The two young talented Highland Cavalier cross country teams recently had a new director named as Doug Carter will take over the reigns for the 2008 fall season.  Carter, who also is the assistant women's basketball coach, will take over the largest UVa-Wise cross country rosters in recent years.

The new head coach replaces the departed Jason Lewkowicz who went to Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.) College to become the head coach for cross country and track & field. 

"I'm very excited to continue the growth and direction that Jason Lewkowicz started over the past few years," tells Carter.  "He was such a positive influence on the program that I look to pick up where he left off."

Carter inherits the two youngest teams of the UVa-Wise athletic department.  The women's team will be led by sophomore NAIA national qualifier Brittany Killough.  Killough will see three juniors and two fellow sophomores be joined by four freshmen.  The men will be even younger with sophomore All-Appalachian Athletic Conference runner Collin Skeen heading a five sophomore and seven freshman roster.

The second-year UVa-Wise athletic department coaching staff member says, "Our goals are to maximize each individual runners abilities, continue to build the program and bring in Virginia's best and brightest student-athletes,"

"I have been excited about the leadership and enthusiasm of the returners and potential of the newcomers to the program."

A year ago, Carter joined the UVa-Wise women's basketball coaching staff as head coach Rachel Clay-Keohane's full-time assistant.  The Williamsport, Pa. area native earned both his bachelor of science in health and physical education and his master's of liberal arts with a sport administration concentration from Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania.