Alicia Longyear will take over the helm of the Citrus College cross country program. Longyear takes over the reins of the program from Nicki Shaw, who led the Owls’ cross country program the previous three season and steps down to accept an academic position.

Longyear, a product of Claremont High school and the University of Redlands, takes over the head coaching position after being away from the sport the past five years. Prior to that break, Longyear had served as an assistant coach with the Citrus track team, specializing in the distance events

Longyear also served as an assistant track and field and cross country coach at Claremont High (2003-2007). In 2004, Longyear helped direct the Pomona-Pitzer track program while head coach Kirk Reynolds was on sabbatical. Longyear’s coaching career began at the University of La Verne where she was a graduate assistant to the Leopard cross country and track and field teams while she earned her Master’s Degree.

“Now that my children are a little older I feel ready and excited to get back into it.  I have missed the sport,” Longyear said. “As a committed lifelong distance runner, I have continued to train on my own but being part of a cross country team is truly an extraordinary experience.  There is something special about a group of people pushing each other to their utmost limits.”

Longyear’s running career began as a junior at Claremont High School, where she picked up the sport and never looked back.

Along with her coaching duties, Longyear as serves as the Citrus College Athletic Counselor, a position she has held for the past nine years. Longyear holds a Bachelors Degree in Psychology with an emphasis in Sport Psychology from Redlands, and a Masters Degree in Counseling with an emphasis in Athletic Counseling from La Verne.

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