Samantha Garcia

Class: Freshman Hometown: San Jose, CA High School: Evergreen Valley HS

Briefly... Samantha Garcia is in her first season with LMU Cross Country & Track...

High School... graduated from Evergreen Valley High School as Magna Cum Laude and a member of the National Honors Society... coached by Jim Sena and Jonathan Hubbs... lettered four years in varsity cross-country and track for four years... team Most Valuable Runner in cross-country all four years and Most Valuable Athlete in track for three years... team captain in cross-country for three years... team won BVAL Championship in 2008 and 2009... MHAL Champion in 2009, 2010... placed top-ten in BVAL and CCS championships in 2008, 2009 and 2010... first-team All-CCS in 2010... qualified for state championship meet in 2008, 2009, 2010... named to Footlocker Frosh-Soph Western Regional First Team in 2009... holds third-best time in history at Montgomery Hill Course (2.75 miles in 17:22)... completed four San Jose Rock 'n Roll Half Marathons, winning her division every year... MHAL 3200-meter champion (2010), BVAL 3200-meter champion (2009, 2010), MHAL 1600-meter champion (2011)... CCS finalist all four years... Arcadia Invitational qualifier in 2010... holds Evergreen Valley HS record in 800m, 1500m, 1600m, mile, 3000m, 3200m, and the two-mile... played soccer for two years (freshman and senior)... named team best offensive player (2011-12)... recorded one goal and one assist during freshman year, three goals and three assists in nine games during senior year... named EVHS Female Athlete of the Year all four years while in HS (2009-12)... ran personal-bests of 2:23.1 in the 800m, 4:57.7 in 1500m, 5:12.5 in 1600m, 5:25.56 in the mile, 10:37.43 in 3000m, 11:14.32 in 3200m, 12:11.29 in two-mile, 18:46 in the three-mile, 19:41 in the 5000m... ran against teammate Kelly Parsons in high school.. ran in the same league as teammate Weston Strum (BVAL)... covered as a high school student-athlete by the Evergreen Valley Times and the San Jose Mercury-Times...

Personal... Samantha Garcia was born October 22, 1994 in San Jose, CA to parents Grace Soto and Luis Garcia... volunteered with San Jose Family Supportive Housing, Silicon Valley Rebuilding, St. Francis of Assisi church, Vintage Senior Home, Hersey's Citywide Youth Track Meet, Creekside Cabana Club, and as a junior high and elementary school tutor... considered the University of the Pacific and San Francisco State before choosing LMU... chose LMU because it "will allow me to receive a quality education in a safe and secure environment," allow her to remain connected with her religion, continue her running career while studying a degree that will enable her to reach her goal of becoming a doctor, and the "pristine and jaw dropping gorgeous" campus... a biochemistry major.