April 5, 2010

Mettler to join former Tiger runners at University of Arkansas at Little Rock

Preparing to leave Cowley College as one of the most successful American born runners in the program’s history, Dustin Mettler signed a letter of intent to run cross county and track at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock on Monday.

Mettler, who was the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division cross country champion and the Region VI Male Track Athlete of the Meet at the Region VI/Jayhawk Conference indoor track meet, will join former Tiger runners Johnny Purvis and Jonathan Cherono at UALR.

“I am happy he is getting this opportunity, he has come along way,” Cowley head cross country/assistant track coach Vince DeGrado said.

Mettler came to Cowley from Duncan, Oklahoma and has flourished under DeGrado’s guidance.

“I have gotten a whole lot faster than when I was in high school,” Mettler said. “I credit coach (Vince) DeGrado for the workouts and motivation he gave me. I am glad I came to Cowley because they helped me achieve my goal of running at a four-year school.”

Mettler was the conference and region champion in the 5,000-meter run each of the past two years, and was also the 3,000-meter region/conference champion during this past indoor season. He earned Coaches Association All-American honors at each of the last two national indoor meets.

He has helped Cowley continue its streak of four straight indoor conference titles and three consecutive outdoor championships.

His former Tiger teammates, Purvis and Cherono have not missed a beat since joining UALR. Purvis, a six-time Coaches Association All-American at Cowley, has continued his success at UALR as he became just the second Trojan to earn NCAA All-Region honors.

While, Cherono, a five-time All-American in cross country and track at Cowley, is the defending Sun Belt Conference outdoor champion in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and holds the school record in the event.
DeGrado expects Mettler to fit right in at his new school.

“He is going to a program that has a coach that is as supportive as I am when it comes to student athletes,” DeGrado said. “Having people there that he is familiar with will make it a little easier transition. He has got so much more left in the tank.”

Before he leaves Cowley, Mettler would like to run the 5K (3.1 miles) in less than 14:30 and finish as an outdoor track All-American.

“He has so much talent that I hold him to a high standard and never let him settle for being mediocre,” DeGrado said. “He has done a heck of a job at our conference and region meets and is even better than he probably thinks he is.”