LA GRANDE, Ore. - The Eastern Oregon University Cross Country program has reason to be excited about the upcoming season after signing several key individuals in this year's recruiting class.
Women:
Coach Ben Welch, headed into his 19th year at EOU, feels like this is the best recruiting class of women Cross Country runners he has ever had. “There is a tremendous amount of untapped potential in the group," Welch said. "Time will tell just how good they can be, but I am very excited to see what they can do.” The class consists of eight women, six of them true freshmen, and the other two are non-traditional freshmen.
Telissa Baldovino, Lakeview, Ore., Fr: Fifth place at the 2008 Oregon class 1A-2A-3A Cross Country state meet and runner up at the 2009 Oregon 2A state meet in the 400. Baldovino also came within .04 of a second from winning the 200 in 2009 as well.
Nancy Cardenas, Umatilla, Ore., Fr:- Winner of the 2008 1A-2A-3A state meet in Cross Country with one of the fastest times at the meet for all divisions. Cardenas finished second at the 3A state meet in the 3k and thirrd in the 1500.
Karlee Coffey, La Grande, Ore.- RS-Fr: Coffey has never run Cross Country or Track, but has recently picked up running, after six years as a competitive cyclist, and ran 1:29:58 in her first ever half marathon- well under the NAIA Auto standard for the Marathon.
Cristal Delgado, Hermiston, Ore., Fr: Delgado will red shirt this fall, but brings a wealth of potential to the program. She was fifth at the Oregon 5A state Cross Country meet in 2008. Delgado also ran 10:44 on the track for 3K.
Sierra Engler, Lebanon, Ore., Fr: Engler only ran one year of Cross Country in high school but was able to qualify for the 5A state meet in that one year. She also placed fifth at the 5A state meet in the 300 meter hurdles in her first year of competition in that event.
Julie Freeman, Beaverton, Ore., Fr: Freeman returns to college and running, after several years off- primarily a Cross Country runner in high school.
Sarah Hanchett, Vida, Ore., Fr: Hanchett ran two years of Cross Country in high school, placing 17th at the 1A-2A-3A state meet as a senior. She was a six time 1A state champion for McKenzie High School, winning the 800 three years in a row and the 3K the last two years. Hanchett also won the 400 as a freshman. She missed winning the 200 this past spring by .01 of a second.
Christy Roe, Kodiak, Alaska, Fr: Roe was a contributing member of Kodiak’s Cross Country team that placed in the top ten at the Alaska state meet as a senior.
Men:
Like the women’s recruiting class, the men’s class is an exciting one with a good mix of speed and long range endurance.
Brian Bragg, Burbank, Wash., Jr: Bragg is a transfer from Spokane Falls Community College. Mainly a 1500 meter runner on the track, he will red shirt this fall. Bragg did not run Cross Country in high school, as Columbia-Burbank High School does not offer the sport.
Salome Castillo, Hood River, Ore., Fr: Castillo only ran one year of Cross Country and Track in high school, but comes from a strong running family and showed a good deal of promise in his one year.
Kody Coxen, Silverton, Ore., Fr: Coxen finished 14th at the Oregon 5A state Cross Country meet and fifth in the 3K, where he ran a personal record of 8:52.06. He also finished eighth in the 1500 this past spring.
Damien Flores, Myrtle Creek, Ore., Fr: Competing for South Umpqua High School, Flores finished ninth at the Oregon 4A state Cross Country meet and third in the 800 at the state track meet ... in only his second year of running.
Tyler June, Boise, Idaho, RS-Fr: An Eagle High School product, June will train with the Cross Country team, but focuses on the 800 and 400 in track season.
Kevin Miller, Boise, Idaho, Fr: while competing for Mountain View High School, Miller competed at a number of state meets for Cross Country and Track and placed fifth in the 5A 800 and ran on the third place 4 x 800 relay team as well.
Zach Seely, Portland, Ore., Fr: A Wilson High School product, Seely has run well in Cross Country on limited development, but had even more success in the 1500 on the track.
Devin White, Salem, Ore., Fr: Competing for McKay High School, White finished 23rd at the Oregon 6A state meet in Cross Country and eighth in the 3K with a personal record, 8:52.16.
Colton Winkler, La Grande, Ore., Fr: Winkler was a solid and steady leader for La Grande over the last four years, capping his time there with a 59th place finish at the 2008 Oregon 4A state Cross Country meet and as a member of the La Grande High School 4 x 400 relay team that competed at state.