Photo by: Andrew Fischer
Cross Country And Distance Runners Join The Beach
9/9/2020 8:52:00 AM | Cross Country, Track and Field
Eleven new runners will head to Long Beach in a mix of transfers and freshmen.
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Long Beach State's distance program will get a boost in talent with 11 newcomers, including graduate transfers, junior college performers and incoming freshman all with solid credentials.
"We are very excited about this group of men's and women's distance recruits," said Head Cross Country Coach Shawn Winget. "We added quality depth in all distance events on the track and strengthened our cross country program with solid performers across the board. Our transfers will provide immediate leadership and have an immediate impact at our Big West Championship and NCAA postseason. This freshman class also has the potential to help our program at the conference level right away."
Men's Commitments:
Arturo Sotomayor – Senior; Roseville, Calif. (UCLA)
Arturo Sotomayor comes to Long Beach State as a graduate transfer after spending four years at UCLA, where he has been a consistent performer in the middle distances. A two-time Indoor All-American in the Distance Medley Relay, Sotomayor also was a two-time regional qualifier in the 1500m, where he holds a career best of 3:42.60. He'll be pursuing a Master's degree in Structural Geology at the Beach.
Mohammed Mohamed – Junior; Riverside, Calif. (Riverside City CC)
Mohammed Mohamed was part of a championship winning team at the 2019 CCCAA State Championships with Riverside City College, where he spent two years competing in both cross country and track and field. Mohamed was also the individual runner-up in the 800m in that same championship, holding a personal best of 1:53.40 in the event. Born in Mombasa City, Kenya, Mohamed plans to major in Recreational Therapy.
Adan Castellanos – Sophomore; Lynwood, Calif. (Mt. SAC CC)
Adan Castellanos transfers into Long Beach State after one season of completion at Mt. SAC, where he placed sixth in the 800m in the 2019 CCCAA State Championships. Prior to that meet, he set a PR of 1:54.79 earlier in the year, and has prior experience at Jack Rose Track, running the 1500 in the community college portion of the Beach Opener in 2020, the final competition of the season. He plans to major in Geography.
Alex Frias – Freshman; Commerce, Calif. (St. John Bosco HS)
A talented freshman, Frias was a four-time first-team all-league selection at St. John Bosco. Helping lead his team to a fifth place finish at the 2019 CIF Cross Country Championships, he was also an All-Southern Section honoree. He made that a double with All-Southern Section honors in the 1600m as well. Named to the High Honor Roll in all eight semesters at St. John Bosco, he plans to major in Nursing at LBSU.
Michael Holland – Freshman; Murrieta, Calif. (Vista Murrieta HS)
The second incoming freshman on the men's side is Michael Holland. Holland competed in both track and cross country at Vista Murrieta High School, putting in a best time in the 5K of 15:57. He was also busy in track, competing in multiple events, including the 400m, 800m, and 1600m including a PR of 1:57.12 in the 800m. He plans to major in computer science.
Isaiah Wilson – Junior; Yucca Valley, Calif. (Mt. SAC CC)
Isaiah Wilson is another junior college transfer from Mt. SAC, where he competed in both cross country and track and field. He was the 2019 South Coast Conference Champion in cross country, crossing the line with a 21:53 over four miles. He also placed fifth overall in the 2019 state championships in the 1500m, where he has a PR of 3:58.42.
Women's Commitments:
Haley Adel – Senior; Sacramento, Calif. (UC Davis)
The women's side will get a distance boost with the addition of Haley Adel, a proven competitor in the Big West who joins the Beach as a graduate transfer from UC Davis. Adel competed in three seasons each of cross country and track for the Aggies. She finished in the Top 20 of the Big West Championships twice, and scored in all three seasons in track and field at the conference championships. Her best finish came in 2018, when she took fourth place in the 10K, an event where she has a PR of 36:39. A multiple Academic All-Big West selection, Adel will be pursuing a Master's Degree in Nutritional Science.
Brieanna Tafoya – Junior; Ventura, Calif. (Ventura CC)
A junior college transfer from Ventura College, Brieanna Tafoya earned JC All-America honors in both cross country and track and field. In 2019, she took third place at the CCCAA State Championships, and holds an 18:39 best in the 5K in cross country. On the track, she ranks second all-time at Ventura College with a PR of 2:15.22 in the 800m, and placed sixth place at the CCCAA state championships as a freshman. She is majoring in Business Administration.
Julia Kiersnowski – Freshman; San Diego, Calif. (Scripps Ranch HS)
The first of two freshman in the class, Julia Kiersnowski played a part in a very successful team at Scripps Ranch HS, claiming CIF Championships in both track and field and cross country. The track and field program had won two straight San Diego Section Championships, and she placed third overall in the 800m at that meet, an event where she holds a PR of 2:17.80. She plans on majoring in Kinesiology at Long Beach State.
Kendall Harrison – Freshman; Temecula, Calif. (Great Oak HS)
Long Beach State's other incoming freshman in this group was also part of a successful program, winning two state championships in cross country and three section championships in cross country at Great Oak High School. She holds a 5K best in cross country of 18:57, and a best of 2:18.70 in the 800m in track and field. Harrison intends to major in Nursing.
Sophia Stephan – Senior; Houston, Texas (Cal Poly Pomona)
After stops at multiple Universities, Sophia Stephan will make a home at the Beach as a graduate transfer from Cal Poly Pomona. While at CPP she competed in the 800m, 1500m and the 4x400m relay, and will be pursuing a graduate degree in Sports Management at LBSU.
"We are very excited about this group of men's and women's distance recruits," said Head Cross Country Coach Shawn Winget. "We added quality depth in all distance events on the track and strengthened our cross country program with solid performers across the board. Our transfers will provide immediate leadership and have an immediate impact at our Big West Championship and NCAA postseason. This freshman class also has the potential to help our program at the conference level right away."
Men's Commitments:
Arturo Sotomayor – Senior; Roseville, Calif. (UCLA)
Arturo Sotomayor comes to Long Beach State as a graduate transfer after spending four years at UCLA, where he has been a consistent performer in the middle distances. A two-time Indoor All-American in the Distance Medley Relay, Sotomayor also was a two-time regional qualifier in the 1500m, where he holds a career best of 3:42.60. He'll be pursuing a Master's degree in Structural Geology at the Beach.
Mohammed Mohamed – Junior; Riverside, Calif. (Riverside City CC)
Mohammed Mohamed was part of a championship winning team at the 2019 CCCAA State Championships with Riverside City College, where he spent two years competing in both cross country and track and field. Mohamed was also the individual runner-up in the 800m in that same championship, holding a personal best of 1:53.40 in the event. Born in Mombasa City, Kenya, Mohamed plans to major in Recreational Therapy.
Adan Castellanos – Sophomore; Lynwood, Calif. (Mt. SAC CC)
Adan Castellanos transfers into Long Beach State after one season of completion at Mt. SAC, where he placed sixth in the 800m in the 2019 CCCAA State Championships. Prior to that meet, he set a PR of 1:54.79 earlier in the year, and has prior experience at Jack Rose Track, running the 1500 in the community college portion of the Beach Opener in 2020, the final competition of the season. He plans to major in Geography.
Alex Frias – Freshman; Commerce, Calif. (St. John Bosco HS)
A talented freshman, Frias was a four-time first-team all-league selection at St. John Bosco. Helping lead his team to a fifth place finish at the 2019 CIF Cross Country Championships, he was also an All-Southern Section honoree. He made that a double with All-Southern Section honors in the 1600m as well. Named to the High Honor Roll in all eight semesters at St. John Bosco, he plans to major in Nursing at LBSU.
Michael Holland – Freshman; Murrieta, Calif. (Vista Murrieta HS)
The second incoming freshman on the men's side is Michael Holland. Holland competed in both track and cross country at Vista Murrieta High School, putting in a best time in the 5K of 15:57. He was also busy in track, competing in multiple events, including the 400m, 800m, and 1600m including a PR of 1:57.12 in the 800m. He plans to major in computer science.
Isaiah Wilson – Junior; Yucca Valley, Calif. (Mt. SAC CC)
Isaiah Wilson is another junior college transfer from Mt. SAC, where he competed in both cross country and track and field. He was the 2019 South Coast Conference Champion in cross country, crossing the line with a 21:53 over four miles. He also placed fifth overall in the 2019 state championships in the 1500m, where he has a PR of 3:58.42.
Women's Commitments:
Haley Adel – Senior; Sacramento, Calif. (UC Davis)
The women's side will get a distance boost with the addition of Haley Adel, a proven competitor in the Big West who joins the Beach as a graduate transfer from UC Davis. Adel competed in three seasons each of cross country and track for the Aggies. She finished in the Top 20 of the Big West Championships twice, and scored in all three seasons in track and field at the conference championships. Her best finish came in 2018, when she took fourth place in the 10K, an event where she has a PR of 36:39. A multiple Academic All-Big West selection, Adel will be pursuing a Master's Degree in Nutritional Science.
Brieanna Tafoya – Junior; Ventura, Calif. (Ventura CC)
A junior college transfer from Ventura College, Brieanna Tafoya earned JC All-America honors in both cross country and track and field. In 2019, she took third place at the CCCAA State Championships, and holds an 18:39 best in the 5K in cross country. On the track, she ranks second all-time at Ventura College with a PR of 2:15.22 in the 800m, and placed sixth place at the CCCAA state championships as a freshman. She is majoring in Business Administration.
Julia Kiersnowski – Freshman; San Diego, Calif. (Scripps Ranch HS)
The first of two freshman in the class, Julia Kiersnowski played a part in a very successful team at Scripps Ranch HS, claiming CIF Championships in both track and field and cross country. The track and field program had won two straight San Diego Section Championships, and she placed third overall in the 800m at that meet, an event where she holds a PR of 2:17.80. She plans on majoring in Kinesiology at Long Beach State.
Kendall Harrison – Freshman; Temecula, Calif. (Great Oak HS)
Long Beach State's other incoming freshman in this group was also part of a successful program, winning two state championships in cross country and three section championships in cross country at Great Oak High School. She holds a 5K best in cross country of 18:57, and a best of 2:18.70 in the 800m in track and field. Harrison intends to major in Nursing.
Sophia Stephan – Senior; Houston, Texas (Cal Poly Pomona)
After stops at multiple Universities, Sophia Stephan will make a home at the Beach as a graduate transfer from Cal Poly Pomona. While at CPP she competed in the 800m, 1500m and the 4x400m relay, and will be pursuing a graduate degree in Sports Management at LBSU.
Women's Volleyball Postgame Press Conference vs SDSU
Sunday, September 14
Women's Volleyball Post Game Press Conference vs Oregon
Saturday, September 13
Women's Volleyball Post Game Press Conference vs UCLA
Tuesday, September 02
Women's Volleyball Post Game Press Conference vs Oregon State
Monday, September 01
