April 23, 2006
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara University men's cross country team announced the signing of four high school seniors to National Letters of Intent, including Tony Dipre, Garrett Smith, Stephen Koch and Alex Harkins.
"We are very excited for our recruiting class this year," said assistant coach Felipe Montoro. "All four are leaders on their respective teams, both on and off the track. Each one has the talent to make an immediate contribution to the Mission Harries next fall."
Tony Dipre
Dipre comes to the Mission Campus from Walsh Jesuit High School, in Cuyahoga Falls Ohio. Dipre will make an immediate impact on the Bronco distance squad with personal bests of 50.9 in the 400m, 1:55.9 in the 800m and 4:23.11 in the 1600m. Tony will look to lower his pr's during his senior track season. Dipre was All-State in Cross Country as a junior, finishing eighth in the Division II State Championships in Ohio. Equally as successful in the classroom, Tony also sports a 3.78 grade point average.
Garrett Smith
Another newcomer expected to contribute as a freshman next fall is Garrett Smith, from Lake Stevens High School in Lake Stevens, Wash. Garrett posted marks of 4:26 in the 1600m and 9:35 in the 3200m as a Jr., as well as placing 21st in the Wash. state meet in a 5000m time of 15:57. As a senior, Garrett was sick but still competed in the state meet, helping his team to a fourth place finish in the 4A Championship meet. Garrett is sitting out this track season as he heals a knee injury and begins preparations for his Bronco career. Garrett boasts a 3.99 grade point average and intends to double major in business and engineering.
Stephen Koch
The team leader on one of Colorado's best cross country teams, Stephen Koch will also look to break into the top seven this next fall. As a junior at Cherry Creek High School in Colo., Stephen placed 14th in the 5A Cross Country meet, leading his team to a 2nd place finish. He backed that up with a 13th place finish as a senior, again leading Cherry Creek to a runner-up finish in the 5A state meet. Stephen will look to improve on his personal bests this track season of 4:31 for 1600m and 9:48 for 3200m (both run at altitude). Stephen carries a 3.3 grade point average and intends to major in business.
Alex Harkins
The number two runner for perennial power De La Salle High School, in Concord Calif., Alex will also make a run at SCU's top seven this fall. Harkins, who also starts on DLS's soccer team, will become a full time runner for the first time next year, when he becomes a Bronco. Despite not running year round, Alex posted a very fast time at the 2005 California Division 1 Cross Country State Championships. Alex ran 16:03 for the famed 5k course at Woodward Park in Fresno, helping his team to a 6th place finish. Having just recovered from a broken collar bone, Alex is hoping to improve on his pr's of 4:29 in the 1600m and 9:47 in the 3200m this spring. Alex intends on majoring in engineering and holds a grade point average of 3.76.
