Sharks Weekly: Spotlight on HPU Women’s CROSS COUNTRY

This week’s episode of Sharks Weekly, hosted by Bailey Furman, spotlighted HPU Cross Country with head coach Kevin Schwarz and student-athletes Carly Dyer and Sophie Hansen.

Coach Schwarz broke down the key differences between cross country and track, emphasizing cross country’s demanding, team-centered nature and the unique challenges of racing across varied terrain. He also explained the sport’s scoring system and how NCAA qualification works, while highlighting the team’s bond built through early-morning training and shared toughness.

Carly and Sophie shared their personal journeys into the sport—Carly starting as a way to stay in shape for other sports, and Sophie following in the footsteps of her cross country–running parents. Both spoke about the mental and physical challenges of races, their personal goals for the season, and the excitement of hosting the PacWest Championships this fall at Hawaii Country Club for the first time in nearly a decade.

Despite early-season setbacks from illness, the team is focused on steady progress with the goal of peaking at the conference championships. Coach Schwarz expressed confidence in a strong year ahead, powered by experienced leaders and talented newcomers.