June 2, 2016
SAN JOSE, Calif. – Juan Gutierrez, who ran a personal best 4:19.64 in the 1,600m, from San Benito High School in Hollister, Calif. plans to enroll this fall and join the San José State men's cross country team beginning in the 2016-17 season. Spartans cross country coach Brad Wick made the announcement on Wednesday.
"I am excited to have Juan join the program this fall. He has a great attitude and work ethic and I feel he has a great upside as a Division I runner,"said Wick.
During the 2015 cross country season, Gutierrez won the two-mile San Benito High School Cross Country Invitational (10:05.83) and the 4,000m Hughson Supercross Invitational (13:30.84). He also placed second in the three mile Monterey Bay League (MBL) Gabilan – Center meet (16:40) and the 5,000m MBL Gabilan Center meet (16:10).
Gutierrez finished in the top-eight in five other meets including the three mile MBL Championships with a time of 17:02 where he finished sixth.
On the track, Gutierrez ran a personal best 9:36.39 in the 3,200m at the Los Gatos Top 8 Invitational in April.
At the Central Coast Section (CCS) semi-final meet, he ran the 1,600m and 3,200m races with times of 4:33.68 and 9:48.85 to finish 17th and 14th, respectively.