Beach Track and Field Welcomes 19 New Distance and Cross Country Runners
8/23/2023 1:53:00 PM | Cross Country, Indoor Track, Track and Field
The incoming recruiting class is made up of 13 women and six men.
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Long Beach State track and field welcomes in 19 new distance runners for the upcoming 2023-24 seasons. Virtually the entire recruiting class is also anticipated to compete during the cross country season this fall.
Women's Commits:
Mariana Boekes | Freshman | Larkspur, Colo. (Castle View HS)
Boekes comes to sunny California from Colorado where she ran cross country and track for Castle View High School. In cross country, she was a two-time All-League recipient and earned Newcomer of the Year as a freshman. On the track, she set the school records for the 800m and the 4x400m Relay to go along with a pair of First Team All-League selections and a league title. She was also a four-time Academic All-State recipient.
Taylor DeBarros | Freshman | Brea, Calif. (Canyon HS)
DeBarros is a unique runner, competing in cross country in the fall and running in the sprint events in track during the spring. In cross country, she was a back-to-back All-CIF and All-Orange County recipient as a junior and senior ultimately ending her career with a Crestview League Championship. On the track, she was a two-time All-League First Team honoree, qualifying for both CIF Finals during her junior and senior seasons.
Madeline Franco | Junior | Whittier, Calif. (UC Santa Barbara)
Franco comes to the Beach from fellow Big West institution UC Santa Barbara, where she spent her first two collegiate seasons. With the Gauchos, she ran primarily in the 1500m and 3000m Steeplechase and scored at last year's Big West championship … In cross country, she ran in both NCAA West Regionals and Big West Championships highlighted by a 31st place finish at last year's conference meet.
Jenna Gallegos | Freshman | Chino Hills, Calif. (Chino Hills HS)
Gallegos joins Long Beach State after four years of cross country and track at Chino Hills High School. There, she received All-League honors all four years for cross country as well as her junior and senior seasons for track. Across both sports, she helped her team win five Baseline League Championships and set the school record for the 3200m race in track.
Mackenzie Hack | Freshman | White Rock, Canada (Semiahmoo Secondary School)
Hack is an international recruit coming from the Great White North where she competed for three years at Semiahmoo Secondary School. Enjoying a decorative career with national experience, she won two Surrey Championships and two South Fraser Region Championships in cross country as well as the 2023 South Fraser Region 1500m Steeplechase Championship. She also helped her club team win the Canadian Cross Country Nationals for Team British Columbia.
Elani Huntley | Junior | Winchester, Calif. (RCC)
Huntley is a junior college product joining the Beach from Riverside Community College. Spending three years at RCC, she helped her team win back-to-back Orange League titles in both cross country and track and field. Competing at Valley View High School, she was a three-time All-League recipient for cross country and won the 3200m title as a freshman on the track.
Leia Jones | Sophomore | Camano Island, Wash. (Azusa Pacific)
Jones moves up a division in her collegiate career, spending her first year at Division II Azusa Pacific. In cross country, she was the top Division II runner at the Mark Covert Classic and went on to earn All-PacWest First Team honors as well as NCAA Division II All-West honors. While she did not compete in track at Azusa, she was a three-event Wesco First Team selection as a junior and senior in high school along with earning MVP honors after breaking the school record for both the 800m and 1600m.
Kendal Lee | Freshman | Corona, Calif. (Santiago HS)
Lee was a four-year letterwinner for cross country but did not start competing in track and field until her junior season. Running cross country, she earned All-League honors all four years and qualified for states as a junior and senior along with being named Freshman of the Year. Despite the shortened track career, she earned the Coach's Award and Most Dedicated Athlete Award along with All-League honors.
Jadyn Palaschuk | Freshman | Moose Jaw, Canada (Central Collegiate Institute)
Palaschuk is another international recruit coming in from Canada where she had strong international exposure. Competing for Team Saskatchewan, she won the silver medal for both the 3000m and 2000m Steeplechase at the Tri Provincial Championships as well as a top ten finish at the U18 Canadian Championships. In cross country, she won three straight SHSAA High School Provincial Championships.
Naima Salazar | Freshman | Sylmar, Calif. (Granada Hills HS)
Salazar comes to the Beach from Granada Hills Charter High School where she ran cross country and track for all four years. In both, she helped her team with three consecutive City Championships.
Marikay Schwab | Redshirt Sophomore | Huntington Beach, Calif. (Golden West College)
Schwab transfers to Long Beach from Golden West College but ran her true freshman season at Cal State Fullerton. She ran in both cross country and track for all four years at Marina High School where she earned two cross country MVP honors, two track All-Conference honors, and helped her team win the 2020-21 Sunset Conference Wave Championships.
Louise Stonham | Freshman | Ontario, Canada (Arnprior District HS)
Stonham comes to Long Beach from Ontario, Canada where she competed at Arnprior District High School. On the track, she broke the school record for every event she ran in (800m, 1500m, 3000m, 2000m Steeplechase, and 4x400m Relay) as a senior and won multiple UOVHSAA and EOSSAA championships. In cross country, she won the four biggest meets of her senior season along with winning the 4K for her club team at the Canadian National Championships.
Brooke Willoughby | Freshman | Aptos, Calif. (Aptos HS)
Willoughby joins the Beach after four years of cross country and track at Aptos High School. In cross country, she finished in the top 15 in the league championships all four years, including a pair of top six finishes. Was a three-time Most Outstanding Runner recipient and All-League First Team selection as a freshman. On the track, she received the Captain's Award in both her junior and senior seasons. An academic star, she was a six-time Scholar-Athlete recipient among numerous other academic achievements.
Men's Commits:
Brandon Day | Freshman | San Diego, Calif. (Rancho Bernardo HS)
Day comes to the Beach after four years of cross country and track at Rancho Bernardo High School. On the track, he was a two-event league champion for the 800m and 1600m and was named Track Athlete of the Year as a senior. As a junior, he set the school record in the 1600m and went on to earn All-League honors. In cross country, he was an All-League recipient during his senior season.
Ethan Florez | Redshirt Freshman | Orange, Calif. (Boise State)
Florez is a Division I transfer spending his first collegiate year at Boise State after four years at Canyon High School in Anaheim. With the Broncos, he only competed during the 2023 indoor season, running in the 800m and Indoor Mile. A three-time track MVP recipient, he broke the school record in the 800m along with setting the second fastest mile time. During his cross country career, he won the Orange County Championships as an individual and was named Most Improved as a sophomore.
Will Frankenfield | Grad Student | Long Beach, Calif. (UCLA)
Frankenfield returns to his home city after spending the entirety of his undergrad at UCLA. With the Bruins, he competed in one track season and one cross country season. At Long Beach Poly, he was a standout in both cross country and track, including a 2018 CIF-Southern Section Champion and Moore League title in cross country and a two-event league champion in the 800m and 1600m on the track.
Hudson Irvine | Freshman | White Rock, Canada (Earl Marriott Secondary)
Irvine comes to Long Beach from Canada where he competed in track and field for the Coastal Track Club in Surrey. Totaling five years of competition with them, he was a two-event national champion winning the title in the 800m and 4x400m Relay during the 2022 season.
Kyle Reden | Junior | Temecula, Calif. (RCC)
Reden began his collegiate career at Riverside City College before transferring to Long Beach for his junior season. At RCC, he helped his team win back-to-back league titles in both cross country and track. He qualified for the CCCAA California State Championships for the 800m in both of his years, finishing seventh in 2022 and taking home the silver medal in 2023.
Cameron Rhone | Freshman | Long Beach, Calif. (Long Beach Poly)
Rhone stays in his hometown for his collegiate career after four years of cross country and track at Long Beach Poly. There, he was an All-League selection helping his team to three straight Moore League titles on the track and a standout in cross country during his senior year. Finishing top five at the state championships, he was named All-CIF, All-State, and All-League First Team while taking home Runner of the Year honors from both the Press Telegram and LB Century Club.
Women's Commits:
Mariana Boekes | Freshman | Larkspur, Colo. (Castle View HS)
Boekes comes to sunny California from Colorado where she ran cross country and track for Castle View High School. In cross country, she was a two-time All-League recipient and earned Newcomer of the Year as a freshman. On the track, she set the school records for the 800m and the 4x400m Relay to go along with a pair of First Team All-League selections and a league title. She was also a four-time Academic All-State recipient.
Taylor DeBarros | Freshman | Brea, Calif. (Canyon HS)
DeBarros is a unique runner, competing in cross country in the fall and running in the sprint events in track during the spring. In cross country, she was a back-to-back All-CIF and All-Orange County recipient as a junior and senior ultimately ending her career with a Crestview League Championship. On the track, she was a two-time All-League First Team honoree, qualifying for both CIF Finals during her junior and senior seasons.
Madeline Franco | Junior | Whittier, Calif. (UC Santa Barbara)
Franco comes to the Beach from fellow Big West institution UC Santa Barbara, where she spent her first two collegiate seasons. With the Gauchos, she ran primarily in the 1500m and 3000m Steeplechase and scored at last year's Big West championship … In cross country, she ran in both NCAA West Regionals and Big West Championships highlighted by a 31st place finish at last year's conference meet.
Jenna Gallegos | Freshman | Chino Hills, Calif. (Chino Hills HS)
Gallegos joins Long Beach State after four years of cross country and track at Chino Hills High School. There, she received All-League honors all four years for cross country as well as her junior and senior seasons for track. Across both sports, she helped her team win five Baseline League Championships and set the school record for the 3200m race in track.
Mackenzie Hack | Freshman | White Rock, Canada (Semiahmoo Secondary School)
Hack is an international recruit coming from the Great White North where she competed for three years at Semiahmoo Secondary School. Enjoying a decorative career with national experience, she won two Surrey Championships and two South Fraser Region Championships in cross country as well as the 2023 South Fraser Region 1500m Steeplechase Championship. She also helped her club team win the Canadian Cross Country Nationals for Team British Columbia.
Elani Huntley | Junior | Winchester, Calif. (RCC)
Huntley is a junior college product joining the Beach from Riverside Community College. Spending three years at RCC, she helped her team win back-to-back Orange League titles in both cross country and track and field. Competing at Valley View High School, she was a three-time All-League recipient for cross country and won the 3200m title as a freshman on the track.
Leia Jones | Sophomore | Camano Island, Wash. (Azusa Pacific)
Jones moves up a division in her collegiate career, spending her first year at Division II Azusa Pacific. In cross country, she was the top Division II runner at the Mark Covert Classic and went on to earn All-PacWest First Team honors as well as NCAA Division II All-West honors. While she did not compete in track at Azusa, she was a three-event Wesco First Team selection as a junior and senior in high school along with earning MVP honors after breaking the school record for both the 800m and 1600m.
Kendal Lee | Freshman | Corona, Calif. (Santiago HS)
Lee was a four-year letterwinner for cross country but did not start competing in track and field until her junior season. Running cross country, she earned All-League honors all four years and qualified for states as a junior and senior along with being named Freshman of the Year. Despite the shortened track career, she earned the Coach's Award and Most Dedicated Athlete Award along with All-League honors.
Jadyn Palaschuk | Freshman | Moose Jaw, Canada (Central Collegiate Institute)
Palaschuk is another international recruit coming in from Canada where she had strong international exposure. Competing for Team Saskatchewan, she won the silver medal for both the 3000m and 2000m Steeplechase at the Tri Provincial Championships as well as a top ten finish at the U18 Canadian Championships. In cross country, she won three straight SHSAA High School Provincial Championships.
Naima Salazar | Freshman | Sylmar, Calif. (Granada Hills HS)
Salazar comes to the Beach from Granada Hills Charter High School where she ran cross country and track for all four years. In both, she helped her team with three consecutive City Championships.
Marikay Schwab | Redshirt Sophomore | Huntington Beach, Calif. (Golden West College)
Schwab transfers to Long Beach from Golden West College but ran her true freshman season at Cal State Fullerton. She ran in both cross country and track for all four years at Marina High School where she earned two cross country MVP honors, two track All-Conference honors, and helped her team win the 2020-21 Sunset Conference Wave Championships.
Louise Stonham | Freshman | Ontario, Canada (Arnprior District HS)
Stonham comes to Long Beach from Ontario, Canada where she competed at Arnprior District High School. On the track, she broke the school record for every event she ran in (800m, 1500m, 3000m, 2000m Steeplechase, and 4x400m Relay) as a senior and won multiple UOVHSAA and EOSSAA championships. In cross country, she won the four biggest meets of her senior season along with winning the 4K for her club team at the Canadian National Championships.
Brooke Willoughby | Freshman | Aptos, Calif. (Aptos HS)
Willoughby joins the Beach after four years of cross country and track at Aptos High School. In cross country, she finished in the top 15 in the league championships all four years, including a pair of top six finishes. Was a three-time Most Outstanding Runner recipient and All-League First Team selection as a freshman. On the track, she received the Captain's Award in both her junior and senior seasons. An academic star, she was a six-time Scholar-Athlete recipient among numerous other academic achievements.
Men's Commits:
Brandon Day | Freshman | San Diego, Calif. (Rancho Bernardo HS)
Day comes to the Beach after four years of cross country and track at Rancho Bernardo High School. On the track, he was a two-event league champion for the 800m and 1600m and was named Track Athlete of the Year as a senior. As a junior, he set the school record in the 1600m and went on to earn All-League honors. In cross country, he was an All-League recipient during his senior season.
Ethan Florez | Redshirt Freshman | Orange, Calif. (Boise State)
Florez is a Division I transfer spending his first collegiate year at Boise State after four years at Canyon High School in Anaheim. With the Broncos, he only competed during the 2023 indoor season, running in the 800m and Indoor Mile. A three-time track MVP recipient, he broke the school record in the 800m along with setting the second fastest mile time. During his cross country career, he won the Orange County Championships as an individual and was named Most Improved as a sophomore.
Will Frankenfield | Grad Student | Long Beach, Calif. (UCLA)
Frankenfield returns to his home city after spending the entirety of his undergrad at UCLA. With the Bruins, he competed in one track season and one cross country season. At Long Beach Poly, he was a standout in both cross country and track, including a 2018 CIF-Southern Section Champion and Moore League title in cross country and a two-event league champion in the 800m and 1600m on the track.
Hudson Irvine | Freshman | White Rock, Canada (Earl Marriott Secondary)
Irvine comes to Long Beach from Canada where he competed in track and field for the Coastal Track Club in Surrey. Totaling five years of competition with them, he was a two-event national champion winning the title in the 800m and 4x400m Relay during the 2022 season.
Kyle Reden | Junior | Temecula, Calif. (RCC)
Reden began his collegiate career at Riverside City College before transferring to Long Beach for his junior season. At RCC, he helped his team win back-to-back league titles in both cross country and track. He qualified for the CCCAA California State Championships for the 800m in both of his years, finishing seventh in 2022 and taking home the silver medal in 2023.
Cameron Rhone | Freshman | Long Beach, Calif. (Long Beach Poly)
Rhone stays in his hometown for his collegiate career after four years of cross country and track at Long Beach Poly. There, he was an All-League selection helping his team to three straight Moore League titles on the track and a standout in cross country during his senior year. Finishing top five at the state championships, he was named All-CIF, All-State, and All-League First Team while taking home Runner of the Year honors from both the Press Telegram and LB Century Club.
Players Mentioned
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