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Tyson Announces Cross Country/Track Recruiting Class
May 29, 2009
SPOKANE, Wash. - Second-year Gonzaga University cross country and track coach Pat Tyson has announced his first full recruiting class with the addition of 11 men and 12 women expected to join the Bulldogs this fall. "I'm very pleased with the type of student-athlete joining our program in the fall," said Tyson, who became Gonzaga's head coach a year ago. "It was late in the recruiting process a year ago when I got the job, but over the past year I've had time to evaluate the talent and bring in the type of student-athlete that will help the program grow." Tate Kelly of Spokane's Gonzaga Prep is one of the additions on the men's side. He has a personal best of 4:21 for 1600 meters and 9:23 for 3200 meters in his first season of track for the Bullpups. He made the switch to track after being on the golf team. Christian Burger of Jesuit High in Portland, Ore., ran a 4:06 for 1500 meters earlier this spring and finished fifth in the Oregon State Class 6A Cross Country Championship last fall in helping Jesuit to the team title. Ben Lance from Mill Creek, Wash., and Jackson High led his school to second in the Washington State 4A Cross Country Championship last fall. He has a personal best of 4:05 for 1500 meters and 9:24 for 3200 meters. Jared Gregorio of South High in Denver, Colo., is an 800 meter specialist with a personal best of 1:58 and was a State qualifier in the 4 x 800. He was named to the All-City Team. His father, John, was a three-time All-American at the University of Colorado and finished five seconds behind the late Steve Prefontaine in the 1973 NCAA Championship 3-mile. Patrick Richie joins the Bulldogs from Grand Rapids., Minn., High where he was a conference champion in the 1600 and 3200 meters and finished 42nd in the Minnesota High School League State AA Cross Country Championship. He was named the cross country runner of the year by the Grand Rapids News Tribune.
Jared Christian recently broke the Meet of Champions 800 meters record with a 1:57.03 in a meet held at Willamette University and captured the Oregon State 4A title in the 800 meters in 1:57.05. He was the District 5A cross country champion last fall and finished 21st in the Oregon State 4A Cross Country Championship. Samot Turina was a two-time All-State cross country participant at Central Catholic High in Portland, finishing 15th this past season in the Oregon State 6A Championship. He was also a two-time Border Clash performer and a two-time Nike Team national qualifier. Also joining the Bulldogs will be Taylor Goade of Timberline High in Boise, Idaho; Brian Hernandez, San Rafael, Calif., High; Michael Bozzini, Justin-Siena High Napa, Calif., and Mitchell Fry, Jesuit High, Portland, Ore. On the women's side, Lauren Bergam of Spokane's East Valley High joins the Bulldogs after finishing 22nd in the Washington State 3A Cross Country Championship last fall. A four-time State 3A participant, she has a personal best of 18:40 and also represented Spokane at the Footlocker Nationals. Lacey Nation from Lakewood High in Arlington, Wash., finished 21st at the Washington State Class 2A Cross Country Championship last fall. She has a personal best of 2:22 for 800 meters and 5:16 for 1500 meters. Emily Thomas of Camas, Wash., High, was injured most of her senior year but still posted a cross country best of 18:23. She was a Great St. Helen's League selection. Anne Staeheli will join Gonzaga as a senior after transferring from Creighton University. A graduate of Hanford High in Richland, Wash., she ran personal bests of 2:23for 800 meters, 5:25 for 1600 meters and 18:33 in cross country foe Hanford. Brenn Donnelly of Marist High in Eugene, Ore., is another transfer, joining the Bulldogs from Loyola Marymount University. She will be a redshirt sophomore after attending LMU the previous two years. She has a personal best of 2:24 for 800 meters, 4:51 for 1500 meters and 18:51 in cross country. Others expected to join the Bulldogs this fall are Darby Jenkins of Chelan, Wash., High; Taylor Moravec, Sammamish High, Bellevue, Wash.; Jaime Van Lith, Valleyview High, Caldwell, Idaho, and Kristine Csicsery, Saint Francis High, Sacramento, Calif. Three current Gonzaga students who have not previously competed are Kristen Lightfoot, Sunnyslope High, Phoenix, Ariz.; Mallory Cocco, St. Mary's High, Bend, Ore., and Kelly Wilkinson, Torrey Pines High, Rancho Santa Fe., Calif. |
