The University of Mississippi Athletics
Waites Leads Rebels Into SEC Cross Country Championships
10/26/2009 | Track and Field
Media Relations Assistant
In the world of collegiate sports, it isn't often that an underclassman comes along and contributes right away, much less becomes a leader. Ole Miss sophomore cross country star Logan Waites is the exception.
It didn't take long for Waites, who runs both cross country and track for the Rebels, to get her foot in the door at Ole Miss. The Hattiesburg, Miss., native won the individual title at the Southern Miss Invitational in her first collegiate cross country meet to help the Rebels capture the team title as well.
"My first college race ever was in my hometown and the course was basically right behind my house," Waites said. "My family got to be there and that was a really cool experience. If I would have gone to another school, that probably wouldn't have happened."
Waites has been running since middle school, when her soccer conditioning drills turned into fun. It was something that many of her teammates didn't exactly understand at the time.
"We had an endurance test that was the most dreaded test of all the soccer players," Waites said. "I finished and wasn't tired at all, so I did it again with the next group. They all thought I was crazy. So I ran track that spring and got the state record and haven't really stopped since.
"I just love running," Waites added. "I can't explain it, and people don't really understand it, but I just love running. I'm probably going to be doing it for the rest of my life. I can't imagine ever not running."
The Mississippi Private School Association high school record in the 3,200 meters is still held by Waites, who graduated from Presbyterian Christian School. While in high school, she not only broke the state's record, but won the state championship in the event six times.
When it came time to start looking at colleges, the decorated high school athlete never really had Ole Miss on her radar. So far, it has turned out very well for both parties involved.
"I didn't even sign until the day before the deadline," Waites said. "My mom had to put the pen in my hand. I signed the papers at 11:50 at night, and they were due the next day.
"Apparently it was just in God's plan for me to go to Ole Miss," Waites added. It has exceeded my expectations and I can't imagine being anywhere else."
Since she arrived at Ole Miss, Waites has finished first on the team in every event she has participated in for the Rebels. As a true freshman, she manufactured one of the best finishes in school's history at the SEC Championships, as she placed 49th in the conference. Her immediate success was something Waites admitted was somewhat of a surprise to her.
"I just wanted to get top three or four on the team and I somehow got first on the team," Waites said of her first race. "I crossed the finish line and couldn't believe it."
This season, the sophomore eclipsed her personal best time in the 5k (18:25.52) by more than 15 seconds (18:09.44) at the 2009 Greater Louisville Cross Country Classic - the same meet she established her then-personal best time at during the 2008 season.
Success doesn't necessarily translate into leadership, but for Waites, leadership is something she has embraced and looks to continue to provide throughout her career as a Rebel.
"Our team is so close - we are all best friends," Waites said. "It makes it easy to be a good leader because we all get along so well."
Waites is excited to see what the future holds for her and her Rebel teammates - a future that she sees as bright if her team can continue to improve.
"I can already see that we are getting better," Waites said. "We just need to learn to run together a little more, even if it means all of us finishing more in the middle. We just need to learn to stick together a little more. We can definitely do that."
She hopes the improvement for her and her teammates continues at the SEC Championships, which take place in Oxford Saturday at 10 a.m. from the Ole Miss Golf Course.
It has been a long wait for the sophomore runner and the rest of the Rebels. The SEC Championships will be the first meet that has taken place in Oxford since Waites arrived in Oxford last season.
"I think (the course) will be a lot more familiar," Waites said of the home meet. "We will know the course because we practice at there at least once a week, usually two or three times, so that will be great actually knowing the course.
"People cheering always makes it better," Waites added. "Cross country is such a mental game. It will definitely help to have some people cheering."
Waites and the Rebels hope that cheering will help the team improve on last year's finish and provide Rebel fans with their first treat on Halloween.