Completed Event: Cross Country at George Kyte Classic on August 30, 2025 , , M: 3rd out of 13 | W: 6th out of 10
XC
at George Kyte Classic
M: 3rd out of 13 | W: 6th out of 10
Grand Canyon University Athletics
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Photo by: Brian Campbell
Coro: Balsan's path exemplifies cross country teams
9/1/2017 8:33:00 AM | Cross Country, Paul Coro
Elizabeth Balsan is like many of her Grand Canyon cross country teammates in that she has come a long way from last season.
Balsan is different in that she actually did come a long way to arrive at GCU from Anchorage, Alaska.
When she arrived in Phoenix last year, Balsan went outside for her first run … at 11 a.m. … in the summer … with high temperatures 60 degrees hotter than home.
"Big mistake," Balsan said.
She jokes that she now picks the lesser of two evils – 5 a.m. runs over 100-degree runs – for summer training in Phoenix. Beyond the schedule, Balsan came a long way as a freshman as the Lopes' top finisher in three of five cross country races and remains GCU's top projected women's runner when the Lopes teams open their seasons Saturday at NCAA defending champion Northern Arizona's George Kyte Classic.
"I'll be happy with anything close to last season," said Balsan, whose season ended with an injury at the Western Athletic Conference championship. "I just want to stay healthy. I feel more mature and I know my body better now. I know what my limits are."
Lopes coach Sara Slattery said Balsan will do anything asked of her.
"I love recruiting kids from places like that because they have an edge to them that other athletes don't have," said Slattery, a Phoenix native. "They're able to push through some things that other athletes might not be able to. Arizona kids have that, too. Kids from extreme temperatures do it no matter what. Everyone has the same conditions so you learn to adapt.
"Liz has the potential to do some really big things and be one of the top runners in the country."
Balsan is pushed by senior teammate Mariah Montoya, part of a top five on the women's side that has each runner performing within 20 seconds of one another.
"Mariah is stronger than I've ever seen her," Slattery said.
Montoya, who finished 17th at last year's WAC championship, is joined by junior college transfers Kaitlin Volk, who took fourth at junior college nationals for Central Arizona College, and Kenzie Fitzgerald from Glendale Community College. Sophomore Paige Hildebrandt rounds out the current top five.
"When you're running, you're going to get pulled by the group and you don't have to push yourself as much," Balsan said of the daily competition.
The men's side mirrors that tight top-five group, creating the deepest squads each cross country team has carried at GCU. The men's team will be without Sam Proctor, a three-year standout. He moved to Liberty to be closer to his family after his brother's death this summer.
Another GCC transfer, Daniel Flores, bolsters the men's team with his middle-distance acumen and long-distance potential.
"He hasn't done a lot of mileage in the past so I think he has a lot of upside," Slattery said. "Getting him strong is going to make a huge difference in his training and racing ability."
GCU's top returning runners are Angel Salazar, a sophomore from Oregon, and Brendan Wagler, a junior from Colorado. Sophomore Matthew Anciaux and junior Jonny Holsten trail that top trio closely.
"Angel has come back mentally and physically stronger than a year ago and is enjoying the process a lot more, so I'm excited to see what he can do," Slattery said.
The men's and women's teams held an August training camp in Flagstaff, where they will use this weekend's opening meet as a baseline for their seasons. The teams race twice more in Arizona this season and will take a trip in late September to the Greater Louisville Classic, site of this year's NCAA Championship.
"I want to open their eyes," Slattery said. "It would be awesome to be regionally ranked this season, see how we stack up and keep chipping away at it."
Follow Paul Coro on Twitter: @paulcoro.
Balsan is different in that she actually did come a long way to arrive at GCU from Anchorage, Alaska.
When she arrived in Phoenix last year, Balsan went outside for her first run … at 11 a.m. … in the summer … with high temperatures 60 degrees hotter than home.
"Big mistake," Balsan said.
She jokes that she now picks the lesser of two evils – 5 a.m. runs over 100-degree runs – for summer training in Phoenix. Beyond the schedule, Balsan came a long way as a freshman as the Lopes' top finisher in three of five cross country races and remains GCU's top projected women's runner when the Lopes teams open their seasons Saturday at NCAA defending champion Northern Arizona's George Kyte Classic.
"I'll be happy with anything close to last season," said Balsan, whose season ended with an injury at the Western Athletic Conference championship. "I just want to stay healthy. I feel more mature and I know my body better now. I know what my limits are."
Lopes coach Sara Slattery said Balsan will do anything asked of her.
"I love recruiting kids from places like that because they have an edge to them that other athletes don't have," said Slattery, a Phoenix native. "They're able to push through some things that other athletes might not be able to. Arizona kids have that, too. Kids from extreme temperatures do it no matter what. Everyone has the same conditions so you learn to adapt.
"Liz has the potential to do some really big things and be one of the top runners in the country."
Balsan is pushed by senior teammate Mariah Montoya, part of a top five on the women's side that has each runner performing within 20 seconds of one another.
"Mariah is stronger than I've ever seen her," Slattery said.
Montoya, who finished 17th at last year's WAC championship, is joined by junior college transfers Kaitlin Volk, who took fourth at junior college nationals for Central Arizona College, and Kenzie Fitzgerald from Glendale Community College. Sophomore Paige Hildebrandt rounds out the current top five.
"When you're running, you're going to get pulled by the group and you don't have to push yourself as much," Balsan said of the daily competition.
The men's side mirrors that tight top-five group, creating the deepest squads each cross country team has carried at GCU. The men's team will be without Sam Proctor, a three-year standout. He moved to Liberty to be closer to his family after his brother's death this summer.
Another GCC transfer, Daniel Flores, bolsters the men's team with his middle-distance acumen and long-distance potential.
"He hasn't done a lot of mileage in the past so I think he has a lot of upside," Slattery said. "Getting him strong is going to make a huge difference in his training and racing ability."
GCU's top returning runners are Angel Salazar, a sophomore from Oregon, and Brendan Wagler, a junior from Colorado. Sophomore Matthew Anciaux and junior Jonny Holsten trail that top trio closely.
"Angel has come back mentally and physically stronger than a year ago and is enjoying the process a lot more, so I'm excited to see what he can do," Slattery said.
The men's and women's teams held an August training camp in Flagstaff, where they will use this weekend's opening meet as a baseline for their seasons. The teams race twice more in Arizona this season and will take a trip in late September to the Greater Louisville Classic, site of this year's NCAA Championship.
"I want to open their eyes," Slattery said. "It would be awesome to be regionally ranked this season, see how we stack up and keep chipping away at it."
Follow Paul Coro on Twitter: @paulcoro.
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