PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Bobby Farrell announced that Nicol Starkes (formerly Traynor) has been named Associate Head Coach. Starkes served as the interim in the role during the 2024 cross country season. Additionally, New Jersey native Lex Westley was hired as an assistant coach. A former NCAA cross country national qualifier, Westley will work with the distance group.
 
Starkes is in her fourth season with the Scarlet Knights, serving as assistant coach with the cross country team and distance group from 2021-2024. She arrived 'On The Banks' following a five-year stint at NYU where she was involved in all facets of the men's and women's programs, with her primary focus being on the distance and middle distance student-athletes.
 
"I would like to thank Coach Farrell and our administration for their trust in me to lead the distance program," said Starkes. "I'm also excited to have brought on Lexi Westley in an assistant role. Her success in the Big Ten as a student-athlete will translate well into this coaching role."
 
"I'm excited to announce Coach Starkes' new role in the program," said Farrell. "Over the last few years, she's become a critical asset to our staff and I look forward to seeing her continue to grow the distance program." 
 
The Rutgers distance program has experienced marked improvements, capturing several indoor and outdoor school records, including the 800, 1,500, mile, 3,000-meter and distance medley relay. The women's cross country squads have posted the top-2 team finishes in program history in back-to-back season (2021, 2022) and Alex Carlson became a two-time NCAA All-Mid Atlantic Region honoree (2022, 2023) for a pair of top-20 finishes. It marked the first Scarlet Knight to earn all-region selection since 2015 and her 10th-place performance in 2023 was the best individual finish since 2003.
 
During her five-year career with the Violets, Starkes helped guide several successful moments, including NCAA Championship qualifiers, All-Americans, conference Rookie of the Year honors, and all-region performers.
 
Two more of Starkes' cross country runners, freshman Leah Haley and junior Dillan Spector, also qualified for the NCAA Championship. During the 2018 cross country season, Ben Haderle earned NCAA All-Atlantic Region honors and qualified for the NCAA Championship while Valentina House was named ECAC Metro Rookie of the Month for September.
 
Starkes came to NYU after spending the previous four years as an assistant cross country and track & field coach at her alma mater Ridge High School in Basking Ridge, NJ.
 
A 2012 graduate of the University of Richmond with a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics, Starkes had a successful four-year career competing for the Spiders' track & field team. She was a Second Team All-American in the 3,000m steeplechase as a junior and qualified for the NCAA Championships three times. A six-time Atlantic 10 champion, Starkes was named the conference's Most Outstanding Track Performer as a senior. Additionally, she was a three-time Academic All-Conference selection.
 
Starkes was a member of the 2010 cross country squad that will be honored as the Teams of Distinction during the Richmond Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2024 ceremony.
 
Westley joined the Scarlet Knights for the 2024 cross country season following a successful career at Wisconsin where she was a Big Ten and NCAA Cross Country qualifier.
 
As a Badger, Westley was a two-time top 10 finisher at the Big Ten Cross Country Championships, finishing seventh in 2021 and ninth overall in 2023. She was a two-time bronze medalist on the track in the 10,000-meter at the Big Ten Championships. Westley qualified for four NCAA Cross Country Championships (2019-23) during her career. She was also four-time NCAA East First Round qualifier in the 10,000-meter, running a personal-best time of 33:17 which ranked eighth all-time at Wisconsin.
 
A native of Washington, New Jersey, Westley graduated from Warren Hills Regional High School. She was a three-time New Jersey State Champion in the 3,200-meter, three-time Group 3 cross country state champion and two-time New Balance Nationals All-American in the outdoor 5,000-meter.
 
Westley earned a bachelor's degree in health promotion and health equity in 2023 at Wisconsin and masters in sports leadership in 2024.