PORTLAND, Ore. --- After finishing matching a school record by finishing seventh at the 2008 NCAA Men’s Cross Country Championships, head coach Rob Conner is riding the wave of momentum and adding to an already nationally-acclaimed 2009 recruiting class. Having locked up two of the top runners in the nation earlier this year in Trevor Dunbar and Joash Osoro, Conner released the complete 2009 recruiting class on Friday.

 

“I am proud to call this the greatest recruiting class in Pilot history,” Conner said. “This is probably the deepest group of incoming freshmen we have ever had and as a unit they average a 3.8 grade-point average.”

 

A total of 20 new harriers will join the Pilots for the fall of 2009, hailing from eight different states. Dunbar and Osoro were locked up during the winter signing period. Dunbar is widely recognized as the best running recruit to ever come out of Alaska and won the Nike Outdoor Nationals in June with a nation’s-best 8:49 for a full two-mile run. Osoro was a double state winner in the 3,200 (9:12) and 1,600 (4:16) in North Dakota. 

 

“To add seven all state runners to a class already featuring Dunbar and Osoro is really amazing,” Conner added. “I can’t wait to watch this group develop over the next couple of years.”

 

Portland tied its best finish in school history at the 2008 NCAA Cross Country Championship meet by finishing seventh overall. Graduating senior David Kinsella set a school record by placing fourth individually, but Conner and the Pilots will return All-American Alfred Kipchumba, All-West Region honoree Tommy Betterbed and sophomore Matt Frerker, who was Portland’s fourth finisher at the meet.

 

Below are personal bests from other members of the 2009 recruiting class:

 

Clif Campbell – Fort Collins HS (Colo.)

800 1:58

1600 4:25

3200 9:29

9th Colorado 5A Cross Country Championships

 

Aiden Irish – Redmond HS (Wash.)

3200- 9:27

 1600-4:25

9th Washington 3A Cross Country Championships

 

Charlie McDonald – Seattle Prep (Wash.)

3200 9:21

1600 4:22

8th Washington 3A Cross Country Championships

 

Trey Parry – Bothell HS (Wash.)

400 51.1
800 1:53.5
1600 4:16.5
3200 9:29

 

Brendan Ralph – Seattle Prep (Wash.)

1600  4:17

3200 9:30

 

Jordan Ringe – Hermiston HS (Ore.)

2nd Oregon 5A Cross Country Championships

1500 4:00

3000 8:44

800 2:01

 

Cody Wells – Snowflake HS (Ariz.)

400     48.9

800    1:58.3   

1600   4.23.85  

3200   9:47.56

 

David Garcia – Nathan Hale HS (Wash.)

3200 9:39

1600 4:25

800 2:00.5 

 

Other notable runners among the 2009 class: Matt Abely (Bellermine HS/Calif.), David Carruth (Henley HS/Ore.), Gray Hubel (Wilsonville HS/Ore.), Jonathan Parsons (Hockinson HS/Wash.), Michael Patterson (Kelso HS/Wash.), Daniel Silvey (Wilsonville HS/Ore.), Corey Trujillo (Douglas HS/Nev.), Austin Veiga 
(Valencia HS/Calif.), David Williams (Pepperdine University/Calif.) and Mitch Wilson (Wilsonville HS/Ore.).