PORTLAND, Ore. --- Evert Silva of Fresno, Calif., who ranks 18^th among the nation's top high school runners, has signed his national letter of intent to join the Pilots cross country and track and field teams this fall. Silva ran at the Mt. Sac Relays this past weekend, representing Fresno High School, and broke the meet record in the 3200m with a time of 8:54.74. The record was previously held by current Pilot Danny Martinez.
 
"We believe Evert is very talented and has an extremely high upside in terms of development," said assistant coach Kevin Williams. "He is the most improved runner in the nation going from 119^th at state as a junior, to now being ranked 18^th nationally.  His profile reminds us a lot of Woody Kincaid who had a very similar rise his senior year of high school.  The sky is the limit for Evert"
 
Silva holds a personal record of 8:53 in the 3200m which he set earlier this season at the Arcadia Invitational and ran a pr of 4:13 in the 1600m at the Meet of Champions at Azuza Pacific University. He has also had impressive showings in the 2016 cross country season, placing 31^st at the Nike Cross Nationals and setting another pr in the 5k at the Stanford Invitational.
 
"Kevin did a great job getting to know Evert and his family early in the year," said head coach Rob Conner. "We think Evert is a perfect fit for UP and we are excited to watch him develop as a person, as a student, and as a runner."