Costello leader on the course, in the classroom

Nov. 4, 2004
By Dan Tomlin, Melisa Abbott
Sports Editor, Staff Writer

For most student-athletes, being a student and an athlete is work enough, but for St. Ambrose University junior Jeremiah Costello that’s just the half of it.

Costello, a 2001 graduate of Durant High School, joined not only the Fighting Bees cross country team this fall, but also was hired as the head coach of the Bennett-Durant boys cross country team. He joins the Bees after transferring from Muscatine Community College.

“When it came down to it I wanted to run so I had two choices, I could either transfer somewhere and run, or get a job,” Costello said. “I ran past coach [Dan] Zeimet this summer and looked back and noticed he was wearing SAU gear, and that put the idea in my head.”

From there, Costello contacted the Fighting Bees head coach and inquired about becoming part of the program.

“He contacted me after the road race about possibly running at the college level,” Zeimet said. “I told him we may be able to work something out, and told him to see how his coaching job played out.”

The only drawback was Costello’s newly acquired job as head coach. In 2000, as a senior Jeremiah helped lead the boys team to their first appearance at the State Cross Country Meet. He assumed the role of assistant coach in the fall of 2003, and by the end of the season had assumed much of the coaching duty while leading the boys to a tenth place finish in state.

While Costello spent most of the fall afternoons with his high school boys team Zeimet found a way to compromise and utilize Costello.

“I had him do the hard workouts with the team, and then do his longer runs with his team,” Zeimet said.

This created quite the scheduling conflict as Costello scheduled early morning practices with his high school team before driving thirty minutes to come attend class.

“It’s made for a lot of late night’s and early mornings, but it’s definitely been worth it,” Costello said. “When you’re down and having a rough time it’s fun to be around the guys. You know high school kids they aren’t stressed and it puts a smile on your face to be around them.”

Costello has more of a reason to smile these days as well as he took his boys team to Ft. Dodge, Iowa to compete in the Iowa State Cross Country Meet. There the Bennett-Durant boys placed 15.

As for his running as a Fighting Bee, Costello has consistently been a top three runner for the Fighting Bees and both he and Zeimet are pleased with the outcome.

“It’s been really good,” Costello said. “The guys on the team are real cool about me not making every workout, and I think it turned out pretty well.”

While Zeimet echoes those opinions he’s quick to add that there’s still more work to be done from his coaching perspective.

“Jeremiah’s been solid, and a consistent contributor to the team,” Zeimet said. “He still has his best races ahead of him.”

Hopefully for the Fighting Bees his best race will come next weekend as the Fighting Bees go into the NAIA Region VII meet with a rare opportunity not only to capture a Regional Title, but also to be crowned Midwest Classic Conference champions the same day.

“I think if we go in ready we’ve got as good a shot as anybody at nationals,” Costello said.

As far as Costello is concerned, while his season with the high school boys may be over, the collegiate season is starting to fire up.

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