| Cathy Casey |
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Asst. Coach - Distances/Cross Country
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Cathy Casey is in her seventh season at SMU and second year as the assistant cross country coach/assistant track and field coach. On the track, Casey specializes in the development of middle and long distance athletes. During her tenure on the Hilltop, Casey has played a pivotal role in the Mustangs' swift rise to national prominence, including SMU's first-ever NCAA South Central Regional title and women's first WAC Cross Country Championship since 1996.
During the 2006 cross country season, Cathy Casey led All-American Rachael Forish to one of the best individual seasons in SMU history. Forish was the 2006 Conference USA (C-USA) Cross Country Conference Champion, C-USA Athlete of the Year, NCAA South Central Region Champion (20:30.4), NCAA South Central Region Athlete of the Year. After finishing 35th at the NCAA Cross Country Championships she received All-America honors for her outstanding effort.
As a team, the Mustangs finished in the top 5 at the 2006 NCAA South Central Region Championships. At the 2006 Conference USA Cross Country Championships, the team placed in the top three for the second year in a row, with Senior Jessica Jackson, Junior Rachael Forish, and Sophomore Jessa Simmons receiving All-Conference USA awards.
During her first season as head cross country coach in 2005, Casey developed a talented group of athletes. Casey led the team to a top three finish at the C-USA Cross Country Championships. Junior Jessie Jackson and Sophomore Rachael Forish earned All C-USA accolades. Sophomore Rachael Forish, was selected to the All-Region first team at with a 7th place finish at the NCAA South Central Region meet and qualified as an individual for the NCAA Cross Country Championships.
During the 2002-2004 seasons, Casey assisted in the development of standout distance runner Karin van Rooyen, a two-time All-American, NCAA South Central Regional Champion, Western Athletic Conference (WAC) & SMU record holder, two-time WAC Athlete of the Year, and three-time WAC Champion. In the last six years at SMU, Casey has assisted with three WAC Freshmen of the Year, six All-Region cross country student-athletes, seven All-WAC performers and four school record holders.
A native of Carbondale, Illinois, Cathy Casey was a member of the cross country/track and field team at the University of Texas-Austin, earning her degree in 1997. Casey currently resides in Dallas, TX with her husband Jim.
