CMU names head coaches for new cross-country running program
Calvin Reimer and Noel Kendle will lead the new CMU cross-country running program, building a team grounded in community, development, and care for the whole athlete.
Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) has appointed Calvin Reimer and Noel Kendle as head coaches of its new varsity cross-country running program within CMU Blazers Athletics.
Reimer and Kendle bring nearly two decades of combined experience as both student-athletes and coaches with the Manitoba Running Association.
"I'm really excited for this opportunity, and I feel very blessed," Reimer says. "I'm bringing a lot of excitement and a lot of energy."
The duo's "athlete-first philosophy" will be at the heart of the program, which Kendle says will foster success and resilience among the runners.
"I think that we're very cognisant of the fact that no two athletes are the same," Kendle says.
Especially in a new program, he highlights that centring performance around an aggregation of marginal gains can help student athletes see progress and development in their attainable goals.
"Noel and I both come from similar backgrounds where you look at the whole health of the athlete first, because training only works when people are happy, healthy and are able to give it their all," Reimer says.
"What we want to build is a program where people have the opportunity and the community to support them as they're training."
Reimer and Kendle began their careers running together in the same club in high school. From there, they both went on to the University of Manitoba's cross-country running program as competitive athletes. Their coaching experience together has been both online and with the Manitoba Runners Association, where they coached a masters club.
Student athletes in cross-country at CMU will be members of Athletics Manitoba, allowing them to participate in running competitions beyond cross-country within the province and across the country.
The CMU Blazers are the second member of the Manitoba Colleges Athletics Conference to announce cross-country programming, following the Providence Pilots, who announced their program in early November.
CMU is uniquely positioned within the city for cross-country training and club running. Nestled between the Assiniboine Forest and Assiniboine Park, the CMU campus offers access to North America's largest urban forest, with over 20 kilometres of trails just steps from the residence.
As the program develops under the guidance of Reimer and Kendle, they encourage potential recruits to join training groups ahead of the scheduled Fall 2026 debut.
"When I think about what brings somebody to CMU, I think it's community, " Kendle says. "Cross-country is creating a community of individuals who aren't just running for themselves, but as part of a team."
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