July 15, 2010

DAVIS, Calif. -- Former UC Davis standout Kim Conley has joined the cross country and track and field coaching staffs as an assistant coach after serving as a volunteer assistant for the 2009 season, it was announced by head cross country coach Drew Wartenburg.

"Kim blends the competitive edge of an emerging elite athlete with a developing coach's vision of the broad issues that impact Aggie cross country and track and field on both the individual and program level," said Wartenburg. "Kim proved to be a great leader and advisor last season, especially with our women's team, and I'm looking forward to the opportunity to work together with her as we continue to grow the distance programs here at UC Davis."

Last season, Conley lent her expertise as a distance runner to help the women's side achieve new milestones. Under her shared guidance, Sarah Sumpter won UC Davis cross country's first Big West Conference individual championship and Women's Athlete of the Year award while seven Aggies runners participated at the NCAA West Regional.

Prior to her selection to the Aggie staff, Conley completed a four-year cross country and track and field career at UC Davis that still stands amongst the best in Aggie history.

In 2008, Conley and teammate Kaitlin Gregg made program history by becoming the first Aggies to qualify for the NCAA Division I Championship. She earned All-West Region with her 12th-place showing at the regional, earning her the berth at the national meet.

During the fall seasons, Conley earned all-conference or equivalent honors three times. She was the Division I Independent champion as a freshman in 2004, then added her second All-Div. I Independent honor by placing seventh the following year. In 2008, Conley captured All-Big West Conference accolades with a seventh-place showing.

Conley's time of 16:17.51 set at the 2008 NCAA Track and Field West Regional in the 5,000 meters stands as a school record and her mark of 4:22.17 in the 1,500 meters currently ranks her No. 2 on UC Davis' all-time ledger. Additionally she is ninth in the outdoor 800 (2:10.73) and the outdoor 3,000 (9:45.85) and owns the indoor 3,000 record with a time of 9:19.16.

The Santa Rosa, Calif. native has continued her impressive running career as a member of the Asics Aggies Running Club. Her achievements with the club are highlighted by a 14th-place finish in the 10,000 meter event at the 2010 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships and she posted career bests of 15:51.57 for the 5k and 33:22.28 in the 10k during the 2010 outdoor season.

Conley also finished 18th overall at the 2010 USA Winter Cross Country Championships and was runner up at the 2009 USA Club Cross Country Championships.

Prior to enrolling at UC Davis, Conley was a three-time CIF state cross country championship qualifier for Montgomery High School in Santa Rosa. She also finished second and third as a senior and junior, respectively, in the North Coast Section mile as a track athlete.

The UC Davis cross country team opens the 2010 season by hosting the Aggie Open Sept. 4.