SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Head coach Tim Riley and the University of San Francisco cross country and track & field programs officially announced the completion of their 2023 recruiting class on Friday afternoon.

Get to know more about the newest Dons below:
 
Marlee Kwasnica (Distance/XC/State College HS/State College, Penn.):
As a four-year student-athlete on the cross country and track teams at State College Area High School in State College, Pennsylvania, Kwasnica was a three-time PIAA District VI cross country champion and a three-time team MVP. Notably, Kwasnica also was named Freshman of the Year for her efforts in 2019-20 as she was also named a PIAA AAA Cross Country All-State medalist. During her senior year in 2022-23, she was named team captain as she racked up an impressive collection of accolades, which included setting the school's home cross country record. Impressively, Kwasnica's team was crowned champions of the Mid Penn conference during all four of her years on campus. Academically, Kwasnica was in the top ten percent of her class each year as she was also a faculty scholar and a member of the National German Honor Society.
 
Riley on Kwasnica: "Marlee brings a very athletic background to our group and I'm excited to see what she will do as a Don."
 
Hannah Kehoe (Mid-Distance/Distance/XC/Soreto Secondary HS/Borris, Ireland):
Hailing from Ireland, Kehoe comes to the Hilltop after time at Loreto Secondary School, Kilkenny. While in Kilkenny, Kehoe was named a two-time All-Ireland selection for cross country in addition to being named to the All-Ireland 1500M team for track & field. Additionally, she also spent time playing soccer and hockey during her studies.
 
Riley on Kehoe: "Really excited to have Hannah continue the Irish connection to our program! She has tremendous upside as an athlete and is a great fit academically for the Hilltop."
 
Lily Mourer (XC/Distance/Golden HS/Golden, Colo.):
Coming to the Bay Area from Denver, Colo., Mourer spent time at Golden High School in Golden, Colo. As she competed on both the varsity cross country and track & field teams. Throughout her years, Mourer was a three-time league individual champion (5k, 1600, 3200). Additionally, she was also a two-time All-State Honorable mention. As a unit, her team was crowned league champions three times. In the classroom, Mourer was a four-time Academic All-State First Team selection and a member of the National Society of High School Scholars.
 
Assistant Coach/Director of Operations Claire Green on Mourer: "We are so excited to have Lily join us as a Don. Her athleticism is extremely impressive, and she has incredible potential on the track. We can't wait to see what she will bring to the Hilltop."
 
Christine Albrecht (XC/Distance/St. Olaf College/San Jose, Calif.):
Returning to the Bay Area, Albrecht joins the green and gold after spending time at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn. While with the Oles, Albrecht earned USTFCCCA All-American honors (27^th individually) in addition to USTFCCCA All-North Region honors in 2022. Impressively, she was also an NCAA qualifier for cross country (2022), the indoor mile (2023) and the outdoor steeplechase (2023). Additionally, Albrecht was also an MIAC champion in the 3000m steeplechase, where she broke the school and conference championship record. Academically, she also earned USFTCCCA All-Academic twice (2022 XC, 2023, track) and Academic All-MIAC (2020 XC, 2021 track, 2021 XC) honors. Within the program, she was also selected as team captain from 2021-2023.
 
Riley on Albrecht: "Happy to bring Christine back home to the Bay Area. She's had a great year at St. Olaf and we hope to continue her momentum here at USF."
   
Mathilde Valadier (Mid-Distance/Distance/XC/Paris Dauphine University, /Paris, France):
Trekking over from France, Valadier brings a wealth of experience to the San Francisco roster. At the university level, she racked up seven national university medals, including four individual victories and one team win. At the federal level, Valadier tallied nine regional medals, which included four victories. Additionally, she finished second at the French 10,000m U23 championship and third at the French 10k U23 championship.
 
Riley on Valadier: "Mathilde will add to our depth in the 5k/10k distances and we are excited to see what she can do transitioning to the NCAA."
   
Yasmine Abbes (Mid-Distance/Distance/XC/Florida State/Nijmegen, Netherlands:
Originally from Nijmegen, Netherlands, Abbes comes to the Hilltop after spending time at Florida State. While with the Seminoles, Abbes was an All-ACC selection in indoor track and field in 2021 in addition to earning All-American status in the DMR. Notably, she also holds the school record in the DMR. In 2022, she also earned ACC All-Academic team honors. Impressively, she also represented her home country at the 2018 U18 and 2019 U20 European championships.
 
Riley on Abbes: "Excited to finally have Yasmine as a Don! We recruited Yasmine as a freshman way back in 2018 and to see her in the green and gold this fall will be a joy. Her career at Florida State has been a good one and we hope to build upon that as a Don."
 
Nátalie Hluší (Mid-Distance/Distance/XC/BYU/Brno, Czech Republic):
Coming to San Francisco via BYU, Hluší with multiple years of experience under her belt. Prior to her time in Provo, Hluší was part of the 20221 Cezch U20 National Championship team as she also was crowned Czech U20 Individual Champion in the 800m and 1500m.
 
Riley on Hluší: "Excited to have Natálie this fall and bolster our depth on the distance roster. She has had a solid spring and I believe will flourish here on the Hilltop."
 
Emílie Chrastinová (Multi-athlete/Príbram, Czech Repbulic):
Similar to Hluší, Chrastinová went to Gymnazium, Ceské Budejovice, Ceská 64 in the Czech Republic, where she racked up a multitude of honors. While there, she finished in first place in the javelin throw (500g) at the Nationalk Youth Olympic Games in 2021. Additionally, her team won the team national championshiup in 2022.
 
Assistant Coach Matt McGee on Chrastinová: "Emílie will fit very well with the heptathlon training group we have for next year joining Marine and Noa. She has a very good foundation in all of her events yet still developing rapidly. We're excited to follow her summer progression and welcome her to the City in August."
 
Noa Grochowksi (Multi-athlete/Houston Christian/Granienburg, Germany):
Fresh off of graduating cum laude with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Grochowski will make her way to the Bay Area after four years at Houston Christian, where she was named the Chi Alpha Sigma Student-Athlete of the Year. This year, Grochowski will begin pursuing her graduate degree in Entrepreneurship & Innovation.
 
McGee on Grochowski: "Noa is a great fit with us at USF. She's positive and determined, as well as talented. We're looking forward to welcoming her in the fall."
 
Lilly Gerhard (Throws/Peter Wust Grammar School/Rehlingen-Siersburg, Germany):
Coming to the Hilltop with thirteen years of track and field experience, Gerhard has a long list of accomplishments she is bringing along with her. Notably, Gerhard finished in first place in the javelin in the 2017 U16 South German Championships as well as two first place finishes (javelin + shot put) in the 2021 U20 Luxembourgish Championships. Most recently, Gerhard tallued four first place finishes (javelin, shot put, indoor shot put, discus) at the 2022 U20 Luxembourgish Championships.
 
McGee on Gerhard: "Excited to add our first Javelin specialist as we continue to evolve the group. Lilly is already performing at an NCAA level and is a very talented athlete overall. She has great potential to continue to develop, and is determined to continue pushing herself. I am looking forward to what she adds to the group."
 
Petra Helebrantová (Mid-Distance/Distance/Louny, Czech Republic/Gymnázium Václava Hlavatého, Louny):
Another talent from the Czech Republic, Helebrantová attended Gymnázium Václava Hlavatého, Louny in Louny as she racked up a variety of awards throughout her career back home. Notably, she placed first overall at the U14 National Championship in the 1500m in 2018.
   
Reid Headrick (Mid-Distance/Distance/XC/Medical Lake HS/Medical Lake, Wash.):
Born in Las Vegas but raised in the Pacific Northwest, Headrick brings a successful track record to the Hilltop after a strong career at Medical Lake High School in Medical Lake, Wash. Playing four sports throughout his high school career – cross country, soccer, track and basketball, Headrick was a district champion in cross country in the 800m and 1600m his junior year (2021-22) while also finishing as the Distance MVP for the district. Capping off his senior year in style, Headrick earned All-League and All-State honors in addition to being crowned district and state champion in cross country. In track & field, he was also the district champion in the 1600m and 3200m as well as being named Distance MVP for the league. In the classroom, Headrick was an All-Academic honoree all four years at Medical Lake as he was also named to the Principal's Honor Roll all four years.
 
Assistant Coach Steve Fuelling on Headrick: "We are really excited about Reid, he's a great fit for USF and one of the best distance athletes coming out of Washington. He has a versatile skill set of speed and endurance that you don't see every day. He is relatively new to the sport and we believe his upside is high."
   
Andy Ixtabalan-Argueta (XC/Distance/Skyline HS/Oakland, Calif.):
One of the most decorated talents locally in the Bay Area, Ixtabalan-Argueta comes to USF after racking up a plethora of awards each year at Skyline High School in Oakland. Overall, Ixtabalan-Argueta is a three-time First Team All-League, First Team All-City and First Team All-Section selection. Additionally, he was also named the Oakland Section Distance Runner of the Year for both cross country and track & field in 2021, 2022 and 2023. Overall, he also served as captain of the cross country and track & field teams as in addition to founding the Skyline Running Club.
 
Fuelling on Ixtabalan-Argueta: "It is great to sign one of the best distance athletes out of the East Bay! Andy has a bright future ahead of him athletically and academically."
 
Ellis McKean (XC/Distance/Montana/Glasgow, Mont.):
A native of Montana, McKean joins the Dons after spending time at the University of Montana, where he finished seventh overall in the steeplechase in the 2022 outdoor track season, which helped him earn All-Big Sky Conference honors in steeplechase. Prior to his time with the Grizzlies, McKean starred in basketball, cross country and track at Glasgow HS in his hometown of Glasgow, Montana. While at Glasgow, he was crowned the Class B 1600m and 3200m state champion.
 
Fuelling on McKean: "Very excited to bring in another experienced graduate student to our program. Ellis is going to be a great teammate… He has leadership skills and really cares about others. Athletically, he just needs consistent training and great things are going to start happening for him."
   
Will Bujake (XC/Distance/New West Charter HS/Los Angeles, Calif.):
Heading north from the city of angels, Bujake will don the green and gold after spending time at New West Charter HS in Los Angeles. Notably, Bujake was a state qualifier for cross country during his junior year while also finishing ranked fifth in his section during his senior year. Impressively, he was able to break the 3-mile and 5k school records during his senior season. In track & field, Bujake, broke the school record in the 3200m his junior year on the way to qualifying for the city meet. During her senior year, he followed up by breaking the 800m and 1600m records.
 
Fuelling on Bujake: "Great to get a Southern Californian to USF. Will is passionate about the sport and I'm excited to add him to the group."
 
Trevor Deane (Mid-Distance/Distance/XC/Providence HS/Burbank, Calif.):
As another talent out of Southern California, Deane will bolster the roster immediately for the Dons. Competing in both cross country and track and field at Providence HS in Burbank, Deane was a member of the team's cross country CIF championship team his junior year before going on to earn First Team All-League honors and finishing as the CIF Finals runner up in the 800m his senior year. Academically, Deane was a four-time honor roll member and two-time scholar athlete award winner. Notably, he also had success in track & field as he holds the school records in the 800m and 1600m.
 
Fuelling on Deane: "Trevor had a very solid high school career. I'm excited about his upside and motivation for the sport. It's great to add another Southern Californian to the program."
 
Sahil Raj (XC/Distance/Milpitas HS/Union City, Calif.):
Staying home in the Bay Area, Raj is another skilled multisport athlete who will be bringing his talents to the Hilltop. Competing in basketball, cross country and track & field at Milpitas HS in Milpitas, Raj was a two-time team MVP in cross country in addition to earn All-League First Team honors twice and qualifying for state twice. Notably, he was also selected as the Junior Male Athlete of the Year at Milpitas HS during his junior year.
 
Fuelling on Raj: "We are excited to welcome a Bay Area athlete to our program. Sahil is a focused and determined student-athlete that will fit in well with our group."
 
Jacob Cann (Mid-Distance/Distance/XC/Lancaster University/London, England):
Rounding out the class, Cann comes to San Francisco after a successful career at Lancaster University in Lancaster, England. While at Lancaster, Cann finished first overall at the Sussex 1500m Championships in 2021 while also placing first at the 2022 Sussex Cross Country Championships. Additionally, his team was crowned Sussex Cross Country Champions in 2023.
 
Fuelling on Cann: "We are thrilled Jacob chose to be a Don. He is a great fit for our program, university and city. Athletically, he is a rising star in England and should contribute right away on a national level in the NCAA."
 
For more information on the USF men's and women's cross country and track & field programs, be sure to follow @donsxctf on Twitter, @donsxctf on Instagram and @donsxctf on Facebook.