Wallace State Cross Country Teams Ready to Race into 2024-2025 Season

Hanceville, AL — The Wallace State Men's and Women's Cross Country teams are set to kick off their season with a blend of new energy and established tradition. Tony Crider has stepped into the role of head coach to lead a men’s team with eight conference championships and a women’s team with five, including a sweep of the Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC) meets in 2020.  

“It is truly an honor to step into the role of head coach after serving as an assistant for six years under Stan Narewski, who is one of my best friends,” said Crider. “Wallace State is more than just a school, it is a community, and these athletes feel like my own kids. This is my dream job.” 

In addition to serving as Wallace State assistant coach for a number of years, Crider brings many years of experience coaching at the high school level, including multiple years coaching cross country and track and field at Cold Springs High School, where he was part of four state championships. As head coach, he aims to elevate Wallace State’s cross country program to even greater heights.    

“Our ultimate goal is to win a national championship. We've been focused on winning conference championships, but now it's time to take that next step,” Crider said. “We’re working hard to ensure our athletes peak at the right time, and I believe we’ve got a real shot at bringing home the title.”  

The men's team will be led by returning sophomores Talan Franks, Luke Kennedy and David Robles, all expected to set the pace for a squad eager to build on its strong tradition. The women’s team will be led by seven returning sophomores—Claire Deaton, Ivy Edge, Grace Gosline, Kendall Harbison, Kylie Powell, Abigale Vega and Madison Wright—who all bring experience and leadership to the team.  

Last year, Robles and Vega each set Wallace State Cross Country records for their respective teams during the NJCAA Half Marathon at John Hunt Cross Country Park in Huntsville. Robles finished the 13.1-mile marathon in 1:12:22.6 in the men’s division and Vega completed 1:33:02.3 in the women’s division.  

"We’ve got some remarkable talent this year, and in addition to all the great athletes we have, I’m fortunate to have an outstanding team of coaches and support staff. Our assistant coaches, both men’s and women’s, bring a wealth of knowledge and experience. We also have a fantastic volunteer coach who joined us from the University of Alabama, and our managers are all like additional coaches. Together, we are set for a great season,” said Crider.  

New Additions to the Coaching Staff    

This season marks the debut of Mandy Leonardi as the assistant coach for the Women's Cross Country team and Collin Mayfield as the assistant coach for the Men’s Cross Country team.   

Leonardi, a Wallace State alumna and accomplished runner, brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to her new role. With a bachelor's degree in athletic training and a master’s degree in education, she has dedicated over eight years to working as an athletic trainer at both the high school and collegiate levels. Additionally, she has spent four years as a health and wellness coordinator, fostering a passion for promoting a healthy, active lifestyle. Leonardi shared that her personal mission as assistant coach is to create a supportive and positive environment that promotes growth within each athlete. She said she hopes to provide a foundation that helps them meet challenges they will face inside and outside the sport of cross country.    

“I could not be more excited to be the first assistant to the Women’s Cross Country team. I am ready to see these women thrive and achieve their dreams on and off the track. We have an outstanding group of women this year, and I hope everyone is ready to cheer them on as they chase some big goals this year,” Leonardi said.  

Leonardi is a competitive runner herself. She is a three-time Boston Marathon qualifier, including a 2023 finisher, and has also completed the 2023 Chicago Marathon. Her personal achievements extend to ultramarathons, where she secured a second-place finish in a 50-mile race. As a former Wallace State runner, she was a 2023 Conference Champion and an All-Conference Team member.  

Mayfield, a former standout runner at Wallace State, has returned to the Cross Country program in a new role as assistant coach. During his collegiate career, Mayfield was recognized as ACCC Runner of the Year for two consecutive years. His journey as an athlete was marked by resilience, overcoming a series of injuries that nearly ended his running career. Despite these challenges, he continued to contribute to the team, assisting Narewski and Crider even before formally stepping into his coaching role. Mayfield's transition to coaching has been seamless, thanks in part to his prior experience working alongside Crider. His familiarity with the team, the coaching staff and the organization’s winning tradition has facilitated a smooth shift from award-winning runner to assistant coach of a conference-winning team. He said one of his main goals this season is to bring home a national championship title.   

“I am surrounded by the best coaches and the best friends, and it is not a lofty goal in the slightest to think we can win nationals with both of our teams. Last year was by far the best team we've had — our team one-five average was better than prior years by over a minute — and I think we're going to be even better this year on both sides. With the Women’s team, our talent level is university-level, as we did well with recruiting. We also brought back two NJCAA All-Americans on the Men's team,” said Mayfield. “We have goals outside of running too, as we want the athletes to become better young men and women. We all want to teach them values, and overall, we just want them to have fun and enjoy being around each other. To worry about running when they need to, but when it's over, to just be a human.” said Mayfield.  

Currently, Mayfield is pursuing an Independent Degree Program at Athens State University, where he is crafting a personalized major with a focus on religion. He plans to continue his studies with a Master of Divinity degree at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. His career aspirations include becoming a full-time pastor, a path he has been passionate about alongside his coaching duties.  

As an assistant coach, Mayfield brings a deep understanding of the physical and mental demands of running. His coaching approach emphasizes the importance of tailored training programs and effective communication with athletes to ensure peak performance and recovery. He is dedicated to not only enhancing the runners' athletic skills but also their personal development, encouraging values such as responsibility and teamwork. Mayfield's role as a coach extends beyond the track. He is committed to fostering a supportive and value-driven environment within the team.    

The Focus of the Season

As the Wallace State Cross Country teams prepare to embark on another season, the focus is on pushing the athletes to reach their full potential while maintaining a supportive environment.  

"The focus right now is to push our athletes to their limits without breaking them. We want them to peak at just the right time, around the end of October and beginning of November. If everything falls into place, we have a strong chance to compete for not just one, but multiple championships," Crider said.  

Crider emphasized that the focus of the entire coaching staff extends beyond just running, and that there is a deep commitment to developing well-rounded athletes who excel both on and off the track.   

“For Wallace State Cross Country, our focus goes beyond just running. We are all dedicated to developing everyone, helping them build confidence and skills from their freshman year through their sophomore year. Our goal is to prepare them for the next level, whether that’s advancing in their careers or pursuing other ambitions and throughout it all, we want them to be really good people,” Crider said.  "Wallace State is a place where anyone, regardless of their background can come and achieve something great. Whether our students are here for athletics, a skilled trade or academic transfer, they find a supportive environment that helps them achieve their goals. I believe this school is one of the best and it is a privilege to be part of a program that shapes such bright futures."  

Members of the 2024-2025 Wallace State Men's Cross Country team include: Zack Beauregard of Hartselle; Carson Masterson of Hatton; Anthony Tyler of Fort Payne; Talan Franks of Falkville; Harper Branscome and Conner McCrary, both of Muscle Shoals; Elliot Denard and David Robles, both of Springville; Luke Kennedy and Jax Wilks, both of Huntsville; Daniel Leija and Rodrigo Patino, both of Albertville; Devon McGee, Rees Sheffield and Marcos Tejeda all of Cullman.  

Members of the 2024-2025 Wallace State Women’s Cross Country team include: Eden Brumer of Fort Thomas, Ky.; Claire Deaton of Madison; Ivy Edge of Eva; Grace Gosline of Arab; Reagan Parris of Bremen; Kylie Powell of Mobile; Kendall Harbison and Bernarda Tizapa, both of Cullman; Raven Fairley, Abigale Vega and Madison Wright, all of Fort Payne. 

The coaching staff includes Head Coach Tony Crider, Women’s Assistant Coach Mandy Leonardi, Men’s Assistant Coach Collin Mayfield, Team Manager Jonathan Phillips, Team Manager Princess Watts and Volunteer Coach Cole Akridge.  

Phillips and Watts are both Wallace State alumni, having been members of conference-winning and record-setting teams during both of their years as students. Akridge is also a Wallace State alumnus and served as a Student Assistant at the University of Alabama under Head Coach Dan Waters during the 2023-2024 season.    

Both Wallace State Cross Country teams will compete in the 18th Annual Foothills Invitational at Choccolocco Park in Oxford on Aug. 30. The men’s 5K is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. and the women’s 5K is scheduled for 6:15 p.m.  

The following meet will be the 2024 Montevallo Falcon Classic hosted by the University of Montevallo on Sep. 6.   

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About Wallace State 

Wallace State Community College (Ala.), a member of the Alabama Community College System, is a comprehensive community college in north central Alabama offering more than 200 options in academic, health and technical programs of study leading to an associate degree, certificate or transfer, as well as workforce-credit training and adult education. An Achieving the Dream Leader College, nationally recognized by the Aspen Institute as a finalist for the 2025 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, ranked by Southern Business and Development among the Top 3 institutions in the South for workforce development, named a Center of Excellence by the National League for Nursing and the National Security Administration, rated the Top Online Community College in Alabama, a Military Friendly Institution and an All-Steinway School, Wallace State is an outstanding place for students to pursue their education and career goals. Classes are offered online and on campus, day, evening and on weekends, with numerous start dates each year. Visit Wallace State’s beautiful main campus located on 300-acres in Hanceville, Ala., our satellite location in downtown Oneonta, Ala., find us online at www.wallacestate.edu, or call 256.352.8000.