SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Santa Clara men's cross country looks ahead to the 2019-20 season and welcomes eight newcomers to the team. Hayelom Fitsum and Kyle Josnhon, Jr. join the squad as transfers while Harvey Chilcott, DeVon Dupree, Dion Dupree, Nicholas Russell, Josh Simboli and Ian Twyman will enter their first season as true freshmen.
"I couldn't be more pleased with the group of guys we added to our roster for next season," head coach Felipe Montoro said. "They make up a diverse group of student-athletes and share the desire to find out just what their full potential is as distance runners. They are all stellar students and have shown a great deal of potential on the trails and the track. I can't wait to get started working with them in August."
TRANSFERS
Kyle Johnson, Jr. | Pepperdine | Rochester High School | Rochester, Michigan
Personal Best Times/Top Finishes
5000m 15:00.44
10000m 31:55.14
70th place 2018 NCAA West Region Cross Country Championships
Coach Montoro: "Kyle competed with our top runners throughout the the 2018 cross country season, and I am really pleased with how things worked out allowing him to join our team. We know firsthand what a tough competitor he is and I'm looking forward to his continued development as a Bronco."
Hayelom Fitsum, Jr. | Eastern Michigan | Denver School of Science and Technology | Denver, Colorado
Personal Best Times
400m 50.13 (HS)
800m 1:52.86 (HS)
1500m 3:58.09
Coach Montoro: "Hayelom decided to pursue his academic goals at SCU, and our teams were the beneficiary of that decision. Hayelom is a very gifted runner with huge upside. If we can keep him healthy and consistent, it will be a fun few years."
FRESHMEN
Harvey Chilcott | Hobart, Tasmania, Australia | The Hutchins School
Personal Best Times
1500m 3:56.38
3000m 8:29.71
3000m Steeplechase 9:20.34
Coach Montoro: "Even though Harvey is from the other side of the world, he fit right in with the team on his visit. He is a very talented young runner with a lot of room for growth. His enthusiasm for the team and the sport is infectious, and we are all excited for what he will bring to the team."
DeVon Dupree | Gilroy, California | Archbishop Mitty High School
Personal Best Times/Top Finishes
400m 51.84
800m 1:56.92
11th place CCS Finals 2019
Coach Montoro: "DeVon was a dual-sport athlete at Mitty, playing football in the fall and running track in the spring. He is excited to begin running year-round and make the permanent move to middle-distance running. He has a great deal of potential having run very competitive marks in high school despite only running part time.
Dion Dupree | Gilroy, California | Archbishop Mitty High School
Personal Best Times/Top Finishes
400m 51.90
800m 1:55.98
8th place 2019 CCS Finals
Coach Montoro: "Dion was a dual-sport athlete at Mitty, playing football in the fall and running track in the spring. Dion has a lot of room to grow as a full-time runner and is prepared for that transition. Im very excited about his potential."
Nicholas Russell | Boise, Idaho | Bishop Kelly High School
Personal Best Times/Top Finishes
1600m 4:17.56
Mile 4:16.11
3200m 9:20.20
1st place 2017, 2018, 2019 ID 4A Cross Country Championships
5th place 2017 NXR Northwest Cross Country Championships
16th place 2017 NXN National Cross Country Championships
3rd place 2018 Foot Locker West Regional Championships
22nd place 2018 Foot Locker National Championships
1st place 2018, 2019 ID 4A 3200m
1st place 2018 ID 4A 1600m
2nd place 2017 ID 4A 3200m
Coach Montoro: "We had been following Nicky's career for a while and couldn't be more pleased he's joining our team. He's one of the best cross country runners ever to come out of Idaho. Despite his many accolades as a distance runner, what I was most impressed with was how he carries himself as a person. I expect Nicky to make an immediate impact for us."
Josh Simboli | Boise, Idaho | Timberline High School
Personal Best Times/Top Finishes
800m 1:57.53
1600m 4:24.18
3200m 9:34.49
4th place 2019 ID 5A 3200m
4th place 2018 ID 5A Cross Country Championships
Coach Montoro: "Josh had a breakthrough his senior, year placing fourth at his state meet and running well on the track all spring. His success suggests a great deal of potential for us, as he did it as a dual-sport athlete. He played basketball all four years as well as being a distance runner, and appears to be a great candidate for the steeplechase."
Ian Twyman | Eugene, Oregon | South Eugene High School
Personal Best Times/Top Finishes
800m 1:58.91
1500m 3:59.39
3000m 8:37.50
5th place 2018 OR 6A Cross Country Championships
5th place 2019 OR 6A 1500m
6th place 2019 OR 6A 3000m
Coach Montoro: "Ian improved a lot his senior year and placed fifth in the state in cross country running against a very talented field. He followed that up with a superb track season and ran all his best races at the state meet. Ian is in a great place to continue his impressive improvement, and should be a major factor for us going forward."
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