Christopher Collins
The men’s cross country and track team got a new head coach, Matt Levassiur in May. Levassiur has been a volunteer assistant for the past three years and has been teaching high school English at Plant City High School for the past 13 years.
“As a first-time NCAA head coach, I’m hoping to weather the transition process and learn from the many mistakes I’m sure I’ll make this season,” Levassiur said. “With the support of Athletic Director, Pete Meyer, and the entire FSC Athletic Department behind me, I know that I’ll have the support I need to build on the program’s long running success in the conference and region.”
Levassiur said the team goals this season include: defending the conference title, earning a National qualifier spot, improving the team GPA, rostering the fastest 7th man in the conference and region, being able to touch our toes by the end the season.
Levassiur is married to the women’s head coach of cross country and track, Stephanie Bylander.
Bylander said the ultimate goal for women’s cross country and track is to secure a spot at the NCAA National Championships.
“The current crop of seniors has really been working hard toward that since 2015,” Bylander said. “It’s been exciting to see the pieces come together a little more every season.”
If the women’s team can finish top 3 at the Region Championships they’ll secure their spot for the Nationals. The NCAA South Region Championships will be hosted at Holloway Park on Nov. 17.
According to Bylander, they’ve shaken up their training. Putting more emphasis on recovery by spacing out the long runs more and focusing more on building into the season. They will continue to work on running as a pack and narrowing the gaps between the 1-5 runners.
This year Bylander hopes to take those final steps to being a consistent contender toward the top of the conference and region by continuing to follow their process and build upon a successful track season that saw our runners rewrite the record books here at Florida Southern.
