STANFORD, Calif. -- Stanford strengthened its track and field and cross-country programs by signing five to letters of intent.
The class will include additional student-athletes who will be highlighted later in the academic year.
Those who signed National Letters of Intent are: Ashlyn Boothby (Scotts Valley, Calif./Scotts Valley HS), Josh Bell (Atascadero, Calif./Templeton HS), Paul Bergeron (Westford, Mass./Westford Academy), Byron Grevious (Southport, Conn./Phillips Exeter Academy), and Patrick Koon (Tallahassee, Fla./Leon HS).
Here are the newest members of Stanford's class of '28, as announced by J.J. Clark, Stanford's Franklin P. Johnson Director of Track and Field and Cross Country:
Photo by Raul Ebio/Santa Cruz Sentinel.
Ashlyn Boothby (Scotts Valley, Calif./Scotts Valley HS)
Personal bests: 1,600 – 4:39.45; 800 – 2:09.03; 3,200 – 10:26.12.
- No. 2 in the 1,600 meters nationally in the class of '24.
- Placed second in 1,600 at the 2023 California state championships in 4:39.45.
- The time was a CIF-Central Coast Section record that surpassed a time held by current U.S. 1,500 record-holder Nikki Hiltz.
- Fourth in the 800 at the 2023 Nike Outdoor Nationals in 2:09.03.
- Winner of three CCS Division IV and four Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League cross-country titles.
- From same high school as Stanford 5,000 record-holder Vanessa Fraser.
- Before running, competed at the national level in Scottish Highland Dancing.
- Sister Amber runs for UC San Diego and brother Aiden runs for the Cal Poly Distance Club.
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Josh Bell (Atascadero, Calif./Templeton HS)
Personal bests: 3,200 – 8:55.52; 1,600 – 4:11.25.
- 19th at 2022 Champ Sports (now FootLocker) National Cross Country Championships.
- 2023 California Division 3 Cross Country Championships runner-up.
- Sixth in 3,200 at 2023 California State Track and Field Championships.
- Six-time CIF-Central Section Division 3 champion – three in cross country, three in track.
- Second in 3,200 at 2023 CIF-Central Section Masters Meet.
- Seventh in 5,000 at 2023 Nike Outdoor Nationals.
* * *
Paul Bergeron (Westford, Mass./Westford Academy)
Personal bests: Two-mile – 8:51.88; Mile – 4:10.62.
- Ran the nation's third-fastest outdoor two-mile (8:51.88) in his class, in 2023.
- Two-time FootLocker (formerly Champ Sports) National Cross Country Championships qualifier.
- 2023 Massachusetts All-State cross-country champion for the Ghosts.
- 15th at 2022 Champ Sports National Cross Country Championships.
- Two-time third-place at FootLocker (formerly Champ Sports) Northeast Cross Country Regional.
- 11th-best high school outdoor two-mile time in the nation in 2023 (8:51.88).
- Two-time Massachusetts Division 1 cross-country champion.
* * *
Byron Grevious (Southport, Conn./Phillips Exeter Academy)
Personal bests: 5,000 – 14:04.44; Two-mile – 8:51.00.
- 2023 Nike Outdoor Nationals 5,000 champion.
- 2023 Nike Cross Nationals Northeast Regional cross-country champion.
- Ran the fastest outdoor 5,000 in his class in 2023, in a New England high school record of 14:04.44.
- Fifth-fastest 5,000 among all high schoolers indoors and outdoors in 2023.
- Sixth in two-mile at 2023 New Balance Indoor Nationals in 8:51.00.
- That time was second-fastest in his class indoors in 2023.
- 12th at 2022 Nike Cross Nationals.
- Six-time New England Preparatory School Track Association Division 1 champion
- Holds NEPSTA all-division records in the 1,500 and 3,000.
* * *
Patrick Koon (Tallahassee, Fla./Leon HS)
Personal bests: 3,200 – 8:44.95; 5,000 – 14:11.92.
- 2023 FootLocker South Region cross country champion.
- Undefeated in cross country in 2023 going into FootLocker National Championships.
- Fourth in 5,000 at 2023 New Balance Indoor Nationals.
- Two-time FootLocker National Cross-Country Championships qualifier.
- Three-time Florida 3A cross-country champion.
- Two-time Florida 3A 3,200 champ.
- Second-fastest 3,200 nationally in his class in 2023 (8:44.95).
- Florida's 2022 Gatorade Cross Country Runner of the Year.
- 2023 Florida 3A 1,600 runner-up.