Consistency is one of the most important aspects of excelling as a cross-country runner. For Rowan, the most consistent runner on the men’s team this season has been graduate student Miles Voenell. 

The Santa Cruz, California native decided to attend Rowan for graduate school after running cross-country for four years at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon. Head coach Dustin Dimit acknowledged that Voenell has been someone the team has relied on for experience. 

“He’s been a great addition to the team, and we’re real excited that he chose to come here for grad school,” said Dimit. “He brings that experience of having four years of cross-country under his belt where he’s already been in these kind of situations before and can help bring along guys.”

This season, Voenell’s motivation was enjoying his final opportunity to run cross-country competitively.  

“I wanted to take advantage of that last year of eligibility,” said Voenell. 

At the NJAC Championships last week, Voenell finished in seventh place (25:44.4) as the Profs were able to capture the title. While Voenell was pleased with his performance, he was even more delighted to see the team stick together. 

“I was just happy that we had a pack together to work with because there were three of us all together in the sprint finish,” said Voenell. 

For his efforts this season, Voenell was named NJAC Men’s Cross Country First Team All-Conference. Voenell’s consistency has been the main reason why he received this honor. 

“He had to really step up to do that and to be with four guys there in the top seven,” said Dimit. “So not just to be able to be the other teams, even within the team, with how deep we are, that, consistency where he’s been between our second and fourth, I believe every, meet has been better.”

Coming from California to New Jersey, Voenell had to adjust quickly. However, with the winter season on the horizon, he is beyond ready to compete in different conditions.

“I think it’s been an adjustment,” said Dimit. “More humid here, and not just because he went to college before this in Oregon. So a lot different in the weather, but he’s getting used to it. And he’s really excited now that it’s the temperatures he’s used to for these championship meets.”  

As his career winds down, the aspect of cross-country that Voenell will miss is being able to run as a team. 

“Always just having people to run with is like very important,” said Voenell. “If I continue running after school, it won’t have the team and that’ll be just like hanging out with your friends.”

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