate Head Coach Michael Bianchina knows there is no need to rush the process.
With a young men's team continuing to develop and an experienced women's group providing veteran leadership, the Chanticleers are focused on building throughout the season and putting themselves in position to peak when it matters most.
"The men's team is still pretty young, it will be exciting as they get older," Bianchina said. "Women's side, we have a bit of an older group now. We have some nice leadership."
That balance of youth and experience has shaped Coastal's approach during preseason practices. Rather than trying to do too much too soon, the Chanticleers are emphasizing patience and staying together.
"Not being in a big rush is the big thing," Bianchina said.
For Coastal, working hard is part of the fun. The team has spent its preseason utilizing dirt paths at a few off-campus locations, along with the intramural fields on campus to get work in on the grass.
"I like doing fun stuff, and for us, fun stuff is hard stuff because they want to work hard," Bianchina said.
While the work remains important, Bianchina also wants his runners to understand the value of having teammates around them. Staying together during practices and meets can help create a more comfortable environment and take some of the pressure off individual runners.
The women's team will lean heavily on four experienced runners: seniors Erin McQuitty, Megan Dolan and Olivia Goeser, along with Olivia Fischlein, who enters her second season at Coastal after transferring from Charlotte.
McQuitty, Dolan and Goeser were all members of Bianchina's first recruiting class at Coastal and have grown into leaders within the program.
"Those four are really good leaders by example," Bianchina said. "They do all the right stuff, they listen, they're very coachable. They show the underclassmen what our team expects."
McQuitty and Goeser are also coming off strong outdoor seasons as they continue to develop heading into their senior campaigns.
On the men's side, much of the attention will be on Adam Groves, who returns after an injury interrupted his 2025 cross country season. Groves opened last year with victories at both the Elon Opener and Chanticleer Challenge before suffering the injury.
His mindset has not changed.
"His expectations are the same as they've always been. He wants to win," Bianchina said.
After spending the summer recovering and rebuilding, Groves has regained his excitement for the sport.
"He's back to the Adam I've known," Bianchina said.
The Chanticleers will also look to a talented sophomore class, including Thomas Nitz, Jacob Barraza, Owen Mullins and Calvin Dovgalyuk. Bianchina believes the group has taken a significant step forward physically and mentally.
"They look more grown up," he said.
On the women's side, sophomore Kylie Davis is another runner poised to make an impact after a strong track season and an impressive summer.
As the season begins, Coastal will take a measured approach to competition.
"Cross country is all about raising your floor in the beginning," Bianchina said.
The Chanticleers plan to keep the first few meets controlled before gradually increasing the intensity as the season progresses and ultimately raising their ceiling.
That progression will include familiar territory, with Coastal returning to the Upstate Invitational, held at the site of the NCAA regional, while the Richmond Invitational will provide an opportunity for the program's Virginia athletes to compete closer to their families.
Ultimately, Bianchina believes enjoying the experience is an important part of performing well.
"If they're happy about where we're going, they're going to run better," he said.
With a mixture of veteran leadership, emerging talent and a commitment to patience, Coastal Carolina is ready to let the season build one step at a time.
With a young men's team continuing to develop and an experienced women's group providing veteran leadership, the Chanticleers are focused on building throughout the season and putting themselves in position to peak when it matters most.
"The men's team is still pretty young, it will be exciting as they get older," Bianchina said. "Women's side, we have a bit of an older group now. We have some nice leadership."
That balance of youth and experience has shaped Coastal's approach during preseason practices. Rather than trying to do too much too soon, the Chanticleers are emphasizing patience and staying together.
"Not being in a big rush is the big thing," Bianchina said.
For Coastal, working hard is part of the fun. The team has spent its preseason utilizing dirt paths at a few off-campus locations, along with the intramural fields on campus to get work in on the grass.
"I like doing fun stuff, and for us, fun stuff is hard stuff because they want to work hard," Bianchina said.
While the work remains important, Bianchina also wants his runners to understand the value of having teammates around them. Staying together during practices and meets can help create a more comfortable environment and take some of the pressure off individual runners.
The women's team will lean heavily on four experienced runners: seniors Erin McQuitty, Megan Dolan and Olivia Goeser, along with Olivia Fischlein, who enters her second season at Coastal after transferring from Charlotte.
McQuitty, Dolan and Goeser were all members of Bianchina's first recruiting class at Coastal and have grown into leaders within the program.
"Those four are really good leaders by example," Bianchina said. "They do all the right stuff, they listen, they're very coachable. They show the underclassmen what our team expects."
McQuitty and Goeser are also coming off strong outdoor seasons as they continue to develop heading into their senior campaigns.
On the men's side, much of the attention will be on Adam Groves, who returns after an injury interrupted his 2025 cross country season. Groves opened last year with victories at both the Elon Opener and Chanticleer Challenge before suffering the injury.
His mindset has not changed.
"His expectations are the same as they've always been. He wants to win," Bianchina said.
After spending the summer recovering and rebuilding, Groves has regained his excitement for the sport.
"He's back to the Adam I've known," Bianchina said.
The Chanticleers will also look to a talented sophomore class, including Thomas Nitz, Jacob Barraza, Owen Mullins and Calvin Dovgalyuk. Bianchina believes the group has taken a significant step forward physically and mentally.
"They look more grown up," he said.
On the women's side, sophomore Kylie Davis is another runner poised to make an impact after a strong track season and an impressive summer.
As the season begins, Coastal will take a measured approach to competition.
"Cross country is all about raising your floor in the beginning," Bianchina said.
The Chanticleers plan to keep the first few meets controlled before gradually increasing the intensity as the season progresses and ultimately raising their ceiling.
That progression will include familiar territory, with Coastal returning to the Upstate Invitational, held at the site of the NCAA regional, while the Richmond Invitational will provide an opportunity for the program's Virginia athletes to compete closer to their families.
Ultimately, Bianchina believes enjoying the experience is an important part of performing well.
"If they're happy about where we're going, they're going to run better," he said.
With a mixture of veteran leadership, emerging talent and a commitment to patience, Coastal Carolina is ready to let the season build one step at a time.
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