Dons land four runners
12/1/2014 8:01:00 AM | Cross Country, Track and Field
The Dons track and field and cross country programs, which have attracted several foreign-born athletes in recent years, have received commitments from four European runners during the early signing period.
"San Francisco is an international city and a destination location," says head coach Helen Lehman-Winters. "We take pride in having a global roster both internationally and domestically."
Incoming freshman Emma Stahr and incoming transfer student Charlotte Taylor will join the women's program. Stahr hails from Leipzig, Germany and, next season, will compete alongside fellow German-born Dons Elena Burkard and Jana Soethout.
Shahr holds personal best times of 56.88 in the 400 meters and 2:07.96 in the 800 meters.
"Emma is a middle distance talent, and we are thrilled to have her join our team," Lehman-Winters says. "She has been very successful at 800 meters but also demonstrates the capability and the willingness of moving up to help us in cross country."
Taylor, in 2014 while attending Warwick University in her home country of England, placed 11th at the U20 English Cross Country Championships. In 2013, she won the U20 ITU Olympic Distance World Triathlon Championships. She holds personal best times of 9:40 in the 3,000 meters and 16:54 for 5,000 meters.
"Charlotte is an aerobic talent," Lehman-Winters says. "Her background and success in the triathlon is an indication of what she is capable of doing in cross country. She will immediately come in and add strength to our cross country team as well as be effective at 1,000 meters on the track."
Incoming transfer students Ed Shepherd and Ryan Driscoll will join the men's track and cross country programs.
Shepherd, as an undergraduate, attended the University of Birmingham in his home country of England. In 2013, he placed 7th at the Junior English Cross Country Championships. This year, he placed 17th in the U20 English Cross Country Championships. He holds personal best times of 3:51 in the 1,500 meters, 8:17 in the 3,000 meters and 14:36 for 5,000 meters.
Ryan Driscoll also will arrive from England, where he attended St. Mary's University as an undergraduate. This year, he finished 14th at the U20 English Cross Country Championships. He holds personal best times of 3:52 in the 1,500 meters, 8:20 in the 3,000 meters and 14:40 for the 5,000 meters.
"Both Ryan and Ed will bring maturity and strength to our men's program," Lehman-Winters says. "Both have had success on the track and will immediately bolster our cross country squad in the fall."
Lehman-Winters says this class will help bring continued success for years to come.
"I am extremely pleased with Coach Benji Welti's recruitment efforts in the early signing period," she says. "He has recruited quality student-athletes who will make an immediate impact on our program and who are great fits for San Francisco and the goals of our program."
"San Francisco is an international city and a destination location," says head coach Helen Lehman-Winters. "We take pride in having a global roster both internationally and domestically."
Incoming freshman Emma Stahr and incoming transfer student Charlotte Taylor will join the women's program. Stahr hails from Leipzig, Germany and, next season, will compete alongside fellow German-born Dons Elena Burkard and Jana Soethout.
Shahr holds personal best times of 56.88 in the 400 meters and 2:07.96 in the 800 meters.
"Emma is a middle distance talent, and we are thrilled to have her join our team," Lehman-Winters says. "She has been very successful at 800 meters but also demonstrates the capability and the willingness of moving up to help us in cross country."
Taylor, in 2014 while attending Warwick University in her home country of England, placed 11th at the U20 English Cross Country Championships. In 2013, she won the U20 ITU Olympic Distance World Triathlon Championships. She holds personal best times of 9:40 in the 3,000 meters and 16:54 for 5,000 meters.
"Charlotte is an aerobic talent," Lehman-Winters says. "Her background and success in the triathlon is an indication of what she is capable of doing in cross country. She will immediately come in and add strength to our cross country team as well as be effective at 1,000 meters on the track."
Incoming transfer students Ed Shepherd and Ryan Driscoll will join the men's track and cross country programs.
Shepherd, as an undergraduate, attended the University of Birmingham in his home country of England. In 2013, he placed 7th at the Junior English Cross Country Championships. This year, he placed 17th in the U20 English Cross Country Championships. He holds personal best times of 3:51 in the 1,500 meters, 8:17 in the 3,000 meters and 14:36 for 5,000 meters.
Ryan Driscoll also will arrive from England, where he attended St. Mary's University as an undergraduate. This year, he finished 14th at the U20 English Cross Country Championships. He holds personal best times of 3:52 in the 1,500 meters, 8:20 in the 3,000 meters and 14:40 for the 5,000 meters.
"Both Ryan and Ed will bring maturity and strength to our men's program," Lehman-Winters says. "Both have had success on the track and will immediately bolster our cross country squad in the fall."
Lehman-Winters says this class will help bring continued success for years to come.
"I am extremely pleased with Coach Benji Welti's recruitment efforts in the early signing period," she says. "He has recruited quality student-athletes who will make an immediate impact on our program and who are great fits for San Francisco and the goals of our program."
Players Mentioned
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/ Track and Field
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