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<p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><a name="_Hlk490052374"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – </span></b></a><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">August
3, 2021</span></b><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Baylor Track & Field: Barnett Hired as Head XC/Distance Coach</span></b><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Alabama native was Auburn’s cross country head coach since 2017</span></i><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">For more information contact: </span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Kellen Coleman, 254-749-6507, </span><a href="mailto:Kellen_Coleman@baylor.edu"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#954F72">Kellen_Coleman@baylor.edu</span></a><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></b><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">WACO, Texas –</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> David Barnett has been named Head Cross Country/Distance Coach of the Baylor track &
field program, head coach Michael Ford announced Tuesday.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">“I’d like to welcome David Barnett to our Baylor Track & Field/Cross Country program and to the Baylor Family,” Ford said. “I’m looking forward to David leading our cross country
and distance program here at Baylor. He has done a great job developing student-athletes at the conference and national level, and I’m looking forward to having him on our staff.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Barnett comes to Baylor from Auburn University, where he served as cross country head coach since 2017. The Oneonta, Ala., native coached an NCAA Champion, three NCAA medalists
(top-3 finishers), nine All Americans, 12 NCAA qualifiers and eight SEC medalists during his time at Auburn. Barnett’s athletes combined to set 15 school records and were part of multiple top-10 and top-15 team finishes nationally.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">“I’m definitely looking forward to it,” Barnett said. “I appreciate the opportunity from Coach Ford and the administration. It’s a great program with great history, and I’m looking
forward to contributing to its continued success.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Barnett coached the top female distance runner in Auburn history, Joyce Kimeli, to the 2021 NCAA National Championship in the 5,000 meters (indoor) and saw her become the SEC
record holder in the steeplechase (9:31) and the SEC meet record holder in both the 3,000m and 5,000m. Barnett helped Kimeli set four school records - in the mile (4:38), 3,000m (8:56), 5,000m (15:37) and 3,000m steeplechase (9:31).
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">“I’m fortunate to have been a part of championship teams,” Barnett said. “I’ve also been able to help develop student-athletes to conference and national level. My goal at Baylor
is to establish a high standard and build on prior successes in the cross country program so that we can compete at a Big 12 and national level on a consistent basis.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Prior to his time at Auburn, Barnett was the Head Cross Country Coach/Assistant Track and Field Coach at South Alabama from 2012-17.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">At South Alabama, Barnett was honored as Sun Belt Cross Country Coach of the Year in both 2014 and 2015. He led the men’s team to its first conference title in eight years in
2014, and in 2015 helped the women’s team win its first league championship since 1993. Both the men’s and women’s championship teams earned the highest GPA in the Sun Belt during their respective seasons.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">His distance runners at South Alabama combined for 39 all-conference honors and 15 conference championships, and five school records were established on the women’s side in the
1,500m, mile, 3,000m and 5,000m. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Barnett joined South Alabama as an assistant coach in October 2011 before taking over the the cross country program in December 2012. He served as the staff representative/huddle
coach for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) at South Alabama throughout his time there.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">As a graduate assistant/intern for Auburn from 2009-2011, Barnett helped lead the men’s team to back-to-back top-20 finishes at the NCAA Indoor Championships and the women’s
team to a top-10 finish at the 2010 NCAA Indoor Championships and a top-15 finish at the 2011 NCAA Indoor Championships.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">“I’d also like to thank Auburn Head Coach Ralph Spry for the great experience and opportunity to coach on his staff for the last 4 years,” Barnett said. “I’ve learned a lot and
appreciate him on a personal and professional level.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Barnett earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Auburn, and has obtained USA Track & Field Level I and II Coaching Certification.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">For updates on Baylor cross country throughout the season, follow @BaylorTrack on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;color:black">__________________________________</span></b><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:6.5pt;color:black"> </span></b><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#154734">Kellen Coleman</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#18481F"> </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">|
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Associate Director of Communications</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Department of Athletics | Baylor University</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">O: 254-710-4049 | C: 254-749-6507</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:7.5pt;color:black"> </span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"> </span><a href="http://baylorbears.com/"><span style="color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="153" height="43" style="width:1.5937in;height:.4479in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01D78886.006FEF90" alt="/var/folders/pf/02zg9swd0fz7qy7f5nkl4mymsr0bxx/T/com.microsoft.Outlook/WebArchiveCopyPasteTempFiles/cidimage004.png@01D50713.9CE40560"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
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