SANTA BARBARA, Calif. --- It's always encouraging to see people with enriching experiences find supportive opportunities within the Biola community. 

Head Coach Sean Henning's men's distance group will eagerly welcome Ryan Sorensen to its brotherhood this fall almost six years after he competed in his last cross country season. And Sorensen, for his part, brings invaluable character development, work-ethic and teamwork skills as a result of his four years of service in the United States Navy. 

Although it's been some time since Sorensen and his Santa Barbara City College team finished seventh at the 2014 CCCAA Cross Country State Championships, the distance runner showed great promise when he returned to competition for SBCC during the shortened 2020 outdoor track season. In a span of two Saturdays, Sorensen won the 5,000m run at the Western State Conference Relays and the 3,000m run at the Western State Conference "North" Meet this past February. 

The transfer's mark in the 5k translates particularly well to his new level of competition, as his time of 15:46.45 would have been good enough to finish ninth at the 2019 PacWest Track & Field Championships.

His final years as a high school cross country runner included impressive accomplishments too, as Sorensen earned All-Channel Island League recognition and a captain's award at San Marcos High School in 2013. Sorensen punctuated his senior season with three great performances at CIF meets and was the MVP of a cross country team that finished 10th at the CIF Division 3 State Championships to finish off that year. 

Sorensen finished sixth in the 2013 CIF Southern Section Prelims, 15th in the Section Finals with a personal-best time and 23rd in the State Championships with his top high school time in the 5k. 

Academically, Sorensen comes to Biola after earning recognition on the Santa Barbara City College President's Honor Roll last semester and plans to major in political science. He is considering a career as a pilot, in international business, diplomacy or other related fields and is grateful that he will get to earn his bachelor's degree at Biola. 

"I chose Biola for the community of Christian believers and the biblically-based education," said Sorensen. "I am just excited and thankful to be here and for the opportunity to find my role on this team; always giving glory, honor, and praise to God."
 
Ryan Sorensen began classes at Biola this week and is the eighth addition to Biola's male distance group. More information on the rest of the student-athletes that will join him at Biola in 2020-21 can be found on the Committed Athletes page.