LA MIRADA --- The 2022-23 recruiting class for Biola women's cross country adds nine impressive freshmen to a roster already chalk-full of talent. 

"We have a great women's recruiting class coming in this fall," says head coach Sean Henning. "Coach Croy has done a great job of building out this class of young ladies who are fantastic fits for Biola University, believe in the mission of the school, and are bought into our program values. We are excited to coach each one of them and have no doubts that each one will be uniquely impactful in this program. There will be several all-conference, all-region, and all-americans who come out of this group of ladies."

Henning and assistant coach Stephanie Croy put in the recruiting work, finding athletes across the west coast that fit Biola's culture and strive for success. The new signing class includes seven California natives and a pair of freshmen from the state of Oregon.

The newest nine Eagles will look to build off the success from the previous season for Biola. The nine recruits will join 12 returners who helped BU nab second at the PacWest Championships and fifth at NCAA DII West Regional Championships in 2021. 

The group will also compete on the Biola Track and Field squad, participating in the distance events in the spring.

RECRUITS:

Maggie Williams - Freshman, Summit HS, Bend, OR
Personal Bests: 800m-2:08  1,500m-4:29  XC 5K-17:49

Coach Henning: "I'm really excited to coach Maggie here at Biola. She is a very talented young lady and has even better character. She has competed for state and national championships, and that experience will be invaluable to our program. Maggie will also provide a great deal of leadership to our team throughout her time here at Biola, and I know the Lord will use her in a mighty way through her gifts and abilities!"

Ellie Stetina - Freshman, Sonora HS, La Habra, CA
Personal Bests: 800m-2:22  1,600m-5:03  3,200m-11:00  XC 3 miles-17:26

Coach Henning: "I have known Ellie for a while now since her sister Caroline is a part of our program. Ellie has grown up as a part of the Biola community. She is a very talented runner and shows extreme work ethic and dedication to the sport. She is a high-character person who will bring so many great values to this team, and I have no doubt she will have a tremendous impact on the culture of our women's team. I can't wait to see her grow in her walk with the Lord through this sport!"

Bethany Mapes - Freshman, Liberty Charter HS, La Mesa, CA
Personal Bests: 800m-2:24  1,600m-5:12  3,200m-11:22  XC 5K-18:38

Coach Henning: "Bethany has so much untapped potential, it's going to be a lot of fun to watch her run this fall. I honestly have no idea what her ceiling looks like, but I know she isn't even close to hitting it. She has had some success at the state championship, finishing 6th in her division, but was then hampered by injuries much of the spring. Once she gets in a rhythm with 21 other girls, she will be a force to be reckoned with and a great asset to this team!"
 
Hailey Wurzbach - Freshman, Vacaville HS, Fairfield, CA
Personal Bests: 800m-2:17  1,600m-5:09  3,200m-11:18  XC 5K-18:44

Coach Henning: "Hailey has some deep ties to Biola. Her father graduated from here and her sister goes here. I really do feel that she came here because she felt that this was the place she would grow the most as a young woman in all aspects of her life. We are excited to have her, and I'm looking forward to continuing to develop her athletic ability. She is very talented and has lots of untapped potential. I have a feeling she will be a really great teammate that will add a lot of positive energy and joy to our squad."

Karis Brown - Freshman, Chino Hills HS, Chino HIlls, CA
Personal Bests: 800m-2:22  1,600m-5:14  3,200m-11:20  XC5K-18:55

Coach Henning: "We have enjoyed getting to know Karis over the past year. She has a quiet personality, but is a fierce competitor and has a strong attention to detail in all that she does. She has gotten the opportunity to run at a state championship so she knows what it takes to be great. She will be a great teammate here at Biola, and will do very well getting the opportunity to run some longer distances. I believe she will be a very reliable and consistent runner for this program!"

Lauren Landrith - Freshman, Orange Lutheran HS, Orange, CA
Personal Bests: 3,200m-11:15  XC 5K-18:59

Coach Henning: "Lauren is a great example of a servant leader, and I'm looking forward to watching her live that out in her relationships on this team and with the competitors she comes in contact with. She is a very positive, uplifting, and humble person. She is a gifted runner who will do very well in a consistent training environment with great teammates to push and support her. I'm very happy that God brought her to Biola and that we get to coach her!"

Emma Gutierrez - Freshman, Chino HIlls HS, Chino Hills, CA
Personal Bests: 1,600m-5:31  3,200m-12:23  XC 3 miles-20:03

Coach Henning: "Emma comes from a very strong high school program where she got to compete with Karis at the state championship. She definitely came to Biola for the right reasons, and I believe she will do very well in the longer distances and be a valuable contributor to this team with consistent increased mileage. I'm glad she will be here to learn, grow, and make this team better!"

Amy Payne - Freshman, Clovis North HS, Clovis, CA
Personal Bests: 1,600m-5:38  3,200m-11:46  XC 3 miles-18:43

Coach Henning: "Coach Lienau from Clovis North reached out to me about Amy a long time ago. The main thing he told me about was her great Christian character and how that would be such a great fit here at Biola. Amy is a fairly young runner, so I'm excited to keep her consistently training over the next few years. She could make some tremendous jumps here at Biola, she has a lot more left in the tank. I'm excited to watch her grow as a Christian and athlete this upcoming fall!"

Emily Jensen - Freshman, McMinnville HS, McMinnville, OR
Personal Bests: 800m-2:20  XC 5K-20:23

Coach Henning: "I'm excited to work with Emily. She has so much ability but unfortunately dealt with some injuries and setbacks after her freshman year of high school. I know she just needs a slow buildup, a bigger aerobic base, and some coaches who believe in her in order to reach her true potential in this sport. She really came here for the right reasons and loved our team environment. Now she gets to be a part of it this fall!"