CBU Cross-Country/Track Announces Incoming 2026-27 Signing Class
8/24/2026 12:30:00 PM | Cross Country & Track
RIVERSIDE--- The California Baptist University cross-country and track team finalized its 2026-27 signing class as they prepare for their first season as a member of the Big West Conference.
The signing class features 18 newcomers for the Lancers, including 10 transfers, eight freshmen, and a handful of international athletes. On the women's side, the Lancers will bring on 10 new athletes to an already solid unit, while the men will add 8 new guys to a team that has made the NCAA Championship field each of the last 3 seasons.
For the women, the class is highlighted by Keely Bradle from Charlotte and Fatima Mena from Mexico. Bradle spent the last three seasons competing for the Charlotte 49ers, where she had several top finishes at the American Indoor and Outdoor Conference Championships. Bradles' 5K PB was set at the Duke Invitational last season, when she ran 16:37.15 to place ninth. Mena comes into the program as a true freshman with a 5K PB of 16:33.15. Mena is also a 2x silver medalist at the NACAC U23 Championships for Mexico and has a top-740 world ranking in the 5000 M.
"With a strong recruiting class, adding ten more ladies to the team speaks volumes about what this group might be able to do next year. Keely and Fatima should both come in and add firepower up front and potentially get us to the national meet," remarked Head Coach Sean Smith.
The women's signing class also features several local athletes from the Inland Empire, including Addison Ballou and Arielle Avina from Murrieta Valley High School, Elizabeth Jacklin from Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Corona, and Jane Landon from Whitney High School in Cerritos.
On the men's side, the Lancers dipped into the international talent pool to bring in four athletes and would also grab some local products to enhance a program that has been consistently in the top 25 conversation over the past three seasons. Itumeleng Ngxabazi from South Africa comes in after spending two seasons at Butler Community College, where he was the 5K Indoor National Champion and was 15th at the NJCAA Cross-Country Championships. Ngxabazi boasts a 14:11 5K PB and a 3:47 1500M PB. Yemane Mulugeta will be another name to watch after spending the last season at NAIA Trinity Western. Mulugeta, a British Columbia native, comes in with a sub-14-minute 5K PB at 13:56 and equals Ngxabazi's 1500M time at 3:47. Another international talent coming to Riverside will be Ulises Adrian Loza Cruz from Coahuila, Mexico. Cruz comes in with the fastest 5K time of the class at 13:45.77.
"We have a really good group of men coming in who I believe will add to not only the performance of the team but also the culture."
The men will also have the services of Cal Poly transfer Aiden Aldana, Butler transfer Kaeden Dendorfer, and Aaron Lakeman from Azusa Pacific. From the high school level, CBU will bring on true freshman Luke Lopez and Noel Huato, both of whom are California natives.
The Lancers kick off their season on Friday, September 4, at the USF Invite in San Francisco, California.
