SAN DIEGO - Point Loma head track & field and cross country coach Jerry Arvin announced the addition of 21 student-athletes that will join the Sea Lions during the 2016-17 academic year. Six student-athletes will be competing in both cross country and track & field, while the others will compete just in the spring.
 
Here is a look at each member of the 2016-17 cross country and track & field recruiting class:
 
Cross Country/Track & Field
Hannah Benoit Bucher, So., Distance, Clovis, Calif. (Buchanan HS/Arizona State)
Awards & accomplishments: All-state honoree in track in 2014. Also earned multiple all-conference and all-valley honors in both cross country and track. She is a member of the National Honors Society and the CSF. She was selected as Buchanan High School's Athlete of the Year.  Career bests: 800m - 2:08.37; 1500m - 4:26.0; 3200m - 10:45.67.
Coach Arvin quote: "Hannah will bolster our cross country team and should run near the top. She also brings great marks in the 800m and 1500m so we are excited to see her on the track as well."
 
Hannah Dinsdale, Fr., Distance, San Jose, Calif. (Willow Glen HS)
Awards & accomplishments: Qualified for the finals of the Central Coast Section (CIF) in cross country as an individual all four seasons at Willow Glen High School. Also helped lead WGHS to a cross country title as a sophomore. Was a scholar-athlete all four seasons and team captain as a junior and senior.
Coach Arvin quote: "Hannah is going to help add to the team's depth in both cross country and track & field."
 
Mackenzie Harder, Fr., Distance, Tempe, Ariz. (Corona del Sol HS)
Awards & accomplishments: Earned Corona del Sol High School's Most Improved award in track in 2015. Was honored with the Coach's Award in 2014 and was a scholar-athlete all four years. Career bests: 800m - 2:23.0; 5k - 19:32.0.
Coach Arvin quote: "Going to help us in both cross country and track. Here strength is the 800m."
 
Hannah Messina, Fr., Distance, Huntington Beach, Calif. (Ocean View HS)
Awards & accomplishments: Messina was an all-league runner for OVHS in 2015. She was the captain of the cross country team and was elected to their Hall of Fame. She also competed in the CIF Prelims in Riverside, Calif., where she finished 13th out of 163 runners. Career bests: 800m - 2:26.0; 1600m - 5:38.0; 3200m - 12:32.0.
Coach Arvin quote: "Another student-athlete that will help us in both cross country and track right away."
 
Stephanie Ruiz, Fr., Distance, Garden Grove, Calif. (Segerstrom HS)
Awards & accomplishments: Helped lead SHS to a Golden West League Championship in back-to-back seasons (2013 & 2014). Also picked up the Coaches' Award for Cross Country and Track & Field as a junior.
Coach Arvin quote: "Stephanie is going provide depth for both the cross country and track teams."
 
Jordan Sienkiewicz, Fr., Distance, Lincoln, Calif. (Whitney HS)
Awards & accomplishments: Sienkiewicz was a qualifier for the state cross country meet all four seasons at Whitney High School while collecting medals in the 1600m and 3200m. Earned All-America honors at the Junior Olympics in Cross Country. Was also named WHS Female Athlete of the Year and was a four-year member of the honor roll.
Coach Arvin quote: "She is going to be another good addition to the distance program. She should help push that top group to be even better than we were last year."
 
Track & Field
Isabel Ashley, Fr., Pole Vault, Pleasanton, Calif. (Amador Valley HS)
Awards & accomplishments: Left AVHS ranked in the top 10 on three of the school's all-time top 10 lists. Qualified for the North Coast Section (CIF) in both 2014 and 2015 in the 4x100m relay. Career bests: pole vault - 9-0 (2.74m).
Coach Arvin quote: "We look forward to seeing what she will do in the pole vault this year."
 
Avery Avina, Fr., San Ramon, Calif. (Carondelet HS)
Awards & accomplishments: Four year letterwinner in track & field for Carondelet High School. Competed in the 300m hurdles and the relays. Career bests: 300m hurdles - 44.7.
Coach Arvin quote: "She was one of the exceptional components of the relay teams. We are looking forward to her helping us in the hurdles and relays."
 
Rikki Bergstrom, Fr., Jumps, Fargo, ND (Oak Grove Lutheran HS)
Awards & accomplishments: North Dakota's state champion in the long jump as a senior. Placed second in the meet at state as a sophomore and is a member of the National Honors Society.
Coach Arvin quote: "Rikki is a project that we believe will help us a lot in the future."
 
Presley Dubois, Fr., Hurdles, San Diego (Steele Canyon HS)
Awards & accomplishments: Team captain at Steele Canyon High School. Ran both hurdle races and competed in the high jump. Career bests: 100m hurdles - 16.36; 300m hurdles - 54.0.
Coach Arvin quote: "Presley will run both hurdle races for us and should make us more competitive in both events."
 
Hailey Haakensen, Fr., Jumps, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho (Coeur d'Alene HS)
Awards & accomplishments: Set the school record in the triple jump with a mark of 36-0 (10.97m). Was also named the MVP of the track & field team.
Coach Arvin quote: "She has good marks in all three jumps and that is something we needed last year.  She is going to be a good addition to our jump group, and will help this program a lot in the future."
 
Katy Johnson, Fr., Hurdles, Livermore, Calif. (Granada HS)
Awards & accomplishments: Was a three year letterwinner in track & field for Granada High School. Was the captain of the hurdles and pole vault groups.
Coach Arvin quote: "We are anxious to get her in and added to our hurdles group."
 
Megan McFadden, Fr., Jumps, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. (St. Lucy Priory HS)
Awards & accomplishments: Earned fifth place in the CIF D3 triple jump as a junior. She was a two-time all-league selection as well as a four-year member of the honor roll. McFadden also collected California Scholarship Federation Lifetime Membership award and an Outstanding Achievement in Mathematics Award.
Coach Arvin quote: "Megan has great potential in the long and triple jump that she showed last year. She will help us in both events as she continues to develop.
 
Niki Rathbun, Fr., Hurdles, Truckee, Calif. (Truckee HS)
Awards & accomplishments: She earned four letters in track & field for Truckee High School. Competed in the sprints and hurdles for the Wolverines. Earned the team's Most Improved Award and was a scholar-athlete.
Coach Arvin quote: "She gives us another hurdler to help with our depth in an area we were lacking people last season."
 
Starr Rodenhurst, Fr., Javelin, Silverdale, Wash. (Central Kitsap HS)
 Awards & accomplishments: Competed in the javelin, long jump and triple jump for two seasons for SKHS. Set a personal record in the javelin to defeat rival Olympic High School in a dual meet. Career bests: Javelin - 133-0 (40.53m).
Coach Arvin quote: "She will be a big benefit for us in the javelin and will give us someone that is going to compete at a high level."
 
Teresa Roessler, Fr., Jumps, Phoenix (Xavier Prep)
Awards & accomplishments: Helped lead Xavier to a third place finish in the 800m relay at the state championships. Also took fifth in the long jump. Career bests: 400m - 62.28; 800m - 2:32.5; 300m hurdles - 47.51.
Coach Arvin quote: "She may trend towards the heptathlon. At the least she will give us another jumper."
 
Noelle Sernett, Fr., Pole Vault, Kennewick, Wash. (Kamiakin HS)
Awards & accomplishments: Member of the track & field team, specializing in the pole vault for the Braves.
"Gives us depth in the vault after we lost four from last year's team."
 
Samantha Silsbee, Fr., Sprints, Chula Vista, Calif. (Bonita Vista HS)
Awards & accomplishments: Represented BVHS in the CIF qualifier all four seasons and was a state qualifier in 2013. Team captain in track and a four-year member of the honor roll team. Career bests: 100m - 12.47; 200m - 26.81.
Coach Arvin quote: "Samantha will be able to run the relays and the sprints which are both definitely areas of need for us."
 
Annika Smith, Fr., Sprints, Austin, Texas (Vandegrift HS)
Awards & accomplishments: Earned three varsity letters in track & field for Vandegrift High School. Graduated early from high school. Currently a contracted cadet in the Army ROTC and was the only female member of the ROTC Ranger Challenge team in 2015-16. She was also named the Most Motivated Cadet that same year.
Coach Arvin quote: "After not competing last year she will be joining PLNU in the sprints."
 
Gianna Tesone, Fr., Sprints, Castle Rock, Colo. (Valor Christian HS)
Awards & accomplishments: Member of the Colorado state champion relay teams in both the 4x100m and the 4x200m. Also earned the league champion as an individual in the 400m and she collected Cum Laude honors.
Coach Arvin quote: "She will help us in both relays, give us depth in the sprints and is just a good bona fide student-athlete."
 
Amanda Timmons, Fr., Throws, Scottsdale, Ariz. (Scottsdale Prep)
Awards & accomplishments: Competed in both the discus and the shot put throws for Scottsdale Prep. Was also an excellent student, earning Summa Cum Laude, the Excellencia Award, the Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition and others.
Coach Arvin quote: "We had no throwers last year so we desperately needed someone to fill those spots. We are hoping we can work with her and she can continue to improve her marks."
 
Coach Arvin on the 2016-17 recruiting class
"First off we are very lucky for the women that chose Point Loma as a good spot to be. We were able to fill voids in areas that we needed help which was the most important thing."
 
"Twenty-one new women is a lot of newcomers and it about double the size of the class we would normally bring in. Last year we were just missing people in some events, but with (this recruiting class) we are beginning to fill in some of those holes."
 
"With these additions and our returners, our sprints and relays look much better which should help us a lot at the conference meet. Barring injury, we should be much better this year."
 
"We have put ourselves in a position to score in many more of the events. We have bona fide freshmen coming in that combined with our returning sophomore and juniors, and the following recruiting class coming up it may give us what we need to propel us back to competing for the PacWest Championship. Last year we did well, but we couldn't quite get to where we needed; I expect that this season."
 
The season begins soon
The PLNU women's cross country team returns to campus for its first practice on Monday, Aug. 15. The season will open on Sept. 10 at the Biola Invitational.