SPOKANE, Wash. – Gonzaga women's track and field and cross country head coach Jake Stewart announced the signing of Kristen Garcia Wednesday.
 
Kristen Garcia
Sedro Wooley, Wash.| University of Wisconsin | Sedro Wooley High School
 
Garcia transfers to Gonzaga after running at the University of Wisconsin. She will be a redshirt sophomore in cross country and track for the Zags in 2020-21. The Sedro Wooley High School returns to the Northwest to finish her collegiate career.
 
Garcia brings experience to the GU roster. She ran a 6K personal best at the 2018 NCAA Championships (22:23.7). Her 5K personal best is 17:42. She also ran in the NCAA Great Lakes Regional and Big Ten Championships for the Badgers. On the track, Garcia boasts personal records of 4:59.09 in the 1,600 meters and 10:55.26 over 3,200 meters.
 
While at Sedro Wooley, Garcia was the WIAA 2A State 1600 runner-up and 3200 state champion, and the 2A State Cross Country champion during her senior year. She qualified for Foot Locker Nationals twice. Garcia ran at the 2017 USA Junior Cross Country Championships and went on to represent the U.S. at the 2017 IAAF World Junior Cross Country Championships in Uganda. She placed 11th in the two-mile at the 2017 New Balance Nationals and was eighth in the 5,000 meters at the 2015 USATF Junior National Outdoor Track and Field Championships despite being just a high school freshman. She was the 2A State Cross Country runner-up as a freshman as well.
 
"It's exciting to have Kristen come back to the Northwest and have her joining our program at Gonzaga," Stewart said. "On her visit in February she fit right into the group. From her time at Sedro Wooley High School to her last couple years at the University of Wisconsin, Kristen brings a lot of experience to our program, on both a regional and national level. She's excited about the opportunity and influence she can have on our team."