Finishing her second year as a graduate assistant coach with the program in 2024, Alena Hrusoci arrived to Western Illinois University from her native country of Croatia. While overseeing the hurdlers at WIU, Hrusoci also assisted with the pole vaulters and middle distance runners.
In 2024, Hrusoci helped lead Arnie Grunert to a conference championship in the pole vault. Grunert's winning jump of 5.24 (17' 2.25) also broke the Ohio Valley Conference record. His personal best that season of 5.42 (17' 9.25") broke the WIU school record and qualified him to the NCAA National Championships.
On the women's side, Hrusoci guided hurdlers were a dominant force in the Ohio Valley Conference. Aliyah Adams set a school record and finished second in the 60 meter hurdles at the 2024 OVC Indoor Championships. Her time of 8.61 broke the previous WIU school record from 1983. Outdoors, Adams went on to finish third in the 100 meter hurdles at the Conference Championships with a time of 13.99.
Under Hrusoci's guidance, senior Sophia Myers had an exceptional 2024 season as well. At the Ohio Valley Conference Championships, Myers finished second in the 100 hurdles and second in the 400 hurdles. Her 100 meter hurdle time of 13.75 was the third fastest performance in program history.
In 2023, Hrusoci helped lead Richard Brown to an NCAA West Regional qualifying appearance in the 800 meters. His personal best time of 1:48.29 was the second fastest performance in program history.
Hrusoci competed collegiately for the University of Louisiana. She holds the Sun Belt conference record, University of Louisiana school record, and is the second fastest 400 hurdler all-time for Croatia. Her personal best in the 400 hurdles is 57.74 and she also set the UL school record in the 100 hurdles at 13.83.
