NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans distance program added two key members from the state of Florida's 2020 state championship-winning cross country team as the Privateers announced the addition of Adrian Bichara and Alvaro Canarte, per distance coach
Brock Moreaux on Thursday.
Bichara and Canarte both competed at Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, Fla. and won the Florida 4A 2020 cross country state championships to go with multiple individual accolades.
"I think adding Adrian and Alvaro to our team is another big stepping stone for our program," Moreaux said. "They won a state championship in cross country and were both key parts of their state championship 4x800-meter relay team. They understand what it takes to be really good and will bring that same energy with them to UNO."
Bichara took fourth in the 800 at the Florida State Championships and was part of the 4x800-meter relay squad that won the state title during his time with the track program. He will enter New Orleans with personal bests of 49.50 in the 400 and 1:54.03 in the 800 to go with a mark of 16:12.50 over the 5K distance in cross.
"I am really excited about adding Adrian to the squad," Moreaux said. "Our mid-distance group had a really successful 2021 track season and Adrian is going to be a key part of keeping that rolling into the new year. He has great versatility; showing he can run fast on the 4x400 and also really strong on the cross course."
Canarte was also a member of the state title-winning 4x800-meter relay team and was a Florida State Finalist in the 1600-meters. He will come to UNO with personal records of 4:23 in the 1600 and 9:38 in the 3200 to go with a 16:13.70 over 5K in cross.
"Alvaro will be a very fun addition to the program," Moreaux said. "Alvaro was mostly a baseball player in high school and just recently decided to focus on his running career and it has shown immediate results. I think he is just starting to tap into that potential, so once he gets some quality training in with our group, he will become a big factor in the Southland."
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