New mentor to assist with distance and middle distance disciplines
Brad Hunt has joined the UVa staff for cross country and track and field
Randy Bungard, the Director of the Track and Field/Cross Country program at the University of Virginia, has announced the hiring of Brad Hunt as an assistant coach. Hunt will work with Head Cross Country Coach Jason Dunn in the continued development of the middle distance and distance athletes.
Hunt joins Virginia after seven years at Kent State, where he served as coach for the middle distance runners and long sprinters as well as an assistant cross country coach. Kent State Track and Field/Cross Country won six Mid-American Conference Championships in the last five years and sent 11 athletes to the NCAA Championships last season. In 2005, Hunt\'s middle distance athletes set five school records, including 7:26.61 in 4x800m relay in the Championship of America at the Penn Relays. Under Hunt\'s tutelage, Mike Inge who was the 2003 800m US Junior National Champion, earned two NCAA All-American honors at 800m, and finished ninth at the 2004 Olympic Trials in the 800m, posting a lifetime best of 1:47.23.
Hunt is a 1997 Kent State graduate, captaining both the cross country and track teams his senior year. That year he helped the Golden Flashes to a second place finish at the indoor championships, scoring in the 800m, the mile, and the distance medley. A the outdoor meet, Hunt scored in the 800m, 1500m and the 1600m relay. He was named to the Academic All-MAC teams in all three seasons.
Hunt has continued his running career as a member of the Black Squirrel Track Club, posting a career-best 3:57.15 in the Memorial Day Mile as well as placing seventh in the 2004 10K International Peace Race.
Hunt joins the Cavalier cross country program with the women ranked #22 and the men ranked 27th nationally.
\"I am extremely excited to be a member of the outstanding track and field/cross country program at The University of Virginia,\" said Hunt. \"The staff has set the foundation of excellence, and I am very fortunate to join the team as UVA Track and Field/Cross Country strives to be one of the premier programs in the country.\"
\"Brad brings a great deal of experience to our program in many areas,\" said Bungard. \"He has coached many different events and has a great deal of experience in all facets of a cross country and track program. Brad has an extensive recruiting background. Another person on the phone will help us continue to bring in the best kids in the country. This is another step in us moving towards our goal of being one of the best teams in the ACC and the country. I\'m very excited to have Brad on board.\"