Walnut, Calif. – As the 2025 season kicks off, Mt. SAC Women's Track & Field is gearing up for an exciting and competitive year. With a talented roster full of returning athletes and some promising new faces, the team is ready to take on the challenges ahead and continue their tradition of excellence.

"We've got some incredible athletes returning this year, and I'm excited to see them step into more prominent roles," said Head Coach Jenna Bird. "Leila Champion, in particular, is a standout. She had a tough, injury-filled year last season, but she's incredibly talented. She's back and ready to make a big impact in the 100m, 200m, and both relays. Her strength in the 1 and 2 races will be huge for us."

The returning sophomores bring a level of experience that's crucial as the team moves into the season, and the middle-distance runners are no exception. "We have a strong group in the 800m, and I'm looking forward to watching them compete," Bird added. "On the distance side, several of our cross-country athletes, including Tigist Bergman, are coming off outstanding performances. Tigist looked incredible in cross country, and I can't wait to see how she handles the 10k on the track. She's built for those longer distances."

As the team looks to build on the success of their distance runners, a few other athletes are poised to make a significant impact across multiple events. "Ava Cornell also really blossomed in cross-country this season, and it'll be interesting to see how she translates that success to the track," Coach Bird said. "Kahlai Cruser, a returning 800m runner, will play a key role for us again this year. She's got phenomenal speed, and she'll be crucial in our 4x400 relay team."

In addition to the strong sprinters and middle-distance runners, the throwers are shaping up to be another highlight of the season. "Throws are a challenge because athletes don't typically get to throw the hammer in high school, but we have a few ladies that have really stepped up to the challenge, so I'm looking forward to seeing what they can do," Bird noted.

Although Jenna Bird is the Head Coach for the women's team, she specializes in training both the men and women in hurdles. "Alyssah Johnson has really progressed over the last year, and I'm expecting her to be a major player in the 100m hurdles," she said. "Our men's 400m hurdles team had three athletes at the state championships last year, and I wouldn't be surprised to see three men go again this season. Devin Paton and Nicholas Nocero are back and looking powerful, and we've got a couple of freshmen in the mix who are quickly figuring out the race."

Coach Bird also spoke to the differences athletes face as they transition from high school to college competition. "For the women's 100m hurdles, it's the same race they ran in high school, but for the men, it's a whole different story," she explained. "In high school, the hurdles are 39 inches, but in college, they're 42 inches. That's a big difference in timing and technique. It takes time to adjust, but our athletes have been doing great so far."

As the team prepares for competitions to begin in February, Coach Bird emphasized the importance of training and preparation. "We're working on technique, strength, and overall fitness," she said. "It's all about getting the athletes fine-tuned so they can handle the long season and be ready when it really counts in May."Top of Form

Both the men's and women's teams have claimed the state title for the past three years and Coach Bird is determined to keep the momentum going. "I certainly hope we can do it again," she shared. "The goal is always to bring home some hardware from the big meets including conference, SoCal and state. We have a really talented team and I'm looking forward to a great season."

STAY CONNECTED:

Follow Mt. SAC Track and Feld on Twitter @MtSAC_Track or Instagram /mt.sac_track_and_field/

Follow Mt. SAC Athletics on Twitter @MtSAC_athletics Instagram /mtsac_athletics/ or Facebook @Mountie.Athletics

For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.