Pepperdine University Athletics

ACADEMIC AWARDS CSC Academic All-District honors in 2023 … WCC All-Academic honorable mention in 2022 and 2023 … WCC Commissioner’s Honor Roll “gold” honors in 2020-21 … WCC Commissioner’s Honor Roll “silver” honors in 2021-22 and 2022-23 … Pepperdine Scholar-Athlete in 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23.

PEPPERDINE XC 2022 (JR): Competed in five out of the six meets … Had a personal-best of 26:07.5 in the 8K at the WCC Cross Country Championships (10/28).
 
PEPPERDINE XC 2021 (SO): Competed in three of the seven races … Ran an 8K personal-best of 26:41.3 at the UC Riverside Invitational (9/18).
 
PEPPERDINE XC 2020-21 (FR): Did not compete during the shortened season.

PEPPERDINE TRACK 2023: Competed in six out of the nine meets … Ran the 5,000 meter and the 1,500 meter, as well as the 3,000 meter once … Had a personal-best of 4:09.16 in the 1,500 meter at the Vince O’Boyle Track and Field Classic (3/31) ... Earned a personal-best in the 5,000 meter of 15:37.99 at the Occidental Distance Carnival & Spring Break Classic (3/11).

PEPPERDINE TRACK 2022 (SO): Competed in seven of the 10 meets … Ran primarily in the 1,500 meters four times and the 5,000 meters twice … Ran once in the 800 meters in a time of 2:12.87 at the Triton Invitational (4/9) … Had a season-best 4:23.67 in the 1,500 meters at the Triton Invitational (4/9). 

PEPPERDINE TRACK 2021 (FR): Was one of four runners to compete at all eight regular-season meets ... Competed in four different events, but mainly focused on the 1,500 and the 5,000 ... Ran the 1,500 meters (best of 4:19.84 at Fresno Pacific on 3/6) and the 5,000 (best of 15:42.29 at Azusa Pacific on 4/10) three times apiece ... Also ran the 800 meters once at the WCC Distance Carnival (5/8), plus the 3,000 once at Westmont (2/13).
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Graduated from Clarion (Pa). Area High School in 2020 … Ran four years of varsity cross country and track … Won the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference cross country title and helped Clarion place second at the district race as a senior … Was a four-time state qualifier and three-time conference MVP … In track, was the conference MVP as a junior … Medaled at the district meet … Was the salutatorian of his graduating class … Elected Student Council President … A member of the National Honor Society.

PERSONAL: Majoring in biology ... Born in Clarion, Pa. … Son of Matt and Tammy Lerch … Has two siblings, Evelyn and Isaac … Mother ran cross country and track for Anderson University … Chose to attend Pepperdine because “Pepperdine seemed like the overall best fit for me. The academic and athletic opportunities are plentiful, and the student athlete population seems super friendly and outgoing. But the Christian campus attracted me the most.”

FAVORITES: Enjoys music, playing piano and trombone … Favorites include Christian Coleman (pro athlete), The Book Thief (book), Psych (TV show), Lindsey Stirling (musical artist), Avengers: Infinity War (movie) and swimming (sport other than running) … Favorite thing about running is “the investment of the sport. Every moment of training contributes to the betterment of the athlete as a whole, allowing runners to demonstrate their countless hours of training and preparation when they compete.”