AUGUSTA, Ga. – Augusta State cross country/track and field head coach Adam Ward has recently appointed a pair of assistant coaches.
Ari Fisher, an All-American during her standout career at the University of Toledo, was the Mid-American Conference champion in the 5000 meters in 2010 and in the 10,000 meters in 2012. She served as captain of the women's cross country and track and field teams and was named the Ohio Division I Runner of the Year in 2011.
Fisher, from Lebanon, Ohio, will aid the Jaguars in all aspects of the women's and men's programs as a graduate assistant coach. She was a four-time All-MAC selection and was ranked 10th in the world in the 5,000 meters indoor in 2011. She also won two conference titles in cross country in 2009 and 2010.
Katherine Phillips has joined Fisher on the coaching staff as well. Previously an assistant coach for track and field and cross country at Johns Hopkins University, Phillips guided several distance runners to earn qualifying times for NCAA Championships. In addition to coaching with Pike Athletics, Katherine is a Consultant to USA Paralympic Cycling. She has also lectured on the topic of females, functional movement, and endurance training to fellow coaches and athletes.
Phillips represented the United States at two International Triathlon Union (ITU) Junior World Triathlon Championships. In 2010, she captured USA Triathlon's Aquathlon National Championship. She has also coached Better Than Ever, the running group at the Arizona Cancer Center, and her childhood sport of gymnastics.
A former Level 10 gymnast, Phillips now trains and competes in masters diving. She is a certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) by the National Strength and Conditioning Association. In addition, she's a Functional Movement Screen Specialist, a USA Triathlon Certified Coach, Level 1 and a USA Track and Field Certified Coach, Level 1.
Phillips has more than 20 years of national and international competitive experience as a gymnast, runner, and triathlete. She holds an undergraduate degree from California State University at San Marcos, where she competed on the track and field and cross country teams under Steve Scott, the former American record holder in the mile.