Meet the 2017 Newcomers

1/6/2017 4:41:00 PM | Track and Field

By: Jake Hernandez

PHOENIX - Grand Canyon track & field welcome the addition of 16 student-athletes to their 2016-17 recruiting class, head coach Tom Flood announced on Friday. The class includes six women and 10 men as the Lopes look to repeat their success in the Western Athletic Conference.

"I am really pleased with the overall depth and talent of this year's recruiting class," Flood noted of the recruiting class. "Last season we had about as good of a year as you can get from a conference standpoint - sweeping men's and women's team titles in indoor and outdoor. While we lose some very talented seniors from last year's roster, we are more able to make up points at conference championships with this year's recruiting class."

WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD

Elizabeth Balsan
Distance
Anchorage, Alaska (Anchorage Christian HS)

Hailing from Anchorage, Alaska, Balsan is the defending 2016 ASAA State Champion in the 800m and 3,200m. In high school, the mid-distance runner posted personal best times in the 800m (2:19.47), 1,600m (5:01.49), 3,200m (11:10.67) and 5K (18:18.00).

"Elizabeth has already made an immediate impact with our cross country program and was our No. 1 runner as a true freshman," Flood noted on Baslan. "We expect her to threaten most GCU distance school records before her running career here is over."

Paige Hildebrandt
Mid-Distance
Peoria, Ariz. (Sunrise Mountain HS)

With an Arizona native, Flood brings in depth to the distance program with the addition of Hildebrandt. During the 2016 AIA Division II State Championships, Hildebrandt finished fourth in the 1,600m and 3,200m. The Sunrise Mountain HS graduate posted personal best times in the 1,600m (5:07.56) and 3,200m (11:14.91).

"Paige brings us some much needed depth to our distance program," Flood said. "She has already made an impact with our cross country team and ended up as our No. 3 runner at the WAC Cross Country Championships. She has a lot of untapped potential and a great work ethic."

Alexis Roberts
Sprints
Chandler, Ariz. (Chandler HS/UTEP) 12335

An Arizona Native and transfer from UTEP, Roberts comes to Grand Canyon as a two-sport student-athlete in track & field and soccer. The Chandler high school graduate finished runner-up in the 200m and 400m during the 2011 AIA Division I State Championships. Roberts has posted personal-best times in the 200m (24.73) and 400m (55.76).

"Alexis is a very talented two-sport student athlete," Flood commented. "I'm really excited to see what she can do now as she focuses on doing track & field. She will definitely help us right away at the conference level."

Trista Smith
Pole Vault
Fountain Hills, Ariz. (Fountain Hills HS)

A pole vaulter from Fountain Hills, Ariz., Smith claimed the 2014 and 2016 AIA Division III State Championship title in pole vault. Smith recorded a personal-best vault of 12-06 during her time in high school.

"Trista will help continue out tremendous success in the Pole Vault," Flood noted. "She will battle to be a WAC Champion as a true freshman and eventually may push our school records to new heights."

Yarithza Soto
Mid-Distance
Phoenix, Ariz. (Maryvale HS)

From Phoenix, Ariz., Soto brings potential to Grand Canyon. The 2016 AIA Division II State Champion in the 800m posted persona-best times in the 400m (58.04), 800m (2:15.40) and 1,600m (5:14.60) during her time at Maryvale High School.

"Yarithza may be the best kept secret of our entire recruiting class," Flood commented. "She has a tremendous upside and we will look for her to have rapid improvements with coach Slattery's training."

Symone Wright-Flowers
Multi
Phoenix, Ariz. (North Canyon HS)
12334

An Arizona native, Wright-Flowers brings versatility to the Grand Canyon track & field program. The North Canyon High School graduate finished runner-up during the 2016 Arizona Heptathlon State Championship. Competing in multiple events, Wright-Flowers recorded persona-best times in the 100m (12.29), 200m (25.02), 400m (57.84), 300m hurdles (44.92), high jump (5-0), long jump (17-7.5) and the heptathlon (4,104).

"Symone is a very multi-talented student-athlete who we are very blessed to have in our T&F program," Flood noted. "She has the ability to score for us at the conference level in many events and will battle for a WAC Championship title in the pentathlon/heptathlon as a true freshman."

MEN'S TRACK & FIELD

Matthew Anciaux
Distance
Phoenix, Ariz. (Desert Vista HS)

From Derert Vista High School, Anciaux has already represented GCU with the Cross Country team. The multi-sport student-athlete finished high school with personal-best times in the 1,600m (4:30.92) and 3,200m (9:38.00).

"Matt has already made his presence known with our cross country team and finished as our No. 4 runner at the WAC Cross Country Championships," Flood said. "We will look for him to add much needed scoring depth in the distance events at the WAC Track & Field championships."

Grant Carpenter
Multi 12337

Surprise, Ariz. (Willow Canyon HS)

A multi-event student-athlete, Carpenter brings versatility to the GCU program. The 2016 Arizona Decathlon State Champion posted personal-bests in the 100m (10.90), 110m hurdles (14.36), 300m hurdles (38.33), high jump (6-2), long jump (22-3.5) and decathlon (6,486).

"Grant is a multi-talented kid that has a very bright future," Flood commented. "He will score a lot of points for us at the conference level in many events and we will look for him to hit the USA Jr. qualifying standard this year."

Ryan Girk
Sprints
Avondale, Ariz. (Westview HS/Glendale CC)

A transfer from Glendale Community College, Girk was the 2016 NJCAA Region I runner-up in the 100m and 200m. The Arizona native has recorded personal-best times in the 100m (10.54) and 200m (21.30).

"Ryan is an extremely talented student-athlete and will help us continue our dominance in the sprints at the WAC level," Flood noted. "He will battle for conference titles and make his presence know right away. Be sure to look for him at NCAA qualifier once we're eligible."

Michael Gonzales
Mid-Distance
Chandler, Ariz. (Chandler HS)

An Arizona native, Gonzales was the 2016 AIA Division I State runner-up in the 800m. Gonzales posted personal-best times of 1:56.00 in the 800m and 4:30.52 in the 1,600m.

"Michael is a very talented student-athlete with a tremendous upside," Flood commented. "Will look for him to battle for a conference title as a true freshman."

Austin Moeller
Pole Vault
Show Low, Ariz. (Show Low HS)

An Arizona native out of Show Low High School, Moeller was the 2016 AIA Division III State runner-up in Pole Vault. At Show Low HS, Moeller recorded a personal-best pole vault of 15'0".

"Austin adds to our tremendous depth in the pole vault and he will help us continue to dominate the event at the conference championships," Flood commented.

Dominic Salaz
Multi
Tucson, Ariz. (Salpointe Catholic HS)

An Arizona native from Salpoint Catholic HS, Salaz was the 2016 Arizona State decathlon runner-up. Salaz posted a personal-best 6071 in the Decathlon.

"Dominic is a multi-talented student-athlete that will help us score a lot of points in several events at the WAC Track & Field Championships," Flood noted.

Angel Salazar
Mid-Distance
Hillsboro, Ore. (Century HS)

An Oregon native, Salazar will participate on the cross country team as well as the track & field program. At Century High School in Hillsboro, Ore., Salazar posted personal-best times in the 800m (2:02.00), 1,500m (3:59.54) and 3K (8:43.72).

"Angel already has made an impact with our cross country team, as he finished as our No. 5 runner at the WAC Cross Country Championships," Flood commented. "We will look for him to score in the 1,500m and mile at the WAC Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field Championships."

Dionee Marerro
Sprints
Phoenix, Ariz. (Sandra Day O'Connor HS/PVCC/Montana) 12339

A transfer from the University of Montana, Marerro looks to bring an immediate impact to the GCU Track & Field program. An Arizona native, Marerro was the 2013 Arizona Meet of Championships Champ in the 100m and 200m. The Montana transfer holds personal-best times of 10.67 in the 100m and 21.41 in the 200m.

"I recruited Dionee out of high school and I'm glad to finally have him in our GCU T&F family," Flood noted. "Right away he'll make an immediate impact at the Conference level and will definitely battle for Conference titles in the dashes."

Anthony Stennis
Hurdles
Phoenix, Ariz. (Camelback HS)

A native from Phoenix, Ariz., Stennis was 2015 AIA Division II State Champ in the 300m hurdles and 2016 AIA Division II State runner-up in the 110m hurdles. During his time at Camelback High School, Stennis recorded personal-best times in the 200m (22.21), 110m hurdles (14.31) and 300m hurdles (37.87).

"Anthony has a huge upside and I'm truly excited to have him in our program," Flood commented. "He will battle for a conference title as a true freshman and think he'll be an NCAA qualifier once we're are eligible to compete."

Adam Turner
Hurdles & Jumps
Phoenix, Ariz. (Pinnacle HS/Glendale CC)

An Arizona native, Turner is a transfer from Glendale Community College. As a two-sport student-athlete, Turner recorded personal-best marks at Pinnacle High School in the 110m hurdles (14.28) and long jump (22-10.50).

"Adam is another two sport student-athlete that actually took last track season off to concentrate on his football skills," Flood noted. "He will definitely help us in several events and will make his presence known in the Conference in the Heptathlon/Decathlon and the hurdles."