New assistant Mackenzie Wartenberger, previously the head coach at Radford University, "has been terrific," Kepler said Wednesday. The athletes receive an attention to detail that was limited in the past by resources, he said.
"Beyond that, it's just that the kids are really committed to each other and really want to do it as a team," he said. "... The chemistry's great. The culture is great."
The Utes are led by ultra-competitive sophomores Hannah McInturff and Sarah Feeny, who took fifth and ninth, respectively, at the Pre-National meet.
For context, Kepler said, five-time All-American Amanda Mergaert took 15th in that race her senior year.