Jim Sorensen

Coach Sorensen begins his third season as the Assistant Coach for the Men’s and Women’s Cross Country team and is currently a physical education teacher and coach at Bancroft Middle School in the East Bay.  Previously, Sorensen has also enjoyed short stints of coaching at Canyon-Anaheim High School, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Arizona.

In the mid 1980's, Sorensen attended Villa Park HS in Southern California, where he won the 1985 Orange County Cross Country Championships and placed 6th at the 1986 State Finals. He set a school record at the meet, running a 1:52.38. After high school, Sorensen ran for Santa Ana College and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. While at Santa Ana, Sorensen set the schools 5,000 meter record, running a 14:50.88, and dropped his 800meter time down to 1:50.37. After transferring to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Sorensen won the NCAA II 1500m Championships and was a five time All-American.

After college he became the 190th US sub-4 miler at San Francisco’s Kezar Stadium. Three years later, he placed second at the US Olympic Trials 1500m in Atlanta. He was ranked 9th and 4th at the distance by Track and Field News in 1995 and 1996 and was a 6-time USATF Championships qualifier. Just last year, Coach Sorensen became a masters runner (40yrs+) and set world records in the 800m (1:50.34) and 1500m (3:44.06) and an American Record in the mile (4:04.98). His overall best include a 1:47.24, 3:38.65, 3:59.16, and 14:10.17 in the 800m, 1500m, mile, and 5,000m. Last year Sorensen won the local Pacific Association cross country grand prix for Masters runners.