“I think I fit in with all of them I like to think that I’m pretty funny with a weird sense of humor that you have to get used to. In response to Riley, I think he says he brings youth to the group. I’m the new young. I don’t have any weird pets yet. I did find a new mascot the other day. This cute little dog looked beastly and so I think I may bring him out. I feel like I fit in with their overall vibe.” - Amanda Mergaert

The Brooks Beasts have adopted two more to their training group. NCAA standouts Amanda Mergaert and Megan Malasarte will join Danny Mackey’s middle distance team in Seattle this fall.

Mergaert joins Brooks after spending the first year of her professional career training in California with a sponsorship from Oiselle. She set a 1,500-meter personal best of 4:12.25 in the first round of the U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Championships on June 27. 

“It’s a little bit surreal. I’ve been emailing a bit with some of the teammates and I have to pinch myself that these are the people I’ve idolized all throughout college,” Mergaert told Flotrack. “To be on the same team with them is a little crazy.”

Mergaert shared her perspective into the differences between running within the NCAA ranks and the learning curve of racing as a professional. 

“When you’re running in college, you’re racing all year round. During the fall, there is no cross-country season, so we can take our time and build up a big base,” Mergaert said. “It’s more intense, but more relaxed at the same time.”

The 23-year-old is best known for her success as a member of the Utah track and field team. At the 2013 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Mergaert finished third. 

This summer, Mergaert decided to skip the European track circuit to giver herself rest after a long year that also included runs at the U.S. Indoor Track and Field Championships. 

“In college, I never redshirted a season. After college, I went right into running professionally, so I never had much down time,” Mergaert said. “I thought this summer would be a good time to take a break and regroup. At the beginning of August, I started building up a small base again.”

Mergaert will move to Seattle in October and anticipates a low-key road race to begin her career with Brooks.

Malasarte just wrapped up her long season after a 4th place finish in the 800-meter final at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships and NACAC U23 Championships.  She holds a personal best of 2:02:06 from last year’s U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Des Moines. 

"It's exciting to be able to get the opportunity to train with some of the top middle distance runners in the country like Katie Mackey because they know what it's like to compete collegiately to then transition into professional running, and they've done it successfully," Malasarte said. "I hope to learn from them and that getting to train with 1500 runners like Mackey will develop the strength I need for the 800."

Malasarte’s Twitter bio describes her as a “running enthusiast, Drake fanatic, broadcast journalist, pacific islander and avid conversationalist.”

Chris Chavez is a writer at Flotrack and marathon analyst for ESPN. He once beat Joey Fatone of NSYNC in a half-marathon. Feel free to to reach him with any questions, comments, or feedback on Twitter or by email.