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Deep, Diverse, Talented Recruiting Class to Set Course for Dons XC/Track Programs

Deep, Diverse, Talented Recruiting Class to Set Course for Dons XC/Track Programs
(Clockwise from top right): Elissa Mann, Melanie Marquis, Abby Pradere, Aoibhe Richardson, Sarah Marske and Sophie Soefeldt are just a few of the many talented recruits in Pat McCurry and staff's first full recruiting class.
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SAN FRANCISCO — University of San Francisco cross country and track head coach Pat McCurry is proud to announce his staff's first full recruiting class, a program-altering group of 21 incoming women and men that will pave the way for Dons cross country and track for years to come.
 
"We accomplished exactly what we wanted in this recruiting class, bringing a base of freshman that we will build around in the coming years and then complimenting that with some heavy-hitter transfers," said McCurry. "Coach (Gary) Newell and Coach (Tim) Riley did a phenomenal job with recruitment this year."

The Dons' 2019 recruiting class includes 10 distance runners, five middle-distance specialists and six sprinters/hurdlers, spread out among 18 women and three men. The class hails from 10 different states and seven different countries. A strong base of 15 true freshmen will mix with the leadership and experience of six transfers.
 
"We can't wait to get to work in a few weeks coaching this great group of young people we've brought together," said McCurry. "Many different backgrounds are represented, but they are all Dons now!"
 
See below a list of the incoming cross country and track student-athletes for 2019-20:
 
WOMEN
 
Name Yr. Specialty Hometown/Previous School
Elissa Mann Sr. Middle Distance Louisville Colo./Colorado

Notables – Personal best: 800 - 2:03.96 … 2019 Pac-12 Conference 800 champion … Ran the 400 leg on 2017 National Championship Distance Medley Relay team for Colorado.
 
Name Yr. Specialty Hometown/Previous School
Melanie Marquis Fr. Sprints/Hurdles Meridian, Idaho/Mountain View HS

Notables – Back-to-back Idaho state champion (2017 and 2018) in the 300 hurdles … 2019 State runner-up in the 300 hurdles.
 
Name Yr. Specialty Hometown/Previous School
Sarah Marske Fr. Sprints/Hurdles Mesa Ariz./Mountain View Mesa HS

Notables – Personal bests: 300 hurdles - 43.38; 100 hurdles - 14.17; 400 hurdles - 65.95; 200 meters - 24.85; 100 - 12.36 … 2019 Arizona State Champion in the 300 hurdles … 2019 State third Place in the 100 hurdles … 2019 State fifth place in the 200.
 
Name Yr. Specialty Hometown/Previous School
Abby Pradere Fr. Middle Distance Carson City, Nev./Carson HS

Notables – Personal bests: 800 meters - 2:12.50; Mile - 4:58 … Back-to-back Nevada 4A state champion doubling in both the 800 and the mile (2018, '19).
 
Name Yr. Specialty Hometown/Previous School
Aoible Richardson Sr. Distance Kilkenny, Ireland/Portland
 
Notables – Personal bests: 10,000 meters - 33:41; 5,000 - 16:16 … Finished 14th in the 10,000 at the 2019 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field West Preliminary Meet … Finished 57th at the 2018 NCAA Cross Country Championship.
 
Name Yr. Specialty Hometown/Previous School
Sophie Soefeldt Fr. Distance Copenhagen, Denmark/Sortedamskolen
 
Notables – Personal bests: 1,500 meters - 4:23.29; 3,000 - 9:32.30 … 2019 World Junior Cross Country Championship qualifier … 2019 World Junior Track and Field qualifier.
 
Name Yr. Specialty Hometown/Previous School
McKenzie Yanek Jr. Distance Bettendorf, Iowa/Alabama

Notables – Personal best: 10,000 meters - 33:58 … Runner-up in the 10,000 at the 2018 SEC Championships … 2018 Cardinal Class 10,000m champion.
 
Name Yr. Specialty Hometown/Previous School
Rayne Anwar Fr. Sprints Mission Viejo, Calif./Capistrano Valley HS

Notables – Personal bests: 100 meters - 12.20; 200 - 25.39 … 2019 CIF South Section Division II qualifier (100/200).
 
Name Yr. Specialty Hometown/Previous School
Katherine Badham Jr. Distance Auckland, New Zealand/Mississippi State

Notables – Personal best: 3,000-meter steeplechase - 10:58 … Will also compete for the triathlon team at USF.
 
Name Yr. Specialty Hometown/Previous School
Baneet Bains Fr. Middle Distance Surrey, British Columbia/Princess Margaret Secondary

Notables – Personal bests: 1,500 meters - 4:34; 3,000 steeplechase - 10:57 … Competed in steeplechase on the Canadian National Team at Pan-American U20 Championships this summer.
 
Name Yr. Specialty Hometown/Previous School
Kalii Caldwell Fr. Distance Ogden Utah/Ogden HS

Notables – Personal bests: 3,200 meters - 11:03; 5,000 - 17:38 … 10th at New Balance Indoor Nationals in 2018.
 
Name Yr. Specialty Hometown/Previous School
Willa Gibson Fr. Sprints Draper, Utah/Corner Canyon HS

Notables – Personal bests: 400 meters - 57.75; 800 - 2:19.58 … 2019 fourth-place finisher at Utah State Championships in the 400, sixth place in the 800.
 
Name Yr. Specialty Hometown/Previous School
Evelyn How Fr. Sprints Cupertino, Calif./Monta Vista HS

Notables – Personal bests: 100 meters - 12.24; 200 - 25.78 … Central Coast Section Finalist (100m)
 
Name Yr. Specialty Hometown/Previous School
Eve Jensen Fr. Distance Boise, Idaho/Boise HS

Notables – Personal best: 3,200 meters - 10:40 … Ran at 2018 Nike NXN qualifier
 
Name Yr. Specialty Hometown/Previous School
London Lewis Fr. Sprints Stevenson Ranch, Calif./West Ranch HS

Notables – Personal bests: 200 meters - 26.39; 400 - 58.50 … 79th Nike Chandler Rotary participant (800m)
 
Name Yr. Specialty Hometown/Previous School
Julia Morales Fr. Middle Distance San Diego/Scripps Ranch HS

Notables – Personal best: 800 meters - 2:12.92 … Multi-time CIF State Finals competitor in the 800 and relays.
 
Name Yr. Specialty Hometown/Previous School
Ruby Smee Fr. Distance Hobart, Australia/Hobart College

Notables – Personal best: 5,000 meters - 16:47 … Runner-up at 2019 U20 Australian Championships in the 5,000.
 
Name Yr. Specialty Hometown/Previous School
Anna Tait Sr. Middle Distance Glasgow Scotland/Caledonian U

Notables – Personal bests: 1,500 meters - 4:21; 3,000 - 9:36.
 
MEN
 
Name Yr. Specialty Hometown/Previous School
Andy Snyder Sr. Distance Kennewick, Wash./Washington

Notables – Personal best: 10,000 meters - 29:23 … Ninth place at the 2018 NCAA West Region Cross Country Championship … 2019 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field West Preliminary meet qualifier.
 
Name Yr. Specialty Hometown/Previous School
Hiruy Alemsged Fr. Distance Portland, Ore./Aloha HS

Notables –2018 Oregon Cross Country State Championship qualifier
 
Name Yr. Specialty Hometown/Previous School
Caleb Haugland Fr. Distance Minneapolis/Minneapolis Washburn HS

Notables – Personal bests: 1,600 meters - 4:20; 3,200 - 9:29 … 23rd at 2018 NXR Heartland Regional Championships.
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