Building The Nest: Strong Future In Store for CUITFXC Team

IRVINE, Calif. - The future of the CUI track and field program looks extremely bright with the incoming freshman class that will be joining the crew in the fall of the 2021 school year. With recruits from New Zealand to Texas, and even close to home right here in Irvine, CUI’s track and field program continues to broaden its reach across the nation and world. 

“Building the Nest” in this way is not only to further the program’s success, it’s also to further the Kingdom of God through service, humility, and excellence as athletes.

A few student-athletes that are newly joining the CUITFXC family deserve honorable mentions. One is Gabriella Hiraldo from Three Rivers, Texas. She is an exceptional commit for the team and the school and the coaching staff is excited to have her as part of the incoming group of Eagles.  

We look forward to seeing Hiraldo succeed in sunny Southern California once she’s competing for the Eagles!

A few other commits for the track and field program that really stand out are a few male sprinters. Amaan Gill from Arlington, Texas, recently committed to the team. Assistant coach DeAndra’e Woods mentioned that his positive attitude and disciplined behavior make him very excited to coach Gill in the 2021-2022 school year. Gill just recently started jumping the triple jump and already achieved a massive personal record with a jump of 45 feet. He also runs 39 seconds in the 300 hurdles, a great feat for a high school senior. 

Another multi-talented athlete is found in Evan Graves from Edmonds, Wash. He does both hurdle events, the 110 high hurdles and the 300 hurdles, and Coach Woods is looking forward to adding more depth to the men’s hurdle races next year. 

Madison Templeman, a distance runner from a local high school, El Toro, is coming to the CUITFXC team with many accolades under her belt. Her team recently placed first at the South Coast League Finals in the cross country season, Templeman playing a big role in securing her team at that top spot. She ran a personal record in the 3 mile with a time of 18:35, which solidified her spot as a future Eagle top contender, as well. 

Another distance athlete the coaches are excited to join the Eagles team is Colin Bervig, from Colorado Springs, Colo. He ran many personal records in his senior season and qualified for the State meet in the 4x800 m and the 800 meter race. 

Coach Matthew Jonathan Olufemi Seawright, who coaches the throwers, expressed extreme delight in the chance to coach Sydney Cassens in the coming 2021-2022 school year. 

Cassens went to a Lutheran high school and will be a fantastic fit for the CUITFXC Eagle team. CUI is also a school that will be a great fit for her and a place where she can learn to grow in her faith. 

Soon, these future Eagles will get a chance to serve the school and the team and learn what it is to be a part of the track and field/cross country family. The whole 2025 committed class of future Eagles is one of grit and determination, having experienced many challenges in their high school years, and the coaching staff and school excitedly await a time where all that hard work can pay off in the collegiate experience. 

For a look at all the incoming CUI Eagles to the track and field/cross country teams, and where they all come from, be sure to check out the program's Instagram account at @cuitfxc 

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