ARCATA, Calif. -- On Tuesday morning, Cal Poly Humboldt Women's Track & Field announced an incoming 2023-24 recruiting class of 11 new signees. These new student-athletes will include: Ginny Brooks, Cadence Peery, Mia Roberts, Samantha Smith, Marielle Winuk, Kalyssa Claros, Gillian Davis, Taylyn Henry, Katie Maclean, Charlotte Leonard, and Matilda Fitzgerald. Both coaches are excited about the new additions to the roster.
Head coach Sarah Ingram stated, "We have a very balanced incoming recruiting class that will add significant depth across all areas of our women's track and field team, with 4 incoming throwers, 2 distance runners, 2 sprinters, 2 jumpers, and 1 hurdler joining us this Fall. Each of these student-athletes are decorated performers in their event specialties, with many scholar-athlete and character awards on their resumes. Coach Teigan has worked hard cultivating this recruiting class, and we're so pleased to be growing our team with such a great group of ladies."
Assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Teigan Eilers said, "I am very excited about the depth we have added to the women's program in this year's recruiting class. Our women's team will be doubling in size this year, and the returning athletes and coaches are excited for the momentum our program is building. It feels like we have the wind in our sails right now, and with this group of ladies joining our team, I can tell our future is bright. Each of these student-athletes have achieved remarkable success in sport, academics, and character, and will make a big impact on the current and future success of our program. "
2023-24 Women's Track & Field Recruiting Class
Ginny Brooks
Ginny Brooks, local track and field stand-out, will join the team this fall intending to major in Kinesiology. She will be competing in the 100 hurdles, 400 hurdles, and long jump. A scholar-athlete with a 4.08 GPA, Brooks was a 4-time HDN League Champion in the 100m hurdles, 300m hurdles, long jump, and 4x100m relay in 2021, 3-time HDN League Champion in the 100m hurdles, 300m hurdles, and long jump in 2022, and runner up in the 100m hurdles, and 300m hurdle champion in 2023, earning the coveted HDN White Star award. Daughter of Damon and Kim Brooks, Ginny was named Eureka High School Track MVP in 2021 and 2022 and holds the Eureka High school records in the 100 hurdles (15.68) and 300m hurdles (46.42), and is 2nd all-time at Eureka High for the long jump (16'11.75). In 2023, Brooks took 3rd place in both the 100m hurdles and 300m hurdles at the NCS Redwood Empire Championship and was a medalist at the CIF NCS Meet of Champions in the 100m hurdles.
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Cadence Peery
Cadence Peery comes to Cal Poly Humboldt from the southern end of the state, Laguna Beach, Calif. where she attended Laguna Beach High School. Peery claimed the Sunset Wave League Championship in both the 100 and 200 meter races in 2022 and was a medalist in both races in 2023. In 2022, she was named Athlete of the Year. In Peery's junior and senior year, she was awarded 1st Team All-League in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m, and 4x400m. With her best times of 12.55 (100m) and 26.26 (200m) Peery holds the number two ranking all-time at Laguna Beach High in the 100m, and ranks 4th in the 200m. In all four years of high school, she was an All-Academic Team recipient maintaining a 3.75 GPA or above. Peery also played soccer for four years at Laguna Beach High School. Cadence is the daughter of Keith Peery and Jean Connelly and intends to major in Child Development and Family Relationships.
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Mia Roberts
Mia Roberts will bring her athletic and academic talents to Cal Poly Humboldt in the fall. At Madera High School, she was decorated with honors both athletically and academically. Athletically, Roberts earned Track and Field Rookie of the Year her freshman year, followed by a break-out season in 2022 where she finished Runner-Up in the County Metro Athletic Conference League for the 100 meter and 200m, and Runner-Up for the 100 meter and 3rd in the 200m at the CIF Division II Central Section Championship. She continued her success into her senior year, where she placed 3rd in the CMAC championships in the 100 meter and 4th in the 200m. Roberts holds Madera High School's records for the 100m with a time of 12.50, and is 2nd all-time in the 200m running 25.84. She was named Madera High Track and Field MVP, and selected for the Madera High School C.H.A.M.P. Award. Roberts also played soccer and was named MVP for the 2020 season. Academically, all four years of high school, Roberts was a Scholar-Athlete recognized on the Honor Roll for achieving a 4.0 GPA. Mia is the daughter of Kevin Roberts and Veronica Mendoza, and is intending to study Business Marketing when she arrives at Cal Poly Humboldt.
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Samantha Smith
Samantha Smith will be joining the Lumberjacks as one of two student-athletes from Santa Teresa High School in San Jose, California. Samantha specializes in the discus throw, and currently hold the 2nd best mark ever recorded at her high school. In this past season, Samantha broke through with multiple big performances. Samantha placed 1st in conference, followed by a 3rd place finish at the CIF-CCS Finals, and a 16th place finish at the 103rd CIF State Championship. With Samantha's personal best of 128'ft in the discus, she will be an instant contributor to the Lumberjacks women's program. Samantha is also a fantastic student, graduating with a 3.9 GPA, and plans on majoring in Psychology.
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Marielle Winuk
Marielle will be traveling from Pleasant Grove High School to join the Jacks as a hammer thrower. Marielle also competes in the shot put and discus throw. After the conclusion of her senior year, Marielle has continued competing as a club athlete in the hammer throw where she has displayed very impressive performances, including a 5th place finish at the USATF Pacific Association Junior Olympics (133'4). Marielle holds a personal best in the hammer of 133'9ft. The Elk Grove native will go into college undeclared and have a big advantage of learning the hammer throw at a young age.
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Kalyssa Claros
Kalyssa is one of four local athletes to join the Lumberjack family and comes in with very impressive marks and achievements. With a personal best of 38'8ft in the shot put, Kalyssa holds the McKinleyville High School program record and is poised to be an instant contributor to the competitiveness of the Lumberjacks Women's team. In 2023, this McKinleyville native placed 1st place in the HDN County Championship, 2nd at the Redwood Empire NCS championships, and 4th at the CIF North Coast Meet of Champions. She also placed 2nd in the discus at both the HDN championship and Redwood Empire NCS Championship. With her success in the throws, Kalyssa will graduate a 3-time HDN County Champion in the shot, and 2-time runner up in the discus. Kalyssa plans to continue her education in Business.
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Gillian Davis
Gillian returns this season, not as a coach, but representing a strong asset to the women's throws team. With athletic eligibility remaining, this San Francisco native is ready to take the stage as a team leader and competitor. With a personal best of 39.9 meters in the discus throw at her previous institution, UC Santa Cruz, Gillian is eager to compete and put herself in position to be at the top of a competitive CCAA conference. In fall, Gillian is entering the Natural Resource Policy and Administration program here at Cal Poly Humboldt.
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Taylyn Henry
Taylyn will be joining the Lumberjacks, transferring from Riverside City College. Daughter of Yui and Annette Henry, Taylyn was a 2023 Women's Track and Field captain, and plans on majoring in Environmental Science and Management. With lifetime best of 5.03m in long jump and 10.79m in triple jump, Taylyn will come in ready to go and add depth to the women's jumps program.
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Katie Maclean
Katie will be joining the Lumberjacks this fall from Great Oak High School in Temecula, CA. Katie had a very successful senior year season, placing 4th in the high jump at the Southwestern League Finals and has a personal best of 5'0 in the high jump. Daughter of Jeff and Nita Maclean, Katie plans on majoring in Wildlife Conservation Biology/Applied Vertebrate Ecology.
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Charlotte Leonard
Charlotte will be joining the Lumberjacks as a distance runner, from Eureka High School in Eureka, CA. Charlotte had a very successful junior and senior year season at Eureka High, and in 2022 was the HDN League cross-country individual champion. In 2022, Charlotte ran well enough to receive a medal at the championships, placing 5th. Not long after, Charlotte had a stellar track and field season in the spring, placing third in the HDN Championships in the 1600m (5:45.41) and won the title in the 3200m (12:16.93). Charlotte is one of many local athletes to join a talented Lumberjack team, and plans on majoring in Psychology.
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Matilda Fitzgerald
Matilda will be joining the Lumberjacks this fall, coming from Thousand Oaks High School, in Thousand Oaks, CA. During her high school career, Matilda has run very impressive times in one of the most competitive regions of California. During her senior year cross-country season, Matilda ran an impressive time of 18:51.7 in the 3-mile run, and puts herself in a position to make a big different this coming season for the Lumberjacks. On the track, Matilda ended her senior year season taking first place at the Marmonte League Finals in the 3200m run, a distance where she holds a personal best of 11:58.17. Matilda is also a fantastic student, graduating with a 4.2 GPA, and plans on majoring in Kinesiology.
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