TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Aug. 19)- Coach Wayne Angel, enters his second year, though his first season was shortened due to the timing of his hiring. His reputation for building programs is what convinced FAMU that he was the man to design the rebuilding of the Rattler Track team.

Signs of progress were evident last season as several of the existing track team members elevated their performances to personal bests. While some coaches would be content with that measure, Angel's vision far exceeds where his men's team finished last season.

Angel is no stranger to coaching at elite levels, with elite athletes. His resume includes coaching two Olympians, 17 Division I All-Americans and over 30 Big Ten Champions, while coaching at the University of Illinois. While at Wichita State, his cross country team was ranked in the Top 30 in the country. At FAMU, he has already coached three MEAC champions.

With a strong military background, being an Army Airborne Ranger, and a distinguished honor graduate of the Army Air Assault School, Angel takes a no nonsense approach to his players' dedication and commitment on the course and in the classroom.

Leading the Rattler Cross Country team last season was Shuaib Winters, who captured the course record en route to winning the MEAC 8K Cross Country championship, in a time of 24:31. Winters led the Rattlers through the season capturing first place in most of the meets he competed in. He also made the All-MEAC Cross Country team.

Additionally, Lamere Buchanon, pushed Winters, while attaining personal best times himself. He garnered All-MEAC honors as a sophomore last season. Buchanon exemplified the ideal athlete for Angel's system as he also won the award for the highest GPA on the team.

Isiah Coleman and Degion Craddock, will return from last season's squad. They will be joined by newcomers to the program, to elevate even further the resurgence of the Rattler Cross Country team.

Dieumy Duclos (Tallahassee/Godby), Isaiah Smith (Bellevue,FL/Lake Weir HS), D'Anthony Lewis (Pensacola,FL/Escambia HS) and Robyel Kidane (Orlando,FL/Oak Ridge HS) will join the Rattler squad this Fall. The decorated newcomers come to the squad with a wealth of experience and accomplishments.

With the improvements the cross country team made last season, Angel's squad should be in position to challenge the elite teams in the MEAC for improved position.

Angel on the 2011 cross country squad: "I'm very excited about the upcoming season. We will continue to build on the momentum we established last year, with hopes of a top three finish at the MEAC Championships later this Fall."