This article is reposted from GoToros.com.
When Coach Lekeisha Moore came to CSUDH in the summer of 2024, she was charged with re-energizing a women’s track and field program that was fading fast. Her work is paying off. In just two seasons, Coach Moore’s strong recruitment effort has grown the track squad from just two student-athletes to 29, as they compete in the CCAA conference.
Now, Coach Moore has set her sights on reestablishing CSUDH’s long-dormant cross country program, recruiting ten student-athletes who competed this past fall season. It was the first time since 2011 that the Toros have fielded a cross country team.
In addition to its value as a unique program of its own, cross country also provides additional advantages as well.
“Cross country enables us to develop our distance runners more and the program will provide us with deeper competitive opportunities that will feed into the track program,” Coach Moore says. But she also wants the cross-country team to be a competitor. By next season, she aims to have them competing in the top half of the CCAA conference.
The re-establishment of the women’s cross-country squad completes a missing chapter in CSUDH Athletics. The university once fielded both men’s and women’s cross country programs, but both teams haven’t existed on campus in more than a decade. The return of women’s cross country signals an institutional commitment to Athletics, as well as providing new opportunities for student-athletes.
“Reintroducing women’s cross country is a major milestone for Toro Athletics,” says Brett Waterfield, Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics. “It strengthens our competitive depth and creates new avenues for student-athletes to succeed at CSUDH, both in competition as well as in the classroom.”
For the ten pioneering athletes who have answered this call, the chance to chart a new course and be part of a new program, guided by the steady hand of a coach experienced in doing this work, is a unique opportunity. Coach Moore’s dual-program strategy also underscores a broader philosophy: developing stronger distance runners, providing cross-training opportunities, and building a shared culture and conditioning between track and field and cross country. Ultimately, she wants to nurture an integrated ecosystem that will benefit both programs as they continue to develop.
With the first cross country season now under their belt, the foundation has been laid: a committed coach, a growing roster, institutional backing, and clear performance goals have created unmistakable momentum.
“This is just the beginning,” Coach Moore notes. “The passion, dedication, and teamwork we’ve built will propel us to even greater heights. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for the lady Toros!”
