Dominican University (CA) Men's Cross Country

DiPerna joined Dominican for the 2012 season and boasts a wealth of coaching and running experience. At the helm of the Penguins, she has grown the program to new heights. Her women's team was named an USTFCCCA All-Academic Team in 2015 while the men's team saw its highest finish in the PacWest Championships in 2013. That team featured Justin Valdez, who was a named to Capital One Academic All-District Men's Track & Field/Cross Country NCAA Division II Team for District 8 (West Region), was a 2013 NCAA Division II All-Academic Cross Country honoree by USTFCCCA, and was named PacWest Scholar-Athlete of the Year for second year in a row. Valdez is currently sponsored by Skechers and is running for the United States Navy. She served as San Francisco State's head women's head cross country and track coach and men's distance coach from 2001-03, where the Gators broke 22 school records and boasted CCAA Individual Champions, the top womens cross country finish in CCAA history, and an NCAA Championships appearance in track. There, DiPerna coached Chikara Omine, who went on to represent the United State in Ultra-Running. From 1998-2001, DiPerna was a member of the Syracuse coaching staff. There, DiPerna coached Melanie Scherenzel, who competed in the NCAA Championships and Canadian Olympic Trials Qualifier, both in the 800m. DiPerna spent 1996-98 at El Cerrito High School as the girls head track coach. DiPerna was a graduate assistant track coach at Humbold State from 1993-94, where the men's team competed for an NCAA Championship. From 1999-2003, she served on the USATF Womens Steeplechase Development Committee. DiPerna was herself a two-time Olympic Trials competitor in the 2000 and 3000-meter steeplechase. In 1991, after graduating from Penn State, she was the United States national champion in the 2000m steeplechase and the US record holder in the event which traditionally features four jumping barriers and  a water jump per track lap. Once the third ranked steeplechase runner in the world, DiPerna has been an adapted physical education teacher in the San Francisco United School District since 2003. A native of Princeton, N.J., DiPerna received her Bachelor of Science degree in Health Education with a minor in Exercise Science at Penn State in 1990, then focused exclusively on competing in USA Track And Field. While serving as a volunteer assist coach at Penn State and assistant cross country coach at College of New Jersey, DiPerna enjoyed her best success in the steeplechase, winning a national title and setting a national record in the event. In 1994, she was the recipient of the USATFs Dr. Nell Jackson Award named in honor of the track and field pioneer. DiPerna competed in the USATF Nationals steeplechase in 1994, 1995, and 1999 when she pursued her masters degree in Kinesiology at Humboldt State. On November 14, 2015, DiPerna was named to the Princeton High School Athletic Hall of Fame. She is still the record holder for the 400m. She was a sprinter (100m, 200m, 400m), ran cross country, and threw javelin in her prep career.