COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – University of Colorado Colorado Springs head track & field coach Ross Fellows announced his 2025-26 recruiting class on Friday morning, with 53 incoming student-athletes set to join the program for the upcoming campaign.
 
"It's always a great time to be part of the Mountain Lion track and field program," exclaimed Fellows. "We just captured our 19th RMAC title in the past eight years — a testament to the hard work and dedication of our student-athletes and coaching staff.
 
"Our staff has been relentless in building a deep and balanced recruiting class, addressing key event areas with high-level talent. This incoming group not only fills important gaps but also raises the overall standard of our program. This is not only the largest class we have ever brought in but also the most talented.
 
"As we continue striving to stay atop the RMAC podium, our eyes are firmly set on bringing home even bigger hardware at the national level. Our student-athletes come here to win—both on and off the track—and that commitment makes me incredibly proud.
 
"With the momentum we're building and the bar we're raising in recruiting, I'm confident we'll continue to see those results translate into success on the track."
 
MEN'S TRACK & FIELD
On the men's side, the UCCS track & field program is set to add 29 student-athletes to the program for the 2025-26 campaign, including 26 incoming freshman and three transfers.
 
Josiah Billington joins the Mountain Lions as a transfer from fellow RMAC institution Metropolitan State University Denver, where he spent the first two seasons of his collegiate career. After redshirting in his first season as a member of the Roadrunners' track & field program, Billington made a name for himself during the 2024-25 indoor season as he posted season-best marks of 6.97s in the 60m, 7.09m in the long jump, and 13.93m in the triple jump on his way to securing All-RMAC Second Team accolades with a fifth-place finish in the long jump at the indoor conference championships. The standout jumper took another step forward during the 2025 outdoor season, improving his long jump and triple jump marks to 7.32m and 14.40m, respectively, while posting a season-best time of 10.90 in the 100m dash and serving as a member of MSUD's 4x100m relay squad. Billington had a huge performance at the RMAC Outdoor Championships, earning All-RMAC First Team honors with a second-place finish in the long jump and All-RMAC Second Team accolades with a fifth-place finish in the triple jump. A native of Castle Rock, Colo., Billington was a 2023 graduate of Castle High School, posting marks of 22'7 in the long jump and 47'7 in the triple jump and securing a second-place finish at the CHSAA 5A State Meet.
 
A 2025 graduate of Cheyenne Mountain High School, Julian Brantley is set to join the Mountain Lions' group of sprinters for the 2025-26 campaign. The Colorado Springs, Colo., native comes to UCCS after a historic prep career with the Red Tailed Hawks' track & field program, where he currently holds the school record in the 100m dash at 10.84 and ranks second in program history in the 200m with a time of 22.12.
 
A sprinter from Aurora, Colo., Noah Brown is set to join the Mountain Lions for the 2025-26 season after graduating from Eaglecrest High School this past spring. As a member of the Raptors' track & field program, Brown was a two-year varsity letterwinner as he went on to post personal best times of 6.95 in the 60m, 10.60 in the 100m, and 22.20 in the 200m. Brown, who was also a three-time letterwinner in baseball, put together an incredible 2024 campaign on the track as he earned All-Conference and All-State First Team accolades and was tabbed as the Newcomer of the Year on his way to helping the Raptors win their first league championship in program history.
 
Cam Bruns comes to UCCS as a local product from nearby Rampart High School, where he was a three-year varsity starter for the Rams' football team and competed in the discus throw and shot put for the track & field program. A standout on the gridiron, Bruns was named First Team All-Conference, 4A Defensive MVP, and Second Team All-State for football following his junior and senior seasons while leading the Rams to back-to-back playoff appearances. The Colorado Springs native carried his success over to the throws ring as he posted personal best marks of 150'8 in the discus throw and 54'11 in the shot put during the 2025 outdoor season. Bruns also excelled in the classroom throughout his time at Rampart, making the honor roll during every semester of his prep career and earning Academic All-State accolades following his junior and senior seasons. 
 
A 2025 product of Torrance High School in Torrance, Calif., Jack Campbell had an exceptional prep career at THS.  He helped the Tommy Tartars qualify for the 2023 CIF Finals and win the 2023 Mount Sac Invitational team championship.  Campbell's cross country high school achievements include four Most Inspirational Awards, two Coach's Awards, and the Blanket Award.  He lettered twice in cross country and twice in track and field while acting as team captain for both programs.  In the THS record books, he is listed in the top-five in the two-mile run and top-10 in the mile run.
 
Braydon Candelarie joins UCCS from Grandview High School in Aurora, Colo., where he competed in the 200m and 400m sprints and helped lead the Wolves to back-to-back state championships in 2021 and 2022. A two-year letterman, Candelarie earned First Team All-State and All-Senior honors in the 400m, collected Third Team All-State in the 200m, and was a runner-up at the Junior Olympics. He owns personal bests of 11.59 in the 100m, 22.63 in the 200m, and 49.72 in the 400m. Off the track, he maintained a consistent 3.0 GPA and was a member of the Angel Flight Track Club.
 
Trey Costello heads North from Phoenix, Ariz. to begin his collegiate career at UCCS.  A recent graduate from Horizon Honors High School, Costello is a four-time cross country Most Outstanding Performer, and a track and field Most Improved and Most Outstanding award winner.  The school record holder in the 800m run and the 5k, he was named to the All-City Second Team in the 800m.  His high school top times include marks in the 800m (1:57.5), 1600m (4:30.7), 3200m (10:00), and 5k (16:32).  Outside of running, Costello competed in soccer on his way to earning 12 varsity letters.  Receiving the Most Improved and Defensive Player of the Year accolades for soccer, he helped the Eagles qualify for the 2023 state tournament.
 
Elijah Dafoe joins the Mountain Lions from Grand Forks, N.D. where he recently graduated from Red River High School.  A three-time North Dakota Class A All-State First Team selection in cross country, he collected four EDC all-conference accolades and was named the 2024 Eastern Dakota Conference Senior Athlete of the Year in cross country.  Dafoe added seven track North Dakota Class A First Team All-State accolades after starting his prep career as the 2021 Overall Freshmen Athlete of the Year.  His multiple high school team awards include Rookie of the Year for both track and cross country, 2023 Cross Country MVP, three Track Distance MVP awards, 2025 Track MVP, and the 2025 Overall Male Athlete of the Year.  He recorded personal best times in the 800m (1:57), 1600m (4:17), 3200m (9:18), and 5k (15:32).
 
Coming across Monarch Pass from Gunnison, Colo., Jackson Dalleck owns PR times in the 800m (2:02), 1600m (4:34), 3200m (9:52) and 5000m (16:23).  A 2025 graduate of Gunnison, Colo., he earned 2024-25 all-conference distinction in cross country and track and field, and all-conference honorable mention in 2023-24.  Dalleck was named All-State Academic Honorable Mention twice, and was the team captain of the cross country, basketball, and track and field teams his senior year.
 
JJ Davis joins UCCS from Skyline High School in Longmont, Colo., where he competed in the javelin and discus throw for the Falcons' track & field program. A 4A All-State Second Team selection, Davis posted personal-best marks of 185' in the javelin and 151' in the discus throw. Outside of his track & field accomplishments, Davis also earned academic honors as a two-time member of the 3.5 GPA Honor Roll and was an active member of the student council. He also carries a strong athletic lineage as the son of James Davis, a two-time world champion in the 400 meters.
 
A 6-foot sprinter from Erie, Colo., Hayden Fox joins the Mountain Lions after graduating from Erie High School in the spring of 2025. While competing for the Tigers' track & field program, Fox posted personal best times of 22.28 in the 200m, 48.50 in the 400m, and 1:58.97 in the 800m while helping the squad win back-to-back Front Range League Championships in 2023 and 2024. In the classroom, the mid-distance sprinter was named to the Honor Roll in seven of his eight semesters and earned an academic letter in each of his four years. In addition to serving as a Link Leader and helping guide freshman through their first year of high school, Fox was also a part of Senior Design, in which he was given a NASA challenge and finished top three in the nation, earning an invitation to the Johnson Space Center.
 
Hailing from Denver, Colo., Joshua Gross makes his way south to join the Mountain Lions as a 2025 graduate from Mullen High School. A four-year member of the Mustangs' varsity track & field program, Gross finished his prep career as a three-time state finalist with personal best times of 21.98 in the 200m and 48.27 in the 400m. Gross, who was named the team's most improved athlete for three consecutive years, was also a member of the National Honors Society and participated in the spike ball club and car club.
 
A high jumper from Taylor, Ariz., Jake Hall will join the Mountain Lions as another NCAA Division I graduate transfer after earning his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the United States Air Force Academy in 2022. In three seasons as a member of the Falcons' track & field program, Hall was a two-time All-Mountain West First Team selection and a two-time All-Mountain West Second Team honoree in the high jump. With a career-best bar clearance of 2.14m in the high jump, Hall helped Air Force earn a total of three conference championship titles during his time with the team. Prior to his stint at the Air Force Academy, Hall put together a strong prep career at Snowflake High School, where he cleared a high school personal best bar height of 6' 9 in the high jump.
 
Chase Harper comes to UCCS as a 2025 graduate from Adams Central High School in Hastings, Neb., where he was a two-time varsity letterwinner with the Patriots track & field program. Throughout his time with the Patriots, Harper recorded personal best times of 9.17 in the 60m hurdles, 15.19 in the 110m hurdles, and 40.36 in the 300m hurdles while also posting a career best bar clearance of 5' 10 in the high jump. A two-time member of the A-Honor Roll, Harper was extremely involved on campus as he participated in the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Student Council, Striv, Science Fair, and the AC Broadcast.
 
From Rio Rancho, N.M. and a 2025 graduate of Rio Rancho High School, Mateo Herrera earned numerous awards during his high school years.  He was named All-District 1-5A three times for cross country and track, and received NMAA All-State honors in cross country and track twice. After finishing runner-up in the 3200m at the District 1-5A meet, he won the district championship one year later.  He helped the Rams win three 5A state championships in cross country after winning three District championships.  His top times in high school include marks in the 800m (2:00), 1600m (4:23), 3200m (9:25) and 5k (15:18).
 
A product of Aurora, Colo., Nick Hoffsetz will add depth to the Mountain Lions' group of short sprinters after finishing his prep career at Cherokee Trail High School with personal best times of 10.89 in the 100m and 21.69 in the 200m. A First Team All-Conference and All-State honoree in 2024, Hoffsetz placed in the 5A State Finals for the 200m dash and was a member of the Cougar's state record holding 4x200m relay team that posted a time of 1:24.90. Selected as Cherokee Trail's most improved boys track athlete following the 2024 season, Hoffsetz helped the Cougars to a pair of Centennial League Championships during his time as a Cougar.
 
A four-year letterwinner in both cross country and track and field, Tyler Larson graduated from Klahowya Secondary School in Silverdale, Wash., this past spring. He helped the Eagles qualify for two state cross country championship meets while winning the WIAA 1A state title in the 800m run.  Earning the Academic Excellence Award and the President's Award for Academic Excellence twice, Larson and the Eagles set a school record in the 4x400m relay (3:32.67).  His top prep times on the track include 54.68 (400m), 1:58 (800m), 4:26 (1600m), 10:03 (3200m), and a cross country 5k time of 16:32.
 
A jumper from Denver, Colo., Jason Lomosi joins the UCCS track & field roster as another 2025 graduate from Cherokee Trail High School. As a member of the Cougars' track & field program, Lomosi posted high school personal best marks of 21' 1.5 in the long jump and 46' 6 in the triple jump. In the classroom, the 6-foot-2 jumper earned 3.5 GPA Honor Roll accolades for the fall semester of his senior year.
 
Lyai Lyai will join the Mountain Lions stacked high jump crew for the 2025-26 campaign after graduating from East High School this past spring. A native of Denver, Colo., Lyai was a three-year varsity letterwinner with the Angels' track & field program and posted a personal best mark of 6' 3.25 in the high jump during his senior season.
 
Hailing from Lafayette, Colo., Luke Masterson comes to UCCS as another addition to the high jump squad after completing his prep career at Centaurus High School this past spring. With his 6-foot-1 frame, Masterson was a qualifier for the 2025 5A CHSAA State Track & Field Championships with a season and personal best mark of 6' 5 in the high jump. Masterson also competed in the long jump and triple jump throughout his time with the Warriors track & field program, posting personal best marks of 19' 1 in the long jump and 43' 7 in the triple jump. In addition to his track & field endeavors, Masterson was a two-time varsity letterwinner in soccer and spent three years as a member of DECA Business, making a pair of appearances at state.
 
A jumper and sprinter from Berthoud, Colo., Jayden Nohr will bring his talents to UCCS after an outstanding prep career at Roosevelt High School in which he notched personal bests of 10.90 in the 100m and 23' 9 in the long jump. Nohr, who earned the 4A State Championship in the long jump during his freshman year and was the runner-up in the event during his sophomore year, helped the Rough Riders track & field team to a trio of conference and regional championships in his first three seasons with the program.
 
Staying close to home will be short sprinter JD Packard, who joins the team as a 2025 graduate from The Classical Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. A four-year varsity letterwinner, Packard ranks second all-time in Titans history with a personal best time of 10.70 in the 100m and holds a strong PR of 22.25 in the 200m. In addition to helping the Titans' track & field program with three consecutive 3A State Championships, Packard also excelled in the classroom as he was a 2024-25 Academic All-State Honorable Mention and the recipient of the TCA College Pathways Academic Achievement Award in the Fall of 2024.
 
Gray Pence joins the UCCS track & field program as a 6-foot-4 pole vaulter from Englewood, Colo., who recently graduated from Cherry Creek High School. Pence, who posted a season-best bar clearance of 8' 0 during his freshman season with the Bruins, made massive strides throughout his prep career as he finished his senior season with a PR of 15' 10 in the pole vault. In addition to matching the Cherry Creek school record in the boys' pole vault, Pence helped the Bruins to a pair of top five finishes at the CHSAA 5A State Championships, including a third-place finish in 2024 and a fifth-place finish in 2022.
 
Hailing from Aurora, Colo., Revano Plummer makes his way to UCCS from Grandview High School, where he starred as a sprinter for the Wolves. A Grandview MVP, school record holder, and all-conference performer, Plummer was a state runner-up in the 200m and posted standout senior-year marks of 10.80 in the 100m, 21.41 in the 200m, and 48.56 in the 400m. After showing marked improvements throughout his prep career, Plummer became the first Grandview student-athlete to qualify for state in six events and posted the fourth-fastest time in the state for the 200m in 2025.
 
Another local product from Colorado Springs, Colo., Kuron Reed joins the track & field program as a jumper out of Mitchell High School. As a four-year varsity letterwinner and three-time track & field MVP with the Mighty Marauders, Reed recorded personal best marks of 23' 0 in the long jump and 45' 1 in the triple jump. The six-foot jumper put together an incredible senior season to conclude his prep career as he was selected as the 4A Field Athlete of the Year after securing Colorado Springs Metro League North individual titles in the long jump, triple jump, and 4x200m in addition to fifth in the triple jump at the 4A State Championship Meet. A three-time state qualifier, Reed also put together an impressive track record inside the classroom as he graduated Summa Cum Laude and was a four-time recipient of the Academic Accept Award.
 
A sprinter and jumper from Las Vegas, Nev., Michael Ryan Cruzado will make his way east from Desert Oasis High School to join the UCCS track & field roster for the 2025-26 campaign. Cruzado was a four-year varsity letterwinner with the Diamondbacks' track & field program, posting personal best marks of 10.85 in the 100m, 22.10 in the 200m, and 21' 5 in the long jump. At the Nevada 4A level, Cruzado qualified for the state meet in at least one event during every season of his prep career and qualified for four different events during his junior and senior seasons, leading the Diamondbacks to back-to-back NIAA 4A State Championships. Cruzado was equally as impressive in the classroom as he was a four-year member of the A/B Honor Roll and earned the Diamond of the Desert Medallion to recognize his academic achievements.
 
A native of Chino Hills, Calif., Spencer Shuler comes to UCCS from Mt. San Antonio College, where he was a CCCAA state finalist in the decathlon in both 2024 and 2025, finishing ninth and fifth, respectively. With personal best marks of 6,092 points in the decathlon, 54.12 seconds in the 400m hurdles and 15.28 in the 110m hurdles, Shuler helped the Mounties collect a pair of SCC League Championships and a CCCAA State Championship. Shuler's prep career saw him perform as a four-sport athlete at Ayala High School, as he was the league MVP and earned a total of eight First Team All-League honors while helping the Bulldogs win four league championships. Shuler put together an impressive track record inside the classroom as he was a four-time member of the First Team All-Academic team and was selected as the 2023 Student Athlete of the Year. He was also involved in a handful of clubs outside of athletics, including the National Honors Society, Boys State Club, and Special Needs Student Connections. 
 
Hailing from Durango, Colo., Xavier Sutherlin is set to join the Mountain Lions for the upcoming season as a hurdler out of Durango High School. During his time as a member of the Demon's track & field program, Sutherlin posted personal best times of 8.56 in the 60m hurdles, 14.43 in the 110m hurdles, and 40.16 in the 300m hurdles. The 5-foot-9 hurdler had a strong finish to his prep career as he collected All-State First Team accolades with a third-place finish in the 110m hurdles and a ninth-place finish in the 300m hurdles at the 2025 CHSAA 4A Track & Field Championships.
 
Derek Williams makes his way to UCCS as a 6-foot-3 thrower from Aurora, Colo., who recently graduated from Grandview High School. Competing at the CHSAA 5A level while a four-year member of the Wolves' track & field program, Williams posted personal best marks of 120' 4 in the hammer throw, 46' 10 in the shot put, and 171' 1 in the discus throw, which ranks second all-time in Grandview HS history. Williams also impressed in the classroom throughout his prep career as he was a three-time Academic All-State Honorable Mention for track & field.
 
WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD
The UCCS women's track & field squad is set to add 24 student-athletes to the roster for the 2025-26 season, including 21 incoming freshman and three transfers.
 
A native of Denver, Colo., Ka'Moyyah Allen joins the Mountain Lions after graduating from Connections Academy this past spring. Allen, who competed for Cherokee Trail High School during her prep career, posted personal best marks of 26.96 in the 200m and 58.35 in the 400m. During her senior campaign in 2025, Allen clocked a season-best time of 58.46 in the 400m and later helped the 4x400m relay team post a time of 3:57.64 finish sixth overall at the CHSAA 5A State Championships.
 
A standout multi-event athlete from Los Alamos, N.M., Colette Bibeault brings a versatile skillset to the Mountain Lion track & field program after finishing her prep career at Los Alamos High School. A five-time New Mexico 4A state champion and the 2024 4A New Mexico High Point Athlete, Bibeault holds school records in the 100m hurdles, 300m hurdles, pole vault, and 4x400m relay, in addition to racing as part of the Hilltoppers' state record holding 4x400m relay team. Boasting personal best marks of 14.70 in the 100m hurdles, 44.30 in the 300m hurdles, 1:04.73 in the 400m hurdles, 12' 5.25 in the pole vault, 37' 7 in the triple jump, and 5'2 in the high jump, Bibeault helped her team to New Mexico 4A State Championships in each of her four years at LAHS. A three-time scholar-athlete award winner, she also served as senior class secretary/treasurer, was vice president of her local 4-H chapter and was a member of National Honor Society.
 
Sienna Boughen joins UCCS from Castle View High School in Castle Rock, Colo., after competing at Moanalua High School in Honolulu, Hawaii, from her freshman through junior years. A pole vault specialist, Boughen posted a personal best pole vault mark of 12' 1 and was an OIA League champion and placed fourth at the HHSAA state championships. Academically, she maintained an exceptional GPA while taking honors and AP classes all four years of her prep career, collecting honor roll recognition through her junior year.

Hailing from Casper, Wyo., Tristyn Buss will bring her versatile skillset to Colorado Springs after spending the past four years with the track & field program at Kelly Walsh High School. An All-State honoree following the 2023 and 2024 campaigns, Buss holds high school personal best marks of 25.63 in the 200m, 14.74 in the 100m hurdles, 45.56 in the 300m hurdles, 18' in the long jump, and 37' 10.5 in the triple jump. Buss, who is a member of Kelly Walsh's school record holding 4x200m relay team, earned an individual state championship in the triple jump in 2024 while also helping the girls' program secure the outdoor team state title. Off the track, Buss was a member of the First Honor Roll and participated in both the student council and key club.
 
Olivia Clay makes her way to UCCS from nearby Fountain, Colo., after completing her prep career at Mesa Ridge High School. While a member of the Grizzlies' track & field program, the sprinter posted personal best marks of 7.93 in the 60m, 12.24 in the 100m, 25.23 in the 200m, and 59.77 in the 400m on her way to collecting Colorado 4A First Team All-State accolades in 2022 and 2023. A four-year varsity letterwinner, Clay was tabbed as the MRHS Track & Field Rookie of the Year in 2022 following her freshman season before notching the Most Valuable Sprinter Award in 2023. Clay, who was a two-time 4A State Champion in the 4x100m and one-time 4A State Champion in the 4x200m, helped the Grizzlies secure a Southern Colorado Springs Metro League team championship in 2023. In the classroom, Clay was an academic letterwinner and member of the Principal's Honor Roll in each of her four years at Mesa Ridge while also collecting Academic All-State First Team accolades in 2023 and 2024. Additionally, she was heavily involved in campus opportunities as she was a member of the National Honors Society, Link Club, Student-Athlete Leadership, Orchestra, and Student Council while serving as a Student-to-Student mentor.
 
A middle-distance runner from New Richmond, Wis., Ceanna Dietz joins the UCCS track & field program as a transfer from University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, where she competed for one year in cross country and indoor track & field. While a member of the Titans, Dietz posted collegiate best times of 59.70 in the 400m, 2:16.51 in the 800m, and 23:29 in the cross country 6K. Prior to making her collegiate debut, Dietz was a three-time varsity letterwinner in cross country and track & field at New Richmond High School, posting high school personal best marks of 1:00.40 in the 400m, 2:19.50 in the 800m, and 5:25.60 in the 1600m. Named the New Richmond HS Track & Field Female MVP in 2023, Dietz was a two-time regional champion in the 800m, a two-time First Team All-Conference honoree in the 800m and 1600m, and a two-time state qualifier in the 4x400m.
 
Reese Dorr is set to join the Mountain Lions next season as a pole vaulter from Gilette, Wyo. A 2025 graduate of Campbell County High School, Dorr saw consistent improvement throughout the course of her prep career as she added nearly three feet to her pole vault height between her freshman and senior seasons, maxing out with a high school personal best of 12' during the 2024-25 campaign. A four-year member of the Camels' track & field program, Dorr was a strong contributor as she finished her prep career as a seven-time all-conference honoree, a four-time all-state selection, and a two-time regional champion in the pole vault. In addition to her athletic success, Dorr was exceptional in the classroom during her time at CCHS as she was named the Salutatorian of her class and was a member of both the Nationals Honors Society and the Student Council.
 
A native of Liberal, Kan., Bentley Fitzgerald will bring her talents to UCCS as a long sprinter who was a three-time state qualifier with the track & field team at Liberal High School. During her prep career, Fitzgerald notched personal best marks of 26.62 in the 200m and 59.44 in the 400m and was a conference champion in the 400m. In addition, Fitzgerald raced as one leg of the Redskins' 4x400m relay team that earned a conference championship and 6A All-State accolades. Liberal's track & field program also saw great success during Fitzgerald's tenure as the team finished runner-up at the 2022 regional meet before earning a regional championship in 2023. Off the track, Fitzgerald also had a busy schedule as she was a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, National Honors Society, Junior Rotary, and WAC Leadership team.
 
Hailing from Castle Rock, Colo., Allie Grahn is set to make the short trip south to join the Mountain Lions' cross country and track roster for the 2025-26 campaign after graduating from Douglas County High School this past spring. As a member of the Huskies' distance program, Grahn was an All-Continental League selection, a three-time MVP, and a two-time CHSAA 5A state qualifier. Grahn spent the first two years of her prep career at Capistrano Valley High School in Mission Viejo, Calif., where she was a two-time CIF Southern Section All-County honoree.
 
A 5-foot-11 long sprinter from Brush, Colo., Michelle Headley will join the UCCS track & field program next season after graduating from Brush High School. An All-Conference and All-State performer, Headley posted high school personal best times of 12.43 in the 100m, 25.48 in the 200m, and 57.20 in the 400m in addition to competing on the Beetdiggers' state champion 800m sprint medley relay team during the 2023-24 campaign. Academically, she was an academic letterwinner and honor roll recipient in each of her four prep years and was a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
 
A 2025 graduate from Sandia Preparatory School in Albuquerque, N.M., Kate Henderson recorded personal best times of 18:03 in the 5k, 11:09 in the 3200m, 5:05 in the 1600m, and 2:17 in the 800m run during her prep career.  She holds the school record in four events: 800m, 1600m, 3200m, and the 1600m Medley Relay.  She won New Mexico state titles in the 3200m, 1600m, and 800m, and she owns the state record in the 1600m.  A three-time Performer of the Year award winner and a four-time team MVP, Henderson collected four varsity letters in track and cross country.  She was named the Gatorade New Mexico Girls Cross Country Player of the Year, becoming the first Sundevil to win the award in cross country.
 
Jillian Hennessy joins the Mountain Lion family as an incoming freshman from Desert Oasis High School in Las Vegas, Nev. Hennessy competed in the sprints and jumps events for the Diamondbacks, posting high school personal best marks of 13.09 in the 100m, 27.31 in the 200m, 17' 5.5 in the long jump, and 37' 5 in the triple jump. During her junior year, Hennessy was tabbed as Desert Oasis' Most Improved Athlete as she helped the girls team finish the campaign as the 2024 Nevada 4A Girls' State runners-up. Hennessy also put together an incredibly strong academic record as she graduated with an Advanced Honors Diploma as part of the Career and Technical Education Program of Health Science/Sports Medicine.
 
A sprinter from Aurora, Colo., Leiava Holliman is set to join the Mountain Lions' roster for the upcoming campaign after finishing her prep career at Grandview High School. Holliman, who recorded high school personal best times of 12.10 in the 100m and 25.19 in the 200m, was a member of the Wolves' 2023 Colorado 6A 4x100m Championship relay team and medaled at the state meet in the sprint medley and 4x200m relay. In 2024, Holliman surged to the top of the Centennial League as she was the League Champion in both the 100m and 4x100m. Holliman was equally as impressive inside the classroom as she was an AP Scholar, a two-time Academic All-State Honorable Mention, and a three-time Academic Achievement Award winner.
 
A native of Palmer, Alaska, Ella Hopkins graduated from Colony High School this past spring.  A three-time track and field Team Most Valuable Performer, she was named the Alaska Track and Field Women's Athlete of the Year.  Hopkins, who owns the 5k school record, is a 4.00 GPA student who has been named to the Distinguished Honor Roll and an AP Scholar.
 
Katie Jewell is a 2025 graduate from Prairie Ridge High School in Crystal Lake, Illinois who will bolster the Mountain Lions' short sprints event group. A two-time USATF national qualifier and five-time state qualifier, Jewell carries high school personal best times of 7.66 in the 60m, 12.01 in the 100m, and 24.94 in the 200m. Jewell, who currently holds PRHS school records in the indoor 60m, indoor 200m, outdoor 100m, outdoor 4x100m, and outdoor 4x400m, collected All-State accolades in both the 60m and 100m while helping the Wolves secure their first sectional title since the 1998 season. In the classroom, Jewell was a four-year member of the high honor roll and finished her high school career as a distinguished graduate.
 
A 5-foot-11 thrower from Cedaredge, Colo., Carley Malinowski joins the Mountain Lions after a four-year stint with the varsity track & field program at Cedaredge High School in which she recorded personal best tosses of 128' 2 in the discus throw and 39' 2.25 in the shot put. Malinowski appeared at the 2A State Championship meet in each of her four seasons as a Bruin and made a strong impression at her final state meet this past spring, finishing second overall in the shot put and third overall in the discus throw. Outside of the throws ring, Malinowski was a member of the student council and did exceptionally well in the classroom as she collected honor roll and scholar athlete accolades in each of her four years at the high school level.
 
Evelyn McClellan graduated this spring from Horizon High School in Thornton, Colo., where she was a standout high jumper for the Hawks' track & field program. McClellan, who holds a high school personal best of 5' 5.25 in the high jump, is coming off back-to-back top five finishes in the event at the 5A CHSAA Track & Field Championships as she finished third overall in 2024 and tied for third in 2025. A member of the 2025 CHSAA 5A All-State First Team, McClellan also excelled in the classroom throughout her prep career as she was a three-time selection to the Academic All-State team. 
 
Elizabeth McQuitty joins the Mountain Lions cross country and track and field programs from Alamosa, Colo., where she was a four-time all-conference performer and letterwinner.  During her prep career at Alamosa High School, she clocked personal best times of 2:21 in the 800m, 5:10 in the 1600m, 11:06 in the 3200m, and 18:09 in the 5k.  Named to the All-State Honorable Mention team, McQuitty was selected to the All-State First Team and the team MVP twice. She is a two-time regional champion and qualified for the state track and field meet all four years while being a four-time all-academic student.
 
Hailing from Neenah, Wis., Mazie Olkowski won three conference championships in the 3200m run and two district titles in the same event.  A four-time first-team all-conference performer, she was the Fox Valley Association conference champion twice in the 1600m run, and helped her 4x800m relay team win the 2023 regional championship, followed by the 1600m and 3200m Sectional Championship titles in 2024.  On the cross country course, Olkowski qualified for the state meet all four years and was named All-State First Team as a senior.  The 3200m and 5k school record holder, she earned three team MVPs for cross country and the track and field programs.  She was part of the Rockets' cross country teams that won four sectional championships, two conference championships, and the 2024 DI state championship title.  Her top prep times include 2:22 in the 800m, 5:01 in the 1600m, 10:44 in the 3200m, and 18:14 in the 5k.
 
A distance runner from Phoenix, Ariz., Dana Pivin will join the UCCS cross country and track & field programs after finishing her prep career at Desert Vista High School in the spring of 2025.Competing at the 6A level in Arizona, Pivin was a four-year letterwinner in cross country and track field for the Thunder and finisher her prep career by being named as the team MVP following her senior season. In addition to her running endeavors, Pivin was also involved in the National Honors Society.
 
A native of Aurora, Colo., Grace Solarin is a thrower who is set to join the Mountain Lions for the 2025-26 campaign as another transfer from RMAC-foe MSU Denver. In two seasons of competition at MSU Denver, Solarin re-wrote the Roadrunners' record book in the throws events as she currently holds the program records for the indoor shot put (12.74m), indoor weight throw (16.57m), outdoor shot put (12.77m), outdoor discus throw (45.34m), and outdoor hammer throw (50.12m). In addition to collecting a pair of All-RMAC Second Team accolades while at MSUD, Solarin was solid inside the classroom as she was a two-time member of the RMAC All-Academic Honor Roll and was selected to the 2023-24 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team. Prior to beginning her collegiate career, Solarin was a 2022 graduate from Rangeview High School, where she competed at the CHSAA 5A level for the Raiders' track & field program. 
 
Maylee Thompson comes to UCCS as a combined athlete who spent the first two years of her collegiate career at Pima County Community College. A native of Cochise, Ariz., Thompson put together a highly decorated career with the Aztecs as she was a four-time NJCAA All-American and posted personal best marks of 5.70m in the long jump, 3,239 in the pentathlon, and 4,230 in the heptathlon. Before starting her career at PCCC, Thompson put together a strong prep career at Willcox High School, where she recorded multiple top five finishes at the state level while competing in the 100m, 200m, long jump, and javelin throw.
 
The three-time Del Lago Academy cross country Most Valuable Runner, Taryn Warren earned varsity letters in cross country, track and field, and soccer for the Firebirds.  The Escondido, Calif. native ran to the 2024 Coastal Conference Cross Country Runner of the Year accolade after helping her team win the 2024 Coastal Conference and Coastal League cross country championships.
 
A 2025 graduate from Timnath High School in Timnath, Colo., Emili Voelker joins the Mountain Lions as a sprinter who primarily competes in the 100m and 200m dashes. A two-time First Team All-Conference and All-State performer, Voelker notched personal best times of 11.90 in the 100m and 25.26 in the 200m while competing for the Cubs' track & field program. In her senior season, Voelker qualified for the 4A CHSAA State Championships in four different events, finishing third overall in the 4x100m, fifth overall in the 100m, 11^th overall in the 200m, and 14^th overall in the 4x200m.
 
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