BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Yvonne Harrison has joined the LIU Brooklyn Blackbird family, it was recently announced. Harrison was named the head coach of the LIU Brooklyn's women's cross country team in the spring of 2018. She will also work as an assistant coach with both the men's and women's track & field programs, under head coach Simon Hodnett.
"I'm extremely excited to get the opportunity to work with the Blackbirds," Harrison said. "I have inherited a team with a lot of potential and with the right guidance and a strong work ethic, I truly believe as a team we can make a change in our program and elevate the morale, passion and level of excellency. I am going to do everything in my power to create a winning atmosphere."
Prior to her arrival at LIU, Harrison spent nine season as an assistant coach for the cross country and track & field teams for St. John's. Her time with the Red Storm was highlighted by an Olympian, five different NCAA national qualifiers, three new program records, two BIG EAST individual champions, two ECAC champions, a Metropolitan Championships team title, and over a dozen first place finishes in individual events and relays at the Metropolitan Championships over the years.
"I'm thankful for the chance to join LIU's Division I program, and for the opportunity LIU has given me to continue my passion for coaching and running in my hometown of New York City. I have built relationships over the years in the community of track & field in New York, and I am thrilled to continue to develop, recruit and enhance our program."
Harrison is an accomplished track & field athlete in her own right, and has competed on both national and international levels, representing Puerto Rico in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles. In May of 2006, Harrison captured the bronze medal at the Ibero-American Championships in Ponce, Puerto Rico. In 2004, she competed at the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, where she was a semifinalist. In 2003, Harrison set Puerto Rico's national record in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles. She also won the gold medal at the Central American and Caribbean Championships and was a semifinalist at the World Championships in Paris, France. She was also a four-time All-American at the University of Illinois.
Additionally, Harrison announced the fall 2018 schedule for her cross country squad, which will consist of eight meets, including two in the Metropolitan area.
"I am excited to announce our 2018 schedule," Harrison said. "This schedule will test us and prepare us well. I am eager to see how I can get my team of veterans along with our underclassmen to gel and work together. For us to be successful this fall, we need to avoid injuries and continue to be smart, patient and committed to our new training regimen. We are looking forward to competing together this fall."
The Blackbirds will open the season on September 8, at the Shawn M. Nassaney Invitational, taking place at Bryant University. Their next meet, the following week on September 15, will be on home turf at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, as LIU will take part in Iona's annual Dr. Paddy Doyle Meet of Champions.
From there, the Blackbirds hit the road for three straight away meets before the Northeast Conference championships. LIU will take part in the Henry Mercer Monmouth Invitational (September 22), the Disney XC Classic (October 6-7), and the University at Albany Invitational (October 14).
LIU then begins postseason races, beginning with the NEC Championship Meet October 27, back on the course at Bryant University. The NCAA Regional Meet on November 9 will take place in Buffalo, N.Y., before the Blackbirds return to Van Cortlandt Park on November 17, to take part in the ECAC Championships.
The complete 2018 schedule is available here: 2018 LIU Brooklyn Women's Cross Country Schedule.