Pyles exceeds expectations in second cross country season
by Jim Sawin, sports information intern
CEDARVILLE, Ohio (12-11-2006) - Elisabeth Pyles, a sophomore runner at Cedarville University, recently added another All-America award to her accolades on November 18 by placing 12th overall at the NAIA National Cross Country Championships in which the Lady Jackets received runner-up honors as a team. Pyles has gained All-American recognition four other times in her young college career including being tabbed the NCCAA champion in the 3,000 meter steeplechase as a freshman last track and field season.
The sophomore sensation's immediate success has reinforced her decision to compete in athletics at the collegiate level - a decision in which Elisabeth nearly never made.
Elisabeth "Lib" Pyles' first love in junior high was volleyball. Cedarville did not have a middle school cross country squad so Lib developed relationships with her volleyball teammates at school, practice, and camps. Pyles also competed in track and field at Cedarville High School but never ran cross country because of her love for volleyball and the instability of the cross country program. In fact, Lib never even thought about running cross country at Cedarville University until the summer before her senior year.
"The first time it crossed my mind to do cross country in college was when I did summer studies between my junior and senior year of high school," said Pyles. "I took a tennis class and [Head Cross Country] Coach Elvin King was my professor."
After taking the class, Coach King continued to encourage Elisabeth to join the program when he would see her at church.
"One day in church I asked her if she would consider running cross country for us and she laughed at me," said King. "I asked her to think about it over the next couple of weeks and when I talked to her again she chuckled and said she would give it a try."
"I didn't know if I wanted to do any sports in college because I had done three in high school," commented Pyles. "I think I would have been content just being a regular college student, but Coach King convinced me to give cross country a shot. I took him up on it and have never regretted that decision."
The NAIA All-American blew away her own expectations in her rookie cross country season, consistently running in the #3 position for the Lady Jackets throughout the course of the year. She was named to the American Mideast Conference First Team and received NCCAA All-American honors for her performances during her freshman season.
"The base training during the summer really helped my performance," said Pyles. "I started running three miles a day and that was tough. When coach told me towards the end of the summer I would have to go on 8-10 mile runs I got scared because I had never ran that far before."
Elisabeth's hard work combined with her natural ability has made her into the runner she is today. However, last year's NAIA runner-up in the steeplechase first gives credit to God, her teammates and coaches. When asked what person has had the biggest impact on her college life thus far Pyles mentioned Senior captain and multiple NAIA All-American award winner Samantha Maat.
"Sam's great leadership ability and humble spirit have inspired and encouraged me," said the two-time NCCAA Cross Country All-American. "She has so much talent and has really helped our team unity. Her academics and life outside of sports is consistent with her beliefs."
After taking off a couple of weeks to recover from a successful, yet grueling cross country season, Pyles will turn her attention to track and field where she hopes to claim the NAIA outdoor individual title in the steeplechase. After only running the event in four meets last year with limited practice, the defending NCCAA champion is confident she can improve upon her time of 11:04 this upcoming season.
"I hardly practiced the event last year because the coaches didn't want me to get hurt," commented Pyles. "I want to focus more on the steeple in practice this season and my goal is to win at NAIA's."
Elisabeth is a Dean's List early childhood education major at Cedarville University. She would like to teach after graduating as well as use her love for children in some sort of church ministry.
