Saint Louis University head cross country/track and field coach Jon Bell today announced 15 additions to the Billikens' roster. All begin their eligibility next season.

"We are excited to add this class of Billikens to our roster," Bell said. "These student-athletes address different aspects of our program. We added depth to our men's and women's cross country roster, while specifically addressing some of our middle-distance needs on the track. We were able to add two of the best men's triple jumpers from the state of Missouri to replace our most recent graduates, Alex Oleson and Ethan Erusha. We added a thrower and women's jumpers to the mix, so we feel we have a complete roster. Just like every other program in the country, COVID really has had an impact on roster management, but I feel our staff met those challenges and we improved our team through the recruitment of these men and women."

The new Billiken student-athletes, along with their PRs, are listed below.

WOMEN

Hayley Burk (Lake Zurich, Ill./Lake Zurich HS) • 800 meters (2:21.09), 1600 meters (5:27.97), 3-mile cross country (18:25)

Sarah Edelen (Wauwatosa, Wis./Pius XI HS) • 1600 meters (5:31.51), 3200 meters (11:55.90)

Savannah Lesher (Eureka, Mo./Eureka HS) • 800 meters (2:15.76), 1600 meters (5:10.88), 5000 meters cross country (19:51)

Sonja Morin (Denver, Colo./D'Evelyn HS) • 800 meters (2:17.39), 1600 meters (5:14.52)

Maggie O'Malley (Oak Park, Ill./Fenwick HS) • 1600 meters (5:25.97), 3200 meters (11:32.81), 3-mile cross country (18:11)

Lyndi Roelofse (Germinston, South Africa/University of Pretoria) • 1500 meters (4:22.62), 3000 meters (9:34.69)

Emily Sipp (Ballwin, Mo./Parkway West HS) • 1600 meters (5:19.03), 3200 meters (11:11.13), 5000 meters cross country (18:44)

Carolyn Tarpey (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie HS) • pole vault (3.53 meters)

Sara Wolf (Ulman, Mo./School of the Osage) • 800 meters (2:24.03), 1600 meters (5:16.76), 3200 meters (11:32.76)

MEN

Firaol Ahmed (Cedar Hill, Mo./Northwest HS) • 1600 meters (4:21.39), 3200 meters (9:39.16), 5,000 meters cross country (16:07)

George Blanco (St. Louis, Mo./Bishop DuBourg HS) • 1600 meters (4:23.52), 3200 meters (9:55), 5,000 meters cross country (16:02)

Evan Bruenderman (Cape Girardeau, Mo./Notre Dame HS) • long jump (6.56 meters), triple jump (13.97 meters)

Jayden Kouadio (O'Fallon, Mo./Ft. Zumwalt West HS) • long jump (6.80 meters), triple jump (14.39 meters), high jump (1.85 meters)

MacArthur Moten (St. Louis, Mo./CBC) • weight throw (15.83 meters), discus (43.42 meters)

Nick Parker (O'Fallon, Mo./Ft. Zumwalt West HS) • 800 meters (1:59.19), 1600 meters (4:26.01), 5000 meters cross country (16:25)

Overview of Saint Louis University

Saint Louis University is a private institution that was founded in 1818. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 7,217, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 282 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Saint Louis University's ranking in the 2021 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #103. Its tuition and fees are $47,124.

St. Louis University is a Catholic, Jesuit school that is open to students of any faith. The Campus Ministry organizes specialized retreats and mission trips throughout the year, and the on-campus church holds a daily Mass. In addition to religious extracurriculars, students can also choose from more than 150 student organizations at SLU, including more than 20 fraternities and sororities. Freshmen and sophomores must live on campus, unless they commute from a parent's home, are married or have been in the military for at least two years, among other exemptions. In total, about 90 percent of freshmen live on campus – all in halls exclusively for first-year students. Students can get involved in campus leadership positions as early as the second semester of freshman year.

The St. Louis Billikens compete in the NCAA Division I Atlantic 10 Conference. The Billiken is an unusual mascot – a smiling, gnome-like figure that is a considered to be a good-luck charm. Off campus, students can explore downtown St. Louis, home to the Grand Center arts district, the Anheuser-Busch Brewery and several professional sports teams. On the nearby Mississippi Riverfront, students can bike, sail and check out the Museum of Westward Expansion.

In addition to its main location in Missouri, the university also has a campus in Madrid, Spain, where students can study for the entirety of their college career or for just a semester. At the main campus, graduate students can enroll in the university's law school or medical school. Notable alumni include Enrique Bolanos, former president of Nicaragua, and August Busch IV, former president and CEO of Anheuser-Busch Inc.

https://slubillikens.com/news/2021/7/12/cross-country-track-field-announces-15-additions.aspx