MALIBU, Calif. – In her third season, Pepperdine cross country and track head coach
Lauren Floris has announced her second full recruiting class ahead of the 2023-24 season.
"We are thrilled to be welcoming 20 new Waves to Malibu this fall. Their talents are going to make significant contributions to our team on the track, in the classroom and beyond," said Floris about the incoming class.
The 20 incoming Waves hail from 10 states.
Here is some info on the incoming Waves:
Emerson Beard | Westlake Village, Calif. | Oaks Christian HS
Specializes in the 800, 1600 and the 4x400, plus the 5K in cross country … A part of the 2023 CIF Track champion team … Mom and dad are both Pepperdine alums … Brother is currently a Pepperdine student.
Beard says: "I chose Pepperdine because of the beautiful location, loving community, strong academics, and study abroad programs."
Hannah Bruner | Kirkland, Wash. | Lake Washington HS
Specializes in the 400, 800 and the 4x400, plus the 5K in cross country … In the top-five at Lake Washington HS in the 800 meters with a time of 2:17.31 … Earned Kingo 3A All-League second team honors for cross country senior season … A part of the 2022 Girls 3A Kingo Cross Country championship squad … A part of the back-to-back Girls 3A Kingo Track championship squad … Aunt is a Pepperdine alum … Dad played baseball in college, and grandpa swam in college.
Bruner says: "I chose Pepperdine because I love the academics it can provide me and I feel like it's an environment where I'll be able to grow as a person and student in my faith, education, and relationships. I wanted a smaller, Christian college with good academics and sports and hoped to be in California because I love the ocean and sun."
Lizzy Crawford | Thornton, Colo. | Horizon HS
Specializes in the 1600 and 3200 meters and the 5K in cross country … Holds the second best time in the 5K at Horizon High School with a time of 18:04 … A four-year varsity cross country and three-year varsity track athlete … All-Conference first-team selection for cross country … Had a top-20 finish at the 5A Colorado State Cross Country Championships … Earned a third-place finish at the cross country regional meet … On the all-time top-10 lists at Horizon for the 1600 meters, 3200 meters and 5K … Mom played collegiate volleyball at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.
Crawford says: "I chose Pepperdine because of its faith-driven mission and the welcoming community that the students and staff have built. Pepperdine also has an excellent political science program and a beautiful campus."
Madeline Del Rio | Santa Clarita, Calif. | Saugus HS
Specializes in the 3200 and 1600 meters in track, plus the 5K in cross country … A four-year scholar-athlete and a three-year varsity athlete … A part of the Foothill League Championship squad … Helped Saugus earn at-large invites to the Woodbridge Invitational and Lowell Cross Country Invitational.
Del Rio says: "I chose to attend Pepperdine because I loved the small school environment, the team atmosphere, the rigorous academics, and obviously the location! (There were a lot of reasons.) So excited to see what happens these next four years."
Brendan Fong | Pasadena, Calif. | Maranatha HS | UC Santa Barbara
Specializes in the 200 and 400 meters … Graduated from UC Santa Barbara in spring 2023 and will pursue a master's at Pepperdine … Holds personal records of 21.67 in the 200 meters and 47.72 in the 400 meters … A two-time Big West finalist in the 400 meters and earned a fifth-place finish in 2023 … A part of the 4x400 meter squad at UCSB that earned a third-place finish at the Big West Championships … A two-time All-Academic Big West recipient … Has a twin brother that is a sprinter for UCSB.
Fong says: "I decided Pepperdine was the right place for me because of the great education and perfect location. The campus felt like home the first time I visited it and the program felt like a culture I could buy into immediately."
Jessica Guardino | Monte Sereno, Calif. | Valley Christian HS
Specializes in the 1600, 3000, 3200 meters, plus the 5K in cross country … Holds the Valley Christian HS school record in the 2.76 miles, 2.9 miles and holds the record at the Baylands Cross Country Course … In the top-10 at VCHS in the 3,000 meters (sixth), 3,200 meters (seventh), 5K (seventh), 2.95 miles (eighth) and three miles (eighth) … Two-time WCAL All-League second team recipient … Two-time scholar-athlete in cross country and track.
Guardino says: "I chose to attend Pepperdine because of its amazing academic and athletic programs. I am excited to be able to compete in track and cross country at Pepperdine."
Henry Hicks | Atlanta, Ga. | The Lovett School
Specializes in the 400, 800 and 1600 meters, plus the 5K in cross country … Has personal records of 16.11 in the 5K, 50.94 in the 400 meters, 1:59.40 in the 800 meters and 4:29.05 in the 1600 meters … A four-year varsity athlete … 2021 GHSA 2A Cross Country State runner-up … 2020 GHSA 2A Cross Country State champion … Had a sixth-place finish in the 800 meters at the State meet his junior year … A part of the 2021 4x400m All-State squad that earned a fifth-place finish … Also lettered in basketball and baseball.
Hicks says: "When I came on my official visit, the guys right away made me feel like I was a part of the team. Seeing how well connected they were as a team really captured my attention, and gave me a reason to want to be a part of the team. Outside of that, when I was 14, my family and I drove past the school as we were driving across America, and I knew it was a school that I wanted to go to.
Katherine Lytle | Arlington Heights, Ill. | Prospect HS
Specializes in 100-meter hurdles, 300-meter hurdles and the 200 meters … A three-year varsity athlete … Has personal records of 15.7 in the 100-meter hurdles, 50.0 in the 300-meter hurdles and 27.7 in the 200 meters … Three-time Sectional Champion, three-time Mid-Suburban League East, Indoor and Outdoor Champion … Part of the 2023 Illinois 3A State runner-up squad … Holds the 200-meter hurdle school-record at Prospect HS … On the top-10 all-time Prospect HS list for 55-meter hurdles and 100-meter hurdles … Two-time All-Conference and All-Sectional Illinois 3A recipient.
Lytle says: "It has a good program in my intended major, the campus is beautiful, and I really liked the track coaches when I met them in the summer of 2022."
Ava Maly | Minneapolis, Minn. | Roosevelt HS
Specializes in the 100, 200 and 4x100 meter relay … Captained the track team at Roosevelt HS her junior and senior year … Has personal records of 12.46 in the 100 meters and 25.31 in the 200 meters … Holds the Roosevelt school records in the 100 and 200 meters … Earned All-City and All-State senior year.
Maly says: "I chose to attend Pepperdine not only because of the perfect, beautiful location, but also because of the welcoming, and uplifting community."
Emma Martinez | Palmerton, Pa. | Palmerton Area HS
Specializes in the 800 and 1600 meters … A four-year varsity athlete … Has personal records of 2:30.00 in the 800 meters and 5:28 in the 1600 meters … Earned Colonial League honorable mention honors her junior year … Also lettered in soccer and was a part of the 2022 Colonial League Soccer champions … Was the Class of 2023 Salutatorian at Palmerton Area HS.
Martinez says: "I chose Pepperdine because of the family-like feeling that I felt at both an academic and athletic level. Everyone on campus was extremely kind to me, and I could simply feel the positive attitude that exists throughout campus."
Kaleb McElfish | Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. | Tesoro HS
Specializes in the 800 and 1600 meters, and the 3-mile in cross country … Captained the cross country and track teams … Earned a top-10 finish in the state cross country meet … Has the fourth fastest time in the 2K steeplechase for Socal Wild with a time of 6:34 … Mom is a Pepperdinie alum.
McElfish says: "Pepperdine is an amazing school that lives up to its Christian values. The faculty feels like they actually care about the students and want them to succeed. The academics are amazing and they have one of the best study-abroad programs in the nation. The location can't be beat and it's somewhat close to home for me."
Hannah Miller | Temecula, Calif. | Great Oak HS
Specializes in the 400, 800 and 1600 meters, plus the 5K in cross country … A four-year varsity scholar-athlete … Has personal records of 1:01 in the 400 meters, 2:23 in the 800 meters, 5:30 in the 1,600 meters and 19:17 in the 5K … A part of the 2022 Southern Section Division 1 and Division 1 State cross country champion squad.
Miller says: "I chose to attend Pepperdine because I admire the close knit community and atmosphere.The commitment to academics as well as amazing international programs was another big factor. I love the faith based foundation and the cross country team was very welcoming and friendly when I visited last fall."
Savanna Morris | Southlake, Texas | Coram Deo Academy
Specializes in the 100-meter hurdles and 300-meter hurdles … Earned a third-place finish in the 300-meter hurdles at the State Championship … District Champion in the 800 meters and 300-meter hurdles … A two-time qualifier for State in the 300-meter hurdles and qualified for State in the 100-meter hurdles in 2023 … Has personal records of 15.58 in the 100-meter hurdles, 47.37 in the 300-meter hurdles and 2:25 in the 800 meters.
Morris says: "After months of praying and visiting other schools, I felt that God was clearly leading me to Pepperdine. The community's intense focus on God and friendliness, added with the beautiful views of nature, athletic opportunities, and academic rigor made me decide to choose this school over the other offers."
Gordy Nilsen | Boulder, Colo. | Fairview HS
Specializes in the 800 and 1600 meters, plus the 5K in cross country … A three-year varsity cross country and track athlete … Three-time Academic All-State first team recipient … A part of the Front Range League Cross Country 2022 championship squad and the 2021 Cross Country Regional championship squad … A part of the 2023 Conference 4x800m relay Championship team … Holds the Fairview school record in the 1600m with a time of 4:19.52 … Earned All-Conference in 2023 for track … Named Fairview XC Runner and Scholar-Athlete of the Year senior year … Earned 5A All-State honorable mention in 2022 for cross country … Has personal records of 1:59.70 in the 800m and 16:09.00 in the 5K … Has a twin brother, Rowan, who will be running for Loyola Marymount this season … Dad played hockey and football at Hamline University.
Nilsen says: "I chose Pepperdine not only because of my love for the ocean but the atmosphere surrounding the school. It all felt right with the christian community, academics, and running team."
Lacey Reedy | Saint Simons Island, Ga. | Glynn Academy
Specializes in the 800, 1600 meters and the 4x800 meter relays, plus the 5K in cross country … Earned 2022 Altamaha Area Girl's second team honors … A part of the first-place finisher 4x800 meter relay squad at the GHSA Region and Sectional Championships … A part of the 2022 JV Girl's Champion squad at the Southern Georgia XC Championships … Mom was recruited and played soccer at Robert Morris before transferring to Savannah College of Art & Design … Aunt, Kelsie Bernot, ran at Duquesne University.
Reedy says: "I chose Pepperdine because I felt drawn to Pepperdine and knew I would experience so many new and different things in California compared to Georgia. Pepperdine fuels my passion to live life to the fullest and work hard for my aspirations."
Kayla Renner | Centennial, Colo. | Arapahoe HS
Specializes in the 100, 200, 300-meter hurdles, 400 and 800 meters, plus the 5K in cross country … A four-year varsity athlete … Two-time 5A All-State second team for the 4x400 … Earned 2021 5A All-State second team for the 4x200 and 5A 2023 All-State first team for the 4x800 … A part of the 2019 and 2021 5A State Cross Country Championships squad … A part of the two-time Regional and three-time League Championship squad for cross country … Two-time Academic All-State recipient in cross country and track … Has personal records of 12.1 in the 100m, 26.8 in the 200m, 59.6 in the 400m, 2:22 in the 800m, 48.28 in the 300-meter hurdles and 18:47 in the 5K.
Renner says: "I chose to attend Pepperdine because I valued the Christian based campus and the idea of being able to continue competing in the sports that I love. I was also very excited about the amazing Psychology program that I would receive. The energy of the school was very positive and genuine, I couldn't wait to start my life here at Pepperdine."
Dominic Silhol | Mequon, Wisc. | Homestead HS
Specializes in the 800, 1600 and 3200m, plus the 5K in cross country … A four-year varsity athlete … Three-time North Shore Conference Cross Country All-Conference first team recipient … A part of the indoor 4x800m school record relay squad … Has personal records of 2:02 in the 800 meters, 4:28 in the 1600 meters, 9:25 in the 3200 meters and 15:27 in the 5K … Dad played collegiate tennis at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee.
Silhol says: "I chose Pepperdine because of the team and coaching culture that I felt I fit into well, and because of the great academic as well as religious environment. Pepperdine has also been my dream school since I first visited."
Renee Skiera | Arlington Heights, Ill. | John Hersey HS
Specializes in the 1600 and 3200 meters, plus the 3-mile in track … Has personal bests of 5:29.11 in the 1600 meters, 19:41 in the 3-mile and 12:20.05 in the 3200 meters … Earned the John Hersey HS team spirit award her freshman year and earned Leader of the Pack her senior season.
Skiera says: "I chose Pepperdine because I instantly felt like I was at home when I stepped on campus. I knew I could grow as a person at Pepperdine, so it would be the perfect place for me. I was also super excited for the opportunity to be coached by Coach Floris and Coach Victor as well as being surrounded by so many great runners."
Avery Smith | Bellingham, Wash. | Squalicum HS
Specializes in the 400 and 800 meters … A four-year varsity athlete … Holds the 400 meter record time at the Chuck Randal Invitational in a time of 64.03 … Has personal records of 61.48 in the 400 meters and 2:22.26 in the 800 meters … Dad was a pole-vaulter at Wheaton College … Mom was a high-jumper for Wheaton College.
Smith says: "I choose Pepperdine for its academic rigor as well as its religious aspect, I also just knew it was the right fit for me socially/athletically as well as in the classroom."
Molly Wallace | Koloa, Hawaii | Kauai HS
Specializes in the 400, 800, and the 4x400, plus the 5K in cross country … Qualified for state in the 400 meters … A part of the state qualifier 4x400 meter squad.
Wallace says: "Pepperdine is a dream school of mine because of its psychology program and small class sizes. Also, the opportunity to compete in sports is huge for me."
