Four outstanding, female distance and middle distance runners have joined the Boston Athletic Association, the organization has announced. Elaina Balouris, Juliet Bottorff, and Emily Lipari completed their collegiate eligibility in June, and they will reside and train in Boston, representing the B.A.A. These athletes will join Katie Matthews, another recent graduate who has been training and racing with the B.A.A. since the beginning of this year when she completed her collegiate eligibility. All four women are part of the B.A.A.’s new high performance team and will be coached by the B.A.A.’s Terrence Mahon.

“The objective of the B.A.A.’s high performance group of athletes is to support American runners on their way towards making international teams and to compete at the Olympic and world championship level,” said Mahon. “Each of these talented women is capable of transitioning from a decorated U.S. collegiate career to a successful professional career, and we look forward to providing them with a complete infrastructure with which to meet this goal.”

Adidas, the long-time sponsor of the Boston Athletic Association and B.A.A. events – including the Boston Marathon^®, provides essential financial support and equipment for the B.A.A.’s high performance initiative.

The athletes announced will begin representing the B.A.A. immediately at races. 

Newly-joined B.A.A. athletes (in alphabetical order) 

Elania Balouris

College: William and Mary

Hometown: Allison Park, Penn.

Recent highlight: Fifth place at the 2014 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship at 10,000 meters.

Juliet Bottorff

College: Duke University

Hometown: Newark, Delaware

Highlights: 2011 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Champion (10,000 meters); third place at 10,000 meters and 5^th place at 5,000 meters at the 2014 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships; fourth place at the 2014 USA Track & Field Outdoor Championship (10,000 meters).

Emily Lipari

College: Villanova University

Hometown: Greenvale, New York

Recent highlights: 2014 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Champion (mile); fourth place at the 2014 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship (1500 meters).

Katie Matthews

College: Boston University

Hometown: Rocky Hill, Conn.

Highlights: Fifth place at the 2013 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship at 10,000 meters; fifth place at the 2013 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championship at 5,000 meters.