Long Beach State University Athletics
Nine New Cross Country and Distance Runners Join the Beach
8/13/2021 3:55:00 PM | Cross Country, Indoor Track, Track and Field
The recruiting class features four transfers and five freshmen.
LONG BEACH, Calif. – The Long Beach State distance program and cross country team will feature eight new faces in the 2021-22 season with four incoming freshmen, two transfers, a graduate transfer, and junior college transfer.
"This incoming class is a very diverse and extremely talented group," says Cross Country head coach Shawn Winget. "The specialization begins with the 800m and continues through the Cross Country distances. The impact of these individuals will be immediate this fall and their success will spring board them into the Track season. Our high school signees had huge improvements during the 2021 season and we have every reason to believe they will continue to grow and positively impact us right away."
Winget continued, "Along with the leadership and experience, our talented group of transfers will be in the mix at the conference level and further develop into NCAA post-season contenders. The outlook is bright for this group as it joins an already seasoned squad of returners with big goals on their mind."
Women's Commits:
Alejandra Ayala – Freshman; Compton, Calif. (Paramount HS)
Ayala joins the Beach after a phenomenal high school career at Paramount High School. A two-time Paramount HS Cross Country Performer of the Year, she won her league titles in the three-mile, 1600m, 3200m, and 800m during the 2019 season. She boasts lifetime-bests of 5:09.70 in the 800m, 5:09.70 in the 1,600m, 11:05.16 in the 3,200m, and 17:45.40 in the three-mile.
Bronwyn Bunnell – Graduate Student; San Pedro, Calif. (UC Santa Barbara)
Bunnell transfers to Long Beach State from Big West foe, UC Santa Barbara where she competed in track and field. As a Gaucho, finished tenth-place in the 800m at the conference championships in 2019 and was named to the All-Academic Team for both winter and spring in 2019 and 2020. Her lifetime-best in the 800m is 2:12.88, set in her junior year.
Yajaira Calderon – Sophomore; Van Nuys, Calif. (Glendale CC)
A junior college transfer, Calderon comes to LBSU after a successful career at Glendale Community College. In 2019, she was named an All-American after helping guide her team to a state championship in cross country. On the track, she posted a fifth-place finish in the 3,200m at the LA CIF City Finals. Her lifetime-bests for cross country are 18:13 and 22:06 in the 5K and 6K, respectively.
Allie Scimia – Freshman; Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. (Rancho Cucamonga HS)
Scimia comes to Long Beach State after running in both cross country and track at Rancho Cucamonga High School. At Rancho, she was a three-time Baseline League individual champion and a 2019 team champion as well as a league Scholar-Athlete in her senior year. Her career-bests include a 17:00 in the 3-mile run for cross country and a 2:26 in the 800m, 5:01 in the 1,600m, and 10:56 in the 3,200m for track and field.
Men's Commits:
Alejandro Kalmar – Freshman; Temecula, Calif. (Temecula Valley HS)
An incoming freshman from Temecula Valley High School, Kalmar was a four-time team MVP and a podium-finisher in the 1,600m at the 2021 CIF Southern Section Championships. He holds the school record for the 800m (1:53.48) and the 1,600m (4:13.01).
Ryan Hernandez – Freshman; Lakewood, Calif. (St. John Bosco HS)
A three-time league champion, Hernandez comes to Long Beach State after a tremendous high school career at St. John Bosco. The incoming freshman ran cross country and track, earning four All-League honors and receiving Academic Excellence and Honor Roll.
Damien Maldonado – Freshman; Lakewood, Calif. (Mayfair HS)
Maldonado joins the Beach after serving as the cross country and track and field team captain for his final two years at Mayfair High School. He enjoyed a lot of success in 2019, making the CIF Finals in cross country before going on to be named the Lakewood Hall of Famer Performer of the Year. His career-best in the 1,600m is 4:24.52 and 9:27.34 in the 3,200m.
Connor Phillips – Redshirt Sophomore; Tallahassee, Fla. (Florida State)
Connor Phillips comes to the Beach with his brother, Michael, after spending time at Florida State. As a Seminole, posted a lifetime-best of 25:06.9 in the 8k for his collegiate debut after missing his freshman season due to injury. Also competed in the ACC Championships in 2020, posting a time of 26:14.7.
Michael Phillips – Junior; Tallahassee, Fla. (Syracuse)
Michael Phillips transfers to Long Beach State with his brother, Connor, to finish out his collegiate career. It is his third college after spending time at Syracuse and Tallahassee CC. Put himself in the ACC record books, posting the fastest indoor mile time by a freshman in conference history. He also came out with a fifth-place finish at the ACC Mile Run Championship.
"This incoming class is a very diverse and extremely talented group," says Cross Country head coach Shawn Winget. "The specialization begins with the 800m and continues through the Cross Country distances. The impact of these individuals will be immediate this fall and their success will spring board them into the Track season. Our high school signees had huge improvements during the 2021 season and we have every reason to believe they will continue to grow and positively impact us right away."
Winget continued, "Along with the leadership and experience, our talented group of transfers will be in the mix at the conference level and further develop into NCAA post-season contenders. The outlook is bright for this group as it joins an already seasoned squad of returners with big goals on their mind."
Women's Commits:
Alejandra Ayala – Freshman; Compton, Calif. (Paramount HS)
Ayala joins the Beach after a phenomenal high school career at Paramount High School. A two-time Paramount HS Cross Country Performer of the Year, she won her league titles in the three-mile, 1600m, 3200m, and 800m during the 2019 season. She boasts lifetime-bests of 5:09.70 in the 800m, 5:09.70 in the 1,600m, 11:05.16 in the 3,200m, and 17:45.40 in the three-mile.
Bronwyn Bunnell – Graduate Student; San Pedro, Calif. (UC Santa Barbara)
Bunnell transfers to Long Beach State from Big West foe, UC Santa Barbara where she competed in track and field. As a Gaucho, finished tenth-place in the 800m at the conference championships in 2019 and was named to the All-Academic Team for both winter and spring in 2019 and 2020. Her lifetime-best in the 800m is 2:12.88, set in her junior year.
Yajaira Calderon – Sophomore; Van Nuys, Calif. (Glendale CC)
A junior college transfer, Calderon comes to LBSU after a successful career at Glendale Community College. In 2019, she was named an All-American after helping guide her team to a state championship in cross country. On the track, she posted a fifth-place finish in the 3,200m at the LA CIF City Finals. Her lifetime-bests for cross country are 18:13 and 22:06 in the 5K and 6K, respectively.
Allie Scimia – Freshman; Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. (Rancho Cucamonga HS)
Scimia comes to Long Beach State after running in both cross country and track at Rancho Cucamonga High School. At Rancho, she was a three-time Baseline League individual champion and a 2019 team champion as well as a league Scholar-Athlete in her senior year. Her career-bests include a 17:00 in the 3-mile run for cross country and a 2:26 in the 800m, 5:01 in the 1,600m, and 10:56 in the 3,200m for track and field.
Men's Commits:
Alejandro Kalmar – Freshman; Temecula, Calif. (Temecula Valley HS)
An incoming freshman from Temecula Valley High School, Kalmar was a four-time team MVP and a podium-finisher in the 1,600m at the 2021 CIF Southern Section Championships. He holds the school record for the 800m (1:53.48) and the 1,600m (4:13.01).
Ryan Hernandez – Freshman; Lakewood, Calif. (St. John Bosco HS)
A three-time league champion, Hernandez comes to Long Beach State after a tremendous high school career at St. John Bosco. The incoming freshman ran cross country and track, earning four All-League honors and receiving Academic Excellence and Honor Roll.
Damien Maldonado – Freshman; Lakewood, Calif. (Mayfair HS)
Maldonado joins the Beach after serving as the cross country and track and field team captain for his final two years at Mayfair High School. He enjoyed a lot of success in 2019, making the CIF Finals in cross country before going on to be named the Lakewood Hall of Famer Performer of the Year. His career-best in the 1,600m is 4:24.52 and 9:27.34 in the 3,200m.
Connor Phillips – Redshirt Sophomore; Tallahassee, Fla. (Florida State)
Connor Phillips comes to the Beach with his brother, Michael, after spending time at Florida State. As a Seminole, posted a lifetime-best of 25:06.9 in the 8k for his collegiate debut after missing his freshman season due to injury. Also competed in the ACC Championships in 2020, posting a time of 26:14.7.
Michael Phillips – Junior; Tallahassee, Fla. (Syracuse)
Michael Phillips transfers to Long Beach State with his brother, Connor, to finish out his collegiate career. It is his third college after spending time at Syracuse and Tallahassee CC. Put himself in the ACC record books, posting the fastest indoor mile time by a freshman in conference history. He also came out with a fifth-place finish at the ACC Mile Run Championship.
Players Mentioned
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