Whittier College Track & Field and Cross Country

Whittier College Track & Field would like to welcome Ben Meyer from Kapolei High School in Hawaii! Ben’s parents are Laurie and Bert and Ben has siblings named Beau and Lainie. Ben plans on majoring in engineering. He ends his high school career with a cumulative GPA of 3.5, Blood Honors and Cum Laude. On the track, Ben was a member of the 2018 4x400m team that took 7th in State and the 2019 team that took 14th in State. The relay team took 3rd in 2018 at the OIA championship...s and took 2nd in the 2019 OIA championships. His lifetime bests include: 100m 11.99, 200m 25.18, 400m 55.39. At his school, Ben served food at school plays at the concession stand, he was a member of the I’m so high above the influence club, and a member of the Interact club. Ben is a high character student-athlete that just needs a chance to shine in college. He has a great personality, a hard work ethic and is a really good fit on this team. We are excited to help him write his story. Ben and family, welcome to the Whittier College family! #poetryinmotion

Whittier College Track & Field would like to Welcome Tyler Harper from Riverside City College! Tyler’s parents are Kris and Kari and he has two siblings named Delaney and Ryan. Tyler was a graduate of Beaumont High School in 2017 and received his AA from RCC in 2019. He plans on majoring in Business Management. Academically, he was a 4-year Scholar Athlete and Graduated In Gold in high school. On the track, he broke his high school pole vault record six times, was back-to-b...ack 2x Inland Empire Champion, the 2019 Orange Empire Conference Champion, placed 7th in the CCCAA State Championship, and ranked 7th in the nation for Junior Colleges for pole vault in 2019. His lifetime bests include: 15’6.25 PV, 129’ Javelin and 11.7 100m. In his community, Tyler helped disabled kids with running the track and playing other sports. He also participated in programs that would inform kids and adults on why it is safer to drag race on the drag strip than the street, and he volunteered at middle school cross country meets. Tyler is a very hard working student-athlete with a strong desire to succeed. He will make a big impact on our team in so many ways and will help this program get to the next level. As he works to perfect his craft in pole vault, he will have the opportunity to contend for conference and national titles. Tyler, we are excited to help you write your story! Tyler and family, welcome to the Whittier College family! #watchoutforwhittier #poetryinmotion

Whittier College Track & Field would like to welcome Devan Pogue from Mililani High School in Hawaii! Devan’s mother is Vanessa and Devan has two siblings named Kaleo and Ivan. Devan plans on majoring in Biochemistry and ends her high school career with a 3.2 GPA. Athletically, Devan finished 2nd in state in the 4x100m relay and she was 5th in the 100m at the OIA league meet. Her lifetime best in the 100m is 12.91. Devan comes from a high school with a strong tradition of su...ccess and she understands what it takes to succeed. In the right college program with the right training, Devan has the potential to become an amazing collegiate athlete. She is the right fit for this team and will make an immediate, positive impact at Whittier. We are excited for you to write your story as a Poet! Devan and family, welcome to the Whittier College family! #wtachoutforwhittier #writeyourstory See more

Whittier College Track & Field would like to welcome Zoe Iseri from Wellsboro High School in Pennsylvania! Zoe’s parents are Linda and Howard and she has one younger sister named Jasmine. Zoe plans on majoring in Political Science and aspires to work for the U.S. State Department. Academically, Zoe has received recognition for: Distinguished Honor Roll, Rotary Student of the Month for Academics, Wellsboro High School Student of the Month, BPW Student of the Month, and Rotary ...Student of the Month for Fine Arts. Athletically, her 4x400m relay team took 6th place this year and 5th place last year at the league championship meet and qualified for districts both years. During her senior season, she was given the coaches award. For soccer, she was named to the League All-Star team and to the Regional All-Star team. And was presented with the PIAA District IV Outstanding Female Sportsmanship Award for her school. Her lifetime bests include: 100H 18.95, 300H 54.60, and 400m 1:08.76. In her community, Zoe has volunteered with Goodies For Our Troops, Special Olympics, open summer track practices and meets, and have hosted multiple Voter Registration Drives and my school. She also helped campaign for a family friend who ran for the PA State House of Representatives. At her school she was the NHS Treasurer, Chorus President, Connect 4 Leadership Council (an organization that provides peer support), Club Harmony founding member (a club that works to promote love and respect throughout the school and community), Spring Musical Cast member, Student Council member, and Academic Quiz Team Member. Zoe’s leadership and involvement in her community is something very special. She has incredible character and will be a great addition to the team. We are excited to see everything she will be able to accomplish both on and off the track! Zoe and family, welcome to the Whittier College family! #writeyourstory

Whittier College Track & Field would like to welcome Emmie Fernandez from California High School (Whittier)! Emmie’s parents are Efa and Issac and has one brother named Isaac. Emmie plans on majoring in Kinesiology and was a member of the Honor Roll throughout high school. In the pole vault, she was League Champ in 2017-2018 and has the California High School Sophomore Record, California High School Junior Record, California High School Senior Record, Del Río League Record ...and is 5th in SGV all-time. Off the track, she was a volunteer gymnastics coach. Her personal best in the 100m is 13.26 and she has a best of 11’7 in the pole vault. Emmie has such a light-hearted, bubbly personality with an incredible passion for pole vault. She is a perfect fit for this team and is ready for this great opportunity. Emmie and family, welcome to the Whittier College family! #watchoutforwhittier #writeyourstory

Whittier College Track & Field would like to welcome Kyra Davis from Fountain-Fort Carson High School in Colorado! Kyra’s parents are Sabrina and Deszy, and she has siblings named Kiara and Deszy Jr. Kyra plans on majoring in English and aspires to become an editor and author. She graduated with a 3.3 GPA and received recognition with an Academic Award, Honors Award in Math, High Honors Award in Language Arts, and Honors Award in Social Studies. Kyra was a 1st Team All-League... in the 4x200m relay 2018-2019, 5A CSML 4x200m League Champion, 2018. She was a 2x State Qualifier for the 4x200m and placed 8th both in 2018 and 2019. Her lifetime bests include: 34’6.5 TJ, 17’0 LJ and 1:43.38 4x200m relay. In her community, Kyra volunteered for the Ronald McDonald House. She participated in her school’s Senior Service Day, which they picked up trash around local sights. She led organizations for her school’s fundraiser at McDonald's, Chick Fil-La and Applebee's. Kyra’s drive to succeed in everything she does will allow her to become a tremendous collegiate student-athlete. She will make a positive impact in everything she does and will be a valuable team member as this team works toward a conference championship. Kyra and family, welcome to the Whittier College family! #watchoutforwhittier #poetryinmotion

Whittier College Track & Field would like to welcome Christian Urbina from Bishop Amat High School! Christian’s parents are Michelle and Julio, and has siblings named Isaiah and Cruz. Christian ends his high school career with a cumulative GPA of 3.57, a Scholar Athlete and a member of the Bishop Amat Memorial High School National Society of High School Scholars. He plans on majoring in Electrical Engineering. On the track, he helped his team become Del Rey League Champions ...(2018), Del Rey Runner Up (2019), and was the San Gabriel Valley High Jump Champion (2019), CIF High Jump Finalist (2018), and CIF High Jump Finalist (4th Place, 2019). He also was a defensive back for the football team that was the Mission League Champions in 2018. He holds the high jump school record with a personal best jump of 6’3. In his community, he was a student coach for the Montebello Indians youth football team. He also helped with the Montebello Baseball Association, a volunteer for (Thanksgiving/Christmas) Food and Toy Drive at St. Benedicts (Montebello, CA), and volunteer for the Fred Jordan Mission Thanksgiving Food Drive. Christian’s family has strong ties to Whittier College and we are excited for him to become a Poet! Christian is a hard working student-athlete that is ready to take the next big step of becoming a collegiate athlete. We are excited for his potential on the track and also his positive impact on the team. Christian and family, welcome to the Whittier College family! #watchoutforwhittier #writeyourstory

Whittier College Track & Field would like to welcome Nathalie Castanos from Ramona Convent! Nathalie’s parents are Alfonso and Gloria, and has two siblings named Claribel and Alfonso Jr. Nathalie ends her high school career with a 4.0 GPA, Scholar Athlete of Distinction and received the Board of Trustees Scholarship (for outstanding achievement in academics, service and leadership). She plans on majoring in Biology with aspirations on becoming an Anesthesiologist. On the tra...ck, her list of achievements include: School Record Holder for 100 Hurdles, 300 Hurdles and 4x100m Relay, 3x League Champ for 100 Hurdles, 2x League Champ for 300 Hurdles, 4x League Champ for 4x100m Relay (first leg), 4x CIF Qualifier for 4x100m Relay, 3x CIF Qualifier for 100 Hurdles and 300 Hurdles and received the Connie Parker Athletic Scholarship. Her lifetime bests for each event are: 16.04 100H, 52.02 300H, 13.40 100m and 53.86 4x100m relay. In her community, she has participated in: Marie Callender’s Thanksgiving Dinners, Operation Christmas Child, Sandwiches for Skidrow, Los Angeles Food Bank, PIH Hospital, and the Salesian Family Youth Center. Nathalie was also the President of the National Honor Society, Vice President of Associated Student Body, helped with Tiger Tutoring, the President of Dance Club, and a member of Chem Club, Pre-Med Club, and Eucharistic Ministry. Nathalie is another high achieving student-athlete that is a great fit for Whittier College and our program. Her passion and drive to pursue her goals both on the track and in the classroom is amazing. She will attack every day and every hurdle with a relentless enthusiasm. We are excited to help give her an opportunity and a platform to become the best version of herself. Nathalie and family, welcome to the Whittier College family! #writeyourstory

Whittier College Track & Field would like to welcome Jasmine Lopez from St. Paul High School! Her mother is Angie, father is Frank and she has one younger brother named Frankie. Jasmine finishes her high school career with a 4.0 GPA, Honor Roll, Principal's Honor Roll, President's Education Award and Principal's Honor Roll with Distinction, and a member of California Scholar Federation and Hispanic Honors Society. She plans on majoring in Biology. In the area of pole vault, J...asmine broke the school record and ended her season as second best of all time at St. Paul. She was a three year CIF qualifier and two year Camino Real League Champion. She placed first for pole vault in the 2019 Ocean View Invitational and second in the Calvin Christian Invitational. Her lifetime best is 9’1. In her community, Jasmine participated in the March for Hunger for four years and organized fundraisers within her school to promote the cause. She regularly assisted homeless shelters in Los Angeles and beach clean-ups. She has also gone to Mexico to donate food, clean water and clothes to orphanages. Jasmine was the head of the social justice department of the Ambassador Program at her school and raised money at a local level for The Autism Speaks Foundation and Relay for Life. Jasmine is a great fit at Whittier and within our program. She will make an immediate impact on the team not only in pole vault, but also in the classroom and campus community. Jasmine and family, welcome to the Whittier College family! #watchoutforwhittier #writeyourstory

Whittier College Track & Field would like to welcome Talia Johnson from Atascadero High School! Talia’s parents are Kirk and Natalee and she has one brother named Roston. Talia ends her high school career with a 4.05 GPA, Honor Roll, Academic Letter 2018 & 2019, Atascadero High School Student Ambassador, Top 30 Student Award, and the scholarship recipient of the Rotary- Todd Everett and Atascadero Republican Women’s Award. Talia intends to major in Biology (pre-health profes...sional program) with aspirations to become a Physician’s Assistant. Athletically, Talia's list of achievements include: Lifter of the Month for November 2017 & February 2019, CIF Southern Section Preliminary Qualifier with 4x100 Relay 2016 & 2017, San Luis Obispo County 4x100 Relay Champions 2017, All-League 2017, Jumps co-captain 2018 track season, Senior co-captain sprints team 2019 track season, CIF Central Section Preliminary Qualifier with 4x100 Relay 2019, and CIF Central Section Masters Qualifier with 4x100 Relay. Her lifetime best for each event are: 4x100m 49.75, 100m 13.31, 200m 28.29 200m, 19.92 100m hurdles, 15’1 long jump, 30’3 triple jump. Off the track, she has been a camp counselor at AAUW’s Tech-Trek Science Camp for girls in 2017, server/volunteer at Hume Lake Christian Camp’s Country Fair weekends in 2018 & 2019, volunteer at the Atascadero All-Comers Track Meets, volunteer youth leader at Atascadero Bible Church’s Middle School Ministries in 2018-2019 school year. Member of Atascadero High School’s Friday Night Live Club for two years, club member and leader of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Club for four years, and a member of the Spanish Club for two years. Talia is a wonderful person from a great family. We are excited to be a part of her journey and to watch her write her story. She is going to make such a big impact not only on the track, but in so many other areas in the campus community. Talia and family, welcome to the Whittier College family! Go Poets! Talia Johnson

Whittier College Track & Field would like to welcome Jenna Parker from Durham High School! Jenna’s parents are Holly and Bryan. Jenna plans on majoring in Child Development with aspirations on becoming a teacher. She finished with a cumulative GPA of 3.25 and won History Student of the Year in 2018. On the track, Jenna was a captain her senior season and was honored as team MVP. She helped her team win sections both her junior and senior year. She leaves Durham as the school... record holder in the Long Jump, Triple Jump and the 4x100m relay. Her lifetime bests include: LJ 17’3.5, TJ 34’6 and 4x100m 51.65. At her school, Jenna was the ASB Vice President, Big Sis Lil’ Sis President, and was a member of the Outdoor Lovers club as well as Interactwhich is a community service club that focused on helping the victims of the fire during her senior year. Jenna has a very joyful, outgoing personality that is always up to the challenge of trying new things to help her team succeed. She has strong internal motivation and a great network of support by her family, friends and teammates that will help her become the best collegiate student-athlete she can be. Jenna and family, welcome to the Whittier College family! We are excited to help you write your story and leave your mark. Go Poets!

Whittier College Track & Field would like to welcome Mackenzie Reed from Mililani High School in Hawaii! Mackenzie’s parents are Coreen and Darryl and she has two sisters named Taylor and Madison. Mackenzie plans on majoring in Business Administration. She leaves Mililani with academic honors, CTE Honors and Summa Cum Laude with a GPA of 3.8. On the track, Mackenzie holds the school record in the 400m, 4x400m and 4x200m. She is a State Champion in the 4x400m in both 2017 and ...2018. She won the Most Outstanding girls varsity track award from 2017-2019 and won Outstanding Female Track Athlete at the 2019 Ruby Tuesday Invitational. Mackenzie placed second at states her senior year in the 100m and 200m, and placed fourth in the 400m and 4x400m. She led her team to win both Westerns and OIAs her senior season. Her lifetime bests for each event include: 400m 58.76, 200m 25.80 and 100m 12.39. At her school and in her community, Mackenzie has volunteered for Elementary School Track Meets, Middle School Meets, Road Clean-up with Ameron, Aloha Run with Leahi, Babysitting Coach’s Daughters, Mililani High School Craft Fair Set-up, Special Olympics, Stadium Clean-up, Hawaii Foodbank Canned Good Drive/Collection, Angel Tree Gift Distribution and UH Concession. Mackenzie plans on being a dual sport athlete at Whittier in soccer and track and field. She is a very talented athlete who is just scratching the surface on her true potential. With her strong academic achievements, athletic ability and community involvement, Mackenzie will make an immediate, positive impact in our program. Mackenzie and family, welcome to the Whittier College family! Shoot for the moon and land among the stars. Get ready for an amazing collegiate career alongside great teammates #writeyourstory Go Poets!