SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Senior Isabella Fauria has signed with the University of New Mexico and will run for the Lobo's cross country and track and field programs next year.
"I chose UNM because it is fairly close to home and when I visited the campus, I really liked it," said Fauria, who was a CIF state finalist in the 800 meters last year. "I have raced a few times in Albuquerque. Everything about the visit just felt right, the city, school, the coaches and team."
Fauria will run for two-time USTFCCCA National Women's Coach of the Year Joe Franklin. He coached the most recent NCAA champion and led the Lobos to 10 consecutive Top-10 NCAA finishes. The program had its most successful track and field season in 2019 with a runner-up finish at the NCAA Championships.
"It is a top program and they have the advantage of training at altitude," said Fauria. "I am excited to get better training at altitude."
Fauria has had a decorated career as a Troubadour. She has helped the cross country team to four straight Delta League and Section titles. She was the 2019 Sac-Joaquin Section champion, the third individual in school history to accomplish the feat, and ran at three CIF State Cross Country Championships. She finished 10th overall as a freshman and a junior.
"I've had the great pleasure of coaching Izzy Fauria for the last four years," said Cross Country and Track and Field coach Aaron Rios. "Along with her phenomenal athletic abilities, Izzy brought equally great leadership and dedication to our running programs. Izzy's perseverance, love for her team, and commitment to excellence have helped her achieve outstanding marks in the classroom and her running. Izzy is also supported by a great family who has been so generous and loving over the seasons. All of this has culminated in helping Izzy achieve her goal of running at the next level. We're proud of Izzy and her accomplishment of pursuing higher education and athletics at the University of New Mexico."
On the track, she qualified for the CIF State meet in the 800 meters as a junior and finished fourth overall (2:10.49) after winning Section and Masters titles in both the 1600 and 800 meters last season. She earned All-State honors for her performance.
She ranks among the school top 10 in the 800 meters (2nd), 1600 meters (4th, 5:02.09) and 400 meters (7th, 58.57) while running on two school-record relays last spring at the Arcadia Invitational.
"The race that sticks out the most is the 4x1600 last year at Arcadia," said Fauria of her favorite memory. "It was a really big meet and we were under dogs in the race. We all came together and ended up winning with the No. 1 time in the nation. It was a really cool feeling."
Fauria, who ran the anchor leg, led the team to the top time in the nation in the 4x1600m relay last year. She also anchored the 2nd place finish on the Distance Medley Relay that was third overall in the state and 13th nationally in 2019.
Fauria, who first ran in Albuquerque in the fourth grade at a Junior Olympic event, is undecided on her major course of study. She is also a Christian Service Leader (CSL) when not on the track, helping to plan the St. Francis Day celebration last fall.
While her senior season has been sidetracked, she was hoping for another chance to take the track in her SF uniform but now will be focus on her UNM in the fall.
