12-Time All American Newest Addition to the B.A.A.’s Elite Athlete Group

Press Release

BOSTON, Mass. - The Boston Athletic Association is pleased to announce that former NCAA 10,000 meter champion Emma Bates has joined the B.A.A. High Performance Team, coached by Terrence Mahon. Bates, who graduated from Boise State University this spring, brings great experience to the B.A.A., which is sponsored by adidas.

"I am overjoyed to be given the opportunity to run for the B.A.A. Knowing the strong history behind the Boston Athletic Association and the people involved made the decision easy,” said Bates. “I am looking forward to making the B.A.A. and the rest of Boston proud to support me leading into the Olympic year of 2016, and beyond."

Originally from Elk River, Minnesota, Bates earned twelve All American honors while racing for the Boise State Broncos. In 2014, she won the NCAA National Outdoor Track & Field Championships title for 10,000 meters, clocking a time of 32:32.35. Her win was the first national track and field title in Boise State school history.

"We are very happy to welcome Emma to the B.A.A.," said Mahon, who joined the B.A.A. in 2013 in preparation for the B.A.A. High Performance group’s launch. "Emma is one of the top athletes coming out of the NCAA ranks, and she has excelled in both track and cross country. We are excited to develop her professional career here in Boston as part of the B.A.A. team."

This year, Bates capped off her collegiate career with a pair of top ten finishes at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, placing eighth in the 5,000 meters and tenth in the 10,000 meters. Bates finished on the podium in her final NCAA Cross Country race, taking third overall in last year’s championships.

While still in college, Bates earned valuable experience representing Team USA internationally. In January, she sported the USA vest at the Great Edinburgh Cross Country meet in Scotland, finishing sixth against a field of top runners from around the world.

At the USA National Track and Field Championships in Oregon last month, Bates was 11th place in the 10,000 meters.

With the B.A.A. High Performance team, Bates joins a strong group of athletes specializing in distances ranging from 800 meters through the half marathon. Included on the team are three-time Olympian Jen Rhines, Katie Matthews, Elaina Balouris, Juliet Bottorff, Sarah Pagano, Emily Lipari, and Cydney Ross. 

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, with the goal of competing at an Olympic and World Championships level. 

"As a team, we eagerly look forward to Emma's transition from collegiate to professional runner as part of the B.A.A.’s High Performance team," said Mahon.

Bates will compete alongside her teammates wearing the B.A.A.'s traditional yellow adidas uniform, complete with the iconic unicorn logo.

To learn more about Emma Bates, you can follow her on Twitter, @EmmaJBates, and on Instagram, @EmmaJanelBates.

For more information on the B.A.A.'s High Performance team, please visit www.TeamBAA.org. The newly launched website features biographical information on all of the B.A.A. High Performance athletes, as well as race reports and news on the club, its racing team, club members, coaching staff and programs.