OUR PROGRAM
Natalie Hlusi
Jr | Brno, Czech Republic | Computer Science
1500m - 4:22 | 3000m - 9:26
All-WCC Cross Country
NCAA 1500m Regional Qualifier
Why USF
"I chose USF because I loved the team environment and the spirit of the city. I came to the U.S. with big running goals and big goals in the classroom. I appreciate the strong support I receive being able to pursue all of my goals in and out of the classroom."
Maya Vizina
Fr | Victoria, BC | Kinesiology
400m - 54 | 600m - 1:30 | 800m - 2:08
Top-5 All-time U20 600m for Canada
Why USF
"From my discussions with the coaches, meeting the team, and learning about the academic opportunities, I knew USF aligned with my overall goals both academically and athletically. I love the campus environment, the climate, and the global perspective from my teammates and peers"
Zach Elam
Jr | Corona, CA | Environmental Science
5000m - 14:14 | 10,000m - 29:25
What I love about USF
"I love USF because of the connections and support I have around me. I believe that in order to have success you must feel happy and confident in the people and environment you surround yourself with. Since coming to USF my team, coaches, and community have made me feel at home and have pushed me to be the best version of myself"
Ethan O’Shea
Gr | UK | Sports Management
800m - 1:52 |1500m - 3:47 | 8K XC - 23:53
What I love about USF
"I love the team culture. Being able to train everyday alongside you best friends is something most runners dream of growing up. It's a bonus that we are able to do it in the most beautiful city in the world!"
PRO DONS
COACHING STAFF
JORDAN CARPENTER
Head Coach - Cross County / Track and Field
Coach Jordan Carpenter took the helm of the USF program in the summer of 2024 after three impressive years leading the distance programs at Boston University. White at BU Carpenter worked with multiple NCAA All-Americans, including Foster Malleck (3:53 miler), Vera Sjoberg (4:28 miler), and Daisy Liljegren (33:15 10,000m runner).
During his NCAA Coaching career, Carpenter has the honor of being named the NCAA West Region Coach of the year four times and was named the 2019 NCAA Coach of the Year.
WHERE WE TRAIN
GOLDEN GATE PARK
Welcome to Golden Gate Park, one of the largest urban parks in the world! Spanning over 1000 acres, this park sits just one block off campus and is home to over 20 miles of trails and bike paths. One loop around this massive park is over 10 miles! The park is also home to numerous activities including: the Science Museum, the De Young Art Museum, the Japanese Tea Gardens, the SF botanical Gardens, the Bison Paddock (yes there are Bison in the park!), and more!
One of our favorite workout spots in the park is the Polo Field. The Polo Field is a massive 1200m long dirk track with a massive grass field in the center. The 1200m dirt loop is great for threshold work, while the grass infield is perfect for XC workouts. Check out the Flotrack "Workout Wednesday" video above which features NCAA Champ Charlotte Taylor and former USF Coach Helen as they complete a session at Polo!
SALQUIST PERFORMANCE CENTER
A state-of-the-art facility designed to improve the speed and explosive power of USF athletes, the Dons have a 2500 square-foot strength and conditioning facility to use to train.
SUCCESS SPEAKS FOR ITSELF
IN THE CLASSROOM
Our Campus
Welcome to the Hilltop
The main campus of the University of San Francisco, "the Hilltop" is located in the geographic center of the city. Our hilltop campus is divided between two adjacent plots: Lone Mountain and lower campus. Spread across 55-acres, separated by Turk Street in San Francisco’s Inner Richmond neighborhood, the hilltop campus is home to five schools and a vibrant community of students inspired to change the world from here.
From here, students have easy access to everything San Francisco has to offer, including 27 distinct neighborhoods, recreation in Golden Gate Park, internships in the Financial District, and music and museums south of Market Street.
Lone Mountain East
Lone Mountain East is home to 600 residents, primarily second year students with co-ed floors and same-gender units. Its two buildings connected by an aerial walkway create four separate interior courtyards, offering Dons the experience of independent city living alongside the convenience of being on campus.
OUR CITY
While very well known for its arts and culture, San Francisco is also home to championship sports teams and athletic traditions. SF has 3 major sports teams: The Giants, Warriors, and 49ers (named for the city’s birth year during the California gold rush) who have collectively won 20 world Championships, 7 of which have been within the last 15 years. The Bay to Breakers footrace, where racers and spectators come dressed in fun and outrageous costumes, is another one of the city’s largest yearly turn-out events for over 100 years.
San Francisco is truly an international city home to people and cultures from all over the world. With strong Latino roots, the Mission district is famous for its authentic Hispanic restaurants and beautifully poignant street murals. Fondly nicknamed ‘Little Italy,’ the North Beach neighborhood is known for its bustling Italian restaurants and shops. San Francisco’s Chinatown is the oldest Chinatown in North America with Taoist temples and tea rooms from the mid-1800s.
San Francisco is a hub for music, arts, and events. The Haight Ashbury neighborhood housed the Hippie movement of the 1960s along with several musicians of the era including the Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, and John Lennon. The city’s Golden Gate Park has since become a favorite venue for many concerts and shows as well as a permanent home to several museums and gardens.
San Francisco’s diverse landscape is not only home to people from all walks of life but also a wide variety of wildlife. It’s not abnormal to see sealions basking on the docks of Pier 39 or red-tailed hawks perched on telephone poles in residential areas. The California poppies’ bright orange petals provide a pop of color during the foggier months of the year.
STUDENT ATHLETE SUPPORT SERVICES
Credits:
Created with images by Frankie WO - "Beautiful trail in Presidio, San Francisco, CA" • Sergey Novikov - "University of San Francisco view over city" • Cla78 - "Beautiful view of iconic Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco at sunlight." • Frédéric Prochasson - "The Painted Ladies of San Francisco" • Michael Cola - "San Francisco - September 17, 2012: Cable Car in San Francisco, California" • Shambhala - "Panoramic view of local people enjoying the sunny summer weather at Mission Dolores Park on a beautiful day with clear blue sky with the skyline of San Francisco in the background, California, USA" • JFL Photography - "Golden Gate Bridge at sunset, San Francisco, California, USA"