Cal Poly Track & Field - Class of 2025
Cal Poly is set to soon welcome 29 student-athletes to campus, as Mustang Track & Field and Cross Country has announced its incoming recruiting class.
"The coaching staff is excited about the incoming class of Mustangs," Cal Poly track and field director Mark Conover said in announcing the National Letter of Intent signees. "Individuals among the best in the state and nation across different event areas highlight a bright, talented group. The incoming Mustangs add depth as we continue to build upon our academic and athletic success."
The Mustangs are coming off a spring which saw the program win the Big West women's team conference championship, while the men's squad finished a close second for the 2021 trophy following up on its 2019 cross country crown.
Altogether, the recruiting class — spanning 18 different majors across campus — is detailed below, including their top times and marks:
MEN
Nathan Babby • De La Salle HS Concord, CA — Business Earned a 3,200-meter PR of 9:21.09 for the Spartans as a senior ... other bests in track season included 4:00.27 for the 1,500 meters... in cross country, top 5k effort in the fall of 2020 was 15:42.0, good for third in the Nike Virtual Series' seventh-week meet.
Michael Chambers • Jesuit HS Carmichael, CA — Business Ran 15:33.3 at the CIF State Division 1 Cross Country meet in 2019, helping Jesuit HS to a runner-up finish for the team championship. Posted a 1,600-meter PR of 4:17.12 and 9:19.87 for 3200 meters in 2021 for the Mauraders.
Godebo Chapman • West HS Sacramento, CA — Engineering Took seventh place at the CIF State Division 4 Cross Country Championship in 2019 in Fresno, running the 5k Woodward Park course in 15:34.5 ... earlier in his junior season, won the Sac-Joaquin Section title at Willow Hill Reservoir in Folsom, taking the title in 16:13.6 ... in the spring of 2021, earned a new 3,200-meter best of 9:22.99 for the Warriors.
Euan Houston • Amador Valley HS Pleasanton, CA — Aerospace Engineering Ran a 1,600-meter PR of 4:18.02 in 2021 and added a 3,200m best of 9:22.97 for the Dons as a senior ... capped junior cross country season with a time of 15:39.3 in the Division 1 race at the CIF State Championships.
Ben Laughlin • Aptos HS Aptos, CA — Business At the Arcadia Invitational in 2021, bettered his 3,200-meter PR to 9:12.46 ... went on to take second for the Mariners at the Central Coast Section Championships, via 9:13.13 ... also posted a 1,600m PR of 4:21.89... as a senior in cross country, took second place at the SCCAL Championships, covering the 3-mile Pinto Lake County Park course in Watsonville in 14:50.
Corban Payne • Cuesta College / Paso Robles HS Paso Robles, CA — Industrial Technology and Packaging As a freshman for the Cougars in the shortened 2020 season, ranked No. 1 in the region for the shot put, with a mark of 51 feet, 4.25 inches and was No. 3 for the discus (via 144' 7") and fifth in the hammer throw (157' 8")... ranked second in Cuesta history for the shot, third in the hammer and fifth in the discus ... was selected as ESPN Radio 1280 AM's Athlete of the Week on Feb. 18, 2020, and later that month was chosen as Cuesta's Athlete of the Month ... in high school, took sixth place at the CIF Central Section Masters Meet for the shot put, throwing to 55' 3.25".. added a discus PR of 164' 3" for the Bearcats.
Elliott Payne • Maple Ridge HS Maple Ridge, BC — Business Excelled in the javelin for Royal City Track & Field Club in Vancouver ... reached an overall javelin best of 208 feet ... posted a mark of 200' 11" with a 700g implement... was the Canadian U-16 national champion and Provincial record-holder.
Spencer Pickren • Jesuit HS Folsom, CA — Civil Engineering Compiled a 1,600-meter best of 4:16.38 in 2021 along with a mile best at the Arcadia Invitational as a Marauder senior, clocking a 4:15.50 ... in the 2019 cross country season, he helped his team earn runner-up honors at the State Meet, posting a 5k effort of 15:32.9. He also ran 15:25.6 earlier that season on the Woodward Park course.
Jake Richardson • Point Loma HS San Diego, CA — Business In 2021, finished third at the San Diego Section CIF Open Meet for the 3,200 meters, clocking 9:09.65 before running 9:07.87 the following week at Arcadia ... added a 1,600m best for the Pointers in 4:19.13 ... won the 2020 league title in cross country season, running Morley Field in San Diego in 15:45.0 ... as a junior, ran 15:36.1 for 5k at Woodward Park.
Sam Roth • Acalanes HS Lafayette, CA — Computer Science Posted a 3,200-meter PR of 9:07.00 for the Dons at the Arcadia Invitational in 2021. He also ran 9:18.19 two weeks prior. Finished in first place during dual meet competitions during the 2020 Cross Country season.
WOMEN
Ellie Baxter • Snohomish HS Snohomish, WA — Environmental Science As a senior for the Panthers, won the 3,200 meters with a PR of 11:12.01 ... took 13th at the WIAA State Championships as a junior in the event, clocking 11:15.60 ... earned 12th place at the 2019 Washington Cross Country Championships, running Sun Willows Course in Pasco in 18:36.8.
Shaina Berk • Ayala HS Chino Hills, CA — Kinesiology Clocked a 3,200-meter PR of 11:12.69 at the Bulldogs' trial meet in 2021 ... in cross country season as a senior, ran her best 3-mile course, 17:18.0, at Ruben Ayala Park on Jan. 2, 2021 ... advanced to the CIF State Championships as a sophomore.
Katelyn Carro • Benicia HS Benicia, CA — Biology Posted a 400-meter best of 55.95 seconds in 2019, tallying third place at the CIF North Coast Section Championships ... advanced to the State Finals for the 400m, finishing 14th via 56.45 ... top 200m dash time, 25.03, picked up a win for the Panthers during a dual meet at Vallejo in 2018.
Melissa Cichon • Leland HS San Jose, CA — Biology Came in 11th place at the 2018 CIF Cross Country State Finals in Fresno, clocking a time of 18:07.1 at Woodward Park ... as a senior, scored a trio of cross country wins for the Chargers ... in track season, earned a 3,200-meter PR of 11:20.84.
Susana Estrada • Aptos HS Aptos, CA — Civil Engineering As a senior for the Mariners, clocked a 3,200-meter best of 11:21.43... capped the 2020 cross country season with a 3-mile best of 18:43.0 to take fifth at the SCCAL Championships.
Abigail Fletcher • Oak Ridge HS El Dorado Hills, CA — Business Ran the 3,200m in 10:59.35 at the Arcadia Invitational in 2021, good for fifth place ... took third place at the 2019 CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Finals, in 11:07.03 ... in cross country season for the Trojans, won the 2021 league title with a 5k effort of 18:09.1 ... took 24th place at the 2019 CIF State Finals, running Woodward Park in 18:15.8.
Julia Heckey • McClatchy HS Sacramento, CA — Ethnic Studies Ran 5:00.54 for 1600 meters at Dublin and also won the 3,200 meters at a dual meet as a senior, clocking an effort of 11:12.5 ... as a senior in cross country, took third place at the Rio Americano meet in Sacramento, running the 5k course in 18:16.5 ... advanced to back-to-back CIF State Championships for the Lions.
Maya Holman • Vacaville HS Vacaville, CA — Political Science Won the long jump at a dual meet against Armijo as a senior, landing a top mark of 18 feet, 5.5 inches ... also excelled in the 100-meter hurdles, winning at the Vanden dual with a PR of 14.79 seconds for the Bulldogs ... in 2021, earned five consecutive 100m hurdles wins, also including a time of 14.94 at the Eddie Hart Invite, en route to taking fourth at the NorCal Championships ... also trained with the Solano Elite Track Club.
Kirsten Martin • Aptos HS Aptos, CA — Business Earned a 3-mile time of 18:44.0 at the 2020 SCCAL Cross Country Championship... won the Monte Vista Christian meet for the Mariners, covering the Watsonville terrain in 19:05.1 ... senior year also included a 2.5-mile time of 17:39.6 at the SLV meet in Felton.
Emma McCain • Soquel HS Soquel, CA — Health Took fourth place for the 3,200 meters at the Santa Cruz County Elite Invite in 2021, running 11:14.26 ...... picked up three meet victories her senior year in XC season.
Yvonne Brien Miller • Sequoia HS Redwood City, CA — Mechanical Engineering Earned a 3,200-meter PR of 11:02.85 at the CIF Central Coast Section Championships in 2019, tallying fifth place ... as a senior for the Ravens, added a 1,600m best of 5:11.53... advanced to the State Championships for cross country as a junior, running 18:31.4 in Fresno ... won the Peninsula Athletic League crown in 18:21.0 at Crystal Springs in Belmont.
Melody Nwagwu • Grandview HS Aurora, CO — BioMedical Engineering Landed a triple jump PR of 40 feet, 8 inches in 2021, the number 12 mark in the country, while competing for the Steadfast Track Academy Club from Centennial, Colo. ... added another triple jump performance of 40' 7" at the Continental League Championships in 2021, finishing in second place at Echo Park Stadium ... posted a long jump best of 18' 4" at the league finals as a Wolves senior, good for second place ... ran the 100-meter dash in 12.19 seconds at the B-Town Twilight Meet in 2021, winning the event ... also earned a victory in the 200m dash, adding a PR of 25.59 ... for indoor competition, also tallied a 60-meter dash effort of 8.06 seconds at the Colorado Elite Winter Series in February 2021.
Aspin Oliver • Vacaville HS Vacaville, CA — Nutrition Won the California State Championship meet at Arcadia in the 300 meter hurdles with a time of 42.83. Ran a 300 meter hurdle personal best of 42.16 at the Central Coast Track & Field Club Time Trials ranking her #8 on the national list. Ran the 100-meter dash in 12.27 seconds in 2021. Also trained with the Sac Joaquin Speed Academy Club.
Makayla Oliver • Vacaville HS Vacaville, CA • Psychology Won the 100-meter dash at the 2021 Monticello Empire Championships, earning the title with a PR of 11.87 seconds ... also took home the 200 MEL title as a Bulldog senior, via 24.33 seconds, also a career-best time ... won the 2019 CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division 3 title for the 200m as well, running 24.47 in Merced ... also competed with the B Sharp Academy out of Fairfield.
Nora Pizzella • Chico State / Nevada Union HS Grass Valley, CA — City and Regional Planning Ran 17:18.63 in the 5,000 meters at the 2019 San Francisco State Distance Classic ... took eighth place in the 10,000m at the Mt. SAC Relays later that spring, clocking 36:08.27 ... in the fall of 2019, advanced to the NCAA D-II Cross Country Championships after earning a career-best 6k effort of 21:16.3 to take 20th at the western regionals at Ash Creek Preserve in Monmouth, Ore. for the Wildcats.
Isabella Rigby • Liberty HS Bakersfield, CA — Environmental Science Won the discus at the 2021 Arcadia Invitational, reaching a mark of 163 feet, 9 inches, the 12th best throw in the country ... duplicated the discus throw of 163' 9" at a Southwest Yosemite League qualifier ... also as a senior for the Patriots, won the shot put with another PR during league competition, earning a mark of 41' 9" ... went on to take second place at the CIF Central Section Championships, with a postseason discus mark of 162' 0".
Ally Rome • Princeton / Dallas HS Dallas, PA — Quantitative Economics Posted her best 5,000-meter time, 18:05.29, at the 2018 Larry Ellis Invite, tallying fifth place ... ran the Paul Short Meet course in Lehigh in 21:27.7 as a freshman in 2016, good for 13th place ... had a 5k career best of 20:00.5 at home in 2016 for the Tigers ... in high school, took third place in the 3,200m at the PIAA Class AAA State Championship Meet for the Mountaineers, via 10:44.81.
Isabel Sanchez • Santa Cruz HS Santa Cruz, CA — Political Science As a senior for the Cardinals, earned a 3,200-meter best of 11:07.09 at the Santa Cruz County Elite Invite ... added a 1,600m PR of 5:07.04 in 2021 ... at the 2020 SCCAL Cross Country championship, earned third place at Pinto Lake, clocking a 3-mile best of 18:04.0 ... advanced to back-to-back CIF State Championship meets.
Jadyn Snaer • Modesto College / East Union HS Manteca, CA — Political Science Set the Pirates' school record for the 100-meter dash, running 11.87 in 2021, winning the Central Valley Conference crown ... also moved to No. 7 in program history for the 200m dash, via 24.87, picking up a victory at College of San Mateo ... was a seven-time Valley Oak League champion for the Lancers, and went on to take two section titles as well ... set high school records for the 100 and 200, and helped break the school record for the 4x100m relay ... also trained with the Stockton Saints club.
California Polytechnic State University—San Luis Obispo is a public institution that was founded in 1901. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 20,454, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 6,000 acres. It utilizes a quarter-based academic calendar. California Polytechnic State University—San Luis Obispo's ranking in the 2021 edition of Best Colleges is Regional Universities West, #3. Its in-state tuition and fees are $9,948; out-of-state tuition and fees are $21,828.
California Polytechnic State University, also known as Cal Poly, is located in San Luis Obispo, halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Graduate students at Cal Poly can pursue any of nearly 40 degrees, including those in the the Orfalea College of Business. Undergraduate students can choose from almost 70 majors, with Cal Poly’s highly ranked engineering programs as the most popular choice. There are more than 80 state-of-the-art laboratories and 50 clubs dedicated specifically to the Cal Poly College of Engineering. Students can also get involved with any of the other 300 student organizations, including Rose Float, which allows students to conceptualize and create a float for the New Year’s Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif. For student athletes, Cal Poly offers dozens of intramural and club sports, along with the nearly 20 Cal Poly Mustangs varsity teams, which compete in the NCAA Division I Big West and Great West conferences. Notable alumni include retired pro football coach and NBC sports commentator John Madden and comedic musician “Weird Al” Yankovic.