The RoundHouse | 10/18/2019 10:05:00 AM

 
In August, Wichita State cross country coach Kirk Hunter talked cautiously and optimistically about Abeba Sullivan, a junior transfer. 
 
It is October, cross country season is getting real, and Hunter remains cautious and optimistic. The emphasis, however, is firmly on optimistic based on Sullivan's progress.
 
"I don't want her to be pressured, but I have an extremely high belief in Abeba," Hunter said. "I've told her a number of times that I believe she is the key. Having her, being new to our program . . . has just been an incredible step forward."
 
The Shockers men and women's team run on Saturday in the Under Armour Pre-National Invitational in Terre Haute, Ind., an important step against strong competition with conference and NCAA races in November.
 
Sullivan, from Saukville, Wis., earned NJCAA All-American honors four times in track and cross country at Iowa Central Community College. Foot injuries, however, hurt her times as a sophomore. Hunter wasn't sure how she would rebound this fall. She ran unattached in the JK Gold Classic, to preserve the possibility of a redshirt, and finished sixth with a time of 14 minutes, 27.7 seconds in the 4-kilometer race.
 
In late September, she ran the 6-kilometer course in 21 minutes, 23 seconds at the Bill Dellinger Invitational in Eugene Ore. She finished fourth among the Shockers (89^thoverall).
 
Those performances showed Sullivan could add depth to the defending American Athletic Conference champions and the potential for more. The Shockers are ranked eighth in the Midwest Region, two spots behind Tulsa. Houston is ranked fourth in the South Central Region and Temple 10^thin the Mid-Atlantic.
 
"There's never been any doubt in my mind what she's capable of doing," Hunter said. "It's just making sure she's healthy. The only thing I get a little cautious about is that she might over-work because she's really wanting to do well."
 
The Shockers returned Winny Koskei (2018 American champion), Rebekah Topham (who placed third in the American in 2018) and Yazmine Wright (18^th) this fall.  Hunter needed strong fourth and fifth runners to emerge to keep the Shockers atop the American and a threat in NCAA regionals. 
 
"I didn't expect to be in the fourth position on the team, because I haven't been training a lot this summer and I've been injured the last year," Sullivan said. "I always wanted to go to a school where there is a really good team, so I can be pushed and work with them. It motivates me to be out there and be one of them. Train to be great like them."
 
Sullivan, hampered by stress fractures last year, said the training staff and coaches at Wichita State are helping her stay healthy. Yoga sessions help her flexibility and strength. A year ago, she said she felt like her body gave out and she had to push through races.
 
"The little details we do here make a lot of difference," she said. "This is probably the best I've felt in my running career. I feel very healthy and I feel like my body is fresh."
 
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.