Cross Country & Track Finalizes Its 2023 Class
3/21/2023 1:18:00 PM | General, Cross Country & Track
RIVERSIDE--- The California Baptist University cross country & track team finalized its 2023 class with ten signings spanning their men's and women's squads. The ten signees all represent a different country that is a part of five different continents.
The countries represented in the 2023 class include Australia, Brazil, Egypt, Algeria, Peru, Poland, Chile, Colombia, the Czech Republic, and the United States of America.
The signings for the men are Matej Hrebacka, Pedro Alejandro Marin, and Luis Huaman. The signings for the women are Olissa Onley, Liliana Mlynarczyk, Shahd Abdo, Gabriela De Freitas Tardivo, Abir Reffas, Laura Acuna, and Grace McLaughlin.
WOMEN:
Olissa Onley: Australia
Personal Bests: 1500m- 4:28.1; 3000m-9:51.2
Liliana Mlynarczyk: Poland
Personal Bests: 1500m- 4:29.9; 3000m- 9:37.1
Shahd Abdo: Egypt
Personal Bests: 1500m- 4:29.9; 3000m- 9:39.29
Abdo is a two-time national champion in Egypt and holds Egypt's U20 & U18 records in the 800m, 1000m, 3000m, and 5,000m.
Gabriela De Freitas Tardivo: Brazil
Personal Bests: 1500m- 4:31.1; 3000m Steeplechase- 10:35.1
Tardivo won the bronze medal at the South American U23 Championships and will compete at the World Athletics XC Championships in Bathurst, Canada.
Abir Reffas: Algeria
Personal Bests: 1500m- 4:18.27
Reffas was a National Champion in Algeria in 2022.
Laura Acuna: Chile
Personal Bests: 1500m- 4:20.24
Acuna is a 1x South American U23 Champion in the 1500-meter competition.
Grace McLaughlin: Grad Transfer from Gonzaga
Personal Bests: 3000m- 9:22.52
MEN:
Matej Hrebacka: Czech Republic
Personal Bests: 3000m- 8:09.5; 5000m- 14:25.2
Pedro Alejandro Marin: Colombia
Personal Bests: 800m- 1:50.88
Marin placed 33rd at the World Athletics XC Championships in Bathurst, Canada.
Luis Huaman: Peru
Personal Bests: 3000m- 8:28.3
Huaman achieved his personal best in the 3000-meter competition as a 16-year-old.
