The Triumphs of Mary Grover and Dustin Russell at the NAIA Marathon Classic

(story first appeared in the 2024 William Woods Alumni magazine, The Woods)

In marathon running, where dedication and skill come together, Mary Grover and Dustin Russell have emerged as standout performers, elevating their team's standing and their own personal achievements. At the inaugural NAIA Marathon Classic, Mary had a remarkable 9th place finish in the women's division, clocking in at 3:10:03, and Dustin secured 34th place in the men's with a time of 2:51:48. Both athletes surpassed the qualifying standard for the 2025 Boston Marathon, the sport's gold standard.

Dustin Russell

A senior majoring in cybersecurity from Fulton, Missouri, Russell never expected his running career to go beyond high school. That changed when a scholarship to run cross-country from Coach Schwab, the head cross-country and track coach at William Woods, presented itself. With that scholarship and William Woods having the cybersecurity major, it was a no-brainer for Dustin to leap into collegiate running.

"The cross-country team really is a team, even though it is an individual sport," Russell said. "We are closely bonded, and I have enjoyed every second of being a member of the team. I am probably going to end up crying when I graduate and won't be running with them anymore."

Russell did not expect to be running a marathon until Coach Schwab suggested the idea to him. He figured why not and then began training for the NAIA Marathon Classic.

William Woods marathoners

"Training for the marathon for me was not any different from what I normally do for cross-country," he said. "I know next year I will be adjusting my training after how the marathon went this year. I ran about 50 to 55 miles a week. I think next year when it comes around more into the summer and fall, I am going to be trying for 65 to 70 miles a week, just so my legs are a little bit more prepared."

When Russell and his team arrived in California, he was excited to race.

"I zoned out when I was running like I always do," he said. "Focused in and focused up."

As he was running the 26.2 miles, the path of the race was lined with people cheering and playing music. Then when the finish line was in sight, he was ready to finish.

"When I got across the finish line, I was glad to be done," Russell said. "I was glad to be over with it because at about mile 20, my body started to give out and my legs started to cramp up."

Earning 34th and coining a time of 2:51:48, he had earned himself a place in the storied Boston Marathon.

"I didn't exactly expect to get a qualifying time for the Boston Marathon," Russell said. "I figured I would be close if I ran how Coach Schwab wanted me to run and if I ran how I wanted to run. I knew I could do it, it was just how my race went. Did I have a good day? Did I have a bad day? It was just one of those things."

William Woods marathoners

After he runs in the 2026 Boston Marathon, Russell plans on dialing back his running activities, taking up biking as a new hobby, and focusing on strength training. He credits William Woods for all the support he received throughout his collegiate career.

"As an athlete, William Woods has provided a lot of facilities just in terms of having the turf room, having a great strength and conditioning coach who fully understands how to best workout a distance runner, and having coach Schwab as our cross-country and track coach. He knows his stuff and how to handle a team, and he is very inspiring. I think that is what draws people into the cross-country and track program as a whole. I don't think we would be anywhere near the same team as we are today without him. William Woods supported us by having the right people in the right positions."

Mary Grover

For Mary Grover, a senior majoring in Art Education from Ashland, Missouri, running a marathon has always been one of her goals. Her love for running and the supportive community within the cross-country team at William Woods have positively influenced her life.

"Being on the cross-country team motivates me to get out there every day," Grover said. "Building community with people when we are all doing a really hard thing but somehow coming back to it."

Being a student-athlete means you have to miss some classes here and there for your sport. But when Grover had to leave for meets, her professors always understood and supported her.

"The professors are super understanding of me being gone for meets," she said. "With William Woods being such a small school, the professors remember that you are a runner and that you had a meet on Friday, so then they are going to ask you the next Monday how the meet went. It is nice to have that relationship where people remember things and wonder about how I did."

Grover has a lot of appreciation towards Coach Schwab for helping her get to this point in her collegiate running career.

"He understands exactly how to communicate to me," she said. "He doesn't hover to make me train but he is also not totally hands-off either, which is perfect for me. He is a supportive coach and I can feel that he is proud of me, which is motivating."

"I knew I was going to do the marathon at the end of the spring semester," Grover continued. "I didn't take a break from outdoor season, so I spent all June training hard with 60-mile weeks and had long runs on the weekends."

Her commitment to training not only enhanced her athletic performance but also improved her academic discipline.

"Two to three hours a day training kept me on top of my stuff academically. I have to be training from this time to this time so I have to get my homework done between this time and this time. Running was the biggest thing in my life," she said.

The inaugural NAIA Marathon Classic presented Mary with the opportunity to challenge herself. Despite initial nerves and self-doubt, she exceeded her expectations, breaking the William Woods women's marathon record with a time of 3:10:03.

"It felt amazing crossing the finish line," Grover said. "It was like wow, I spent 6 months building miles on my body and doing all of these speed workouts. I just ran this insanely fast time for my first marathon. It felt like a lifetime achievement. I was in awe of myself. Like yeah, I really did that!"

Looking ahead, Grover wants to take on more marathon races, with an ambitious goal of breaking the three-hour mark in an upcoming race. She is set on running the Boston Marathon in 2025.

Together, the marathon successes of Dustin Russell and Mary Grover exemplify the unwavering commitment found within the William Woods University cross-country team. Their times not only showcase personal achievements but also the supportive community and environment cultivated by the William Woods cross-country team.

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