A lot of coaches' primary goal is to win championships.
For Kim Seals, the Alabama A&M cross country coach, winning a conference championship is a goal. But the former Olympian has another target in her sights.
"My primary goal is for our ladies to make the SWAC all-Academic team," she said. "I want each of the ladies to receive a 3.0 GPA."
To go with the Lady Bulldogs' off field performances, Seals is optimistic about her team's chances athletically.
She is high on a pair of returnees in Keanna McIntyre and Ester Martinez as well as a pair of talented freshmen – Da'Hari Lomax of Las Vegas and Hyidea Burgess of Oakland.
"Keanna should be in the top nine (to qualify for All-SWAC)," Seals said.
Seals said she also has a couple of special weapons in her arsenal  – a trio of freshmen from Sierra Leone, who also play soccer.  
"Sarah Bangura, Fatmata Mansaray and Margaret Sesay," she said. "If they come through, we can move up (in the conference standings)."
The Lady Bulldogs open their season at Jacksonville State on Aug. 29 in the Struts Cross Country Opener. It is the beginning of a seven-meet season, capped by the SWAC Championships on Oct. 27 in Clinton, MS.
"We're working really hard," Seals said. "I'm going to keep my expectations high."