Seattle University head cross country and track and field coach Trisha Steidl has announced that 24 newcomers, 12 men and 12 women, have signed either National Letters of Intent or athletic aid agreements or enrolled at Seattle University with the intention of joining the cross country and track and field program beginning in the 2008-09 academic year.
“We’ve brought in a group of strong and motivated individuals who will work with the current team members to move this program up to the next level,” Steidl said.
Included among the newcomers are two sets of twin brothers. Chris and Dan Auld (Eugene, Ore.) finished first and third at the 2007 Sky Em Cross Country District Championships and also earned top five finishes in their respective events at the 2008 Sky Em Track and Field District Championships. Tom and Jim Mezzera (San Francisco, Calif.) formed half of the 4x100 relay team that posted a time of 42.8 seconds while at St. Ignatius Prep.
Of the seven newcomers from Washington, three hail from Bellingham, Wash., and went to Bellingham High School. Celeste Cassidy was part of the victorious 4x400 relay quartet at the 2008 District 1 2A Track Championships, Ashley Dalton finished ninth in the 3200 meter run at the 2008 NWC 2A Sub-District Meet, and Matthew McClement was one of the top runners in his league.
Other Washington residents joining the Redhawk program next year include Alex Poplawski (Bellevue, Wash.), who finished 13th in the 800 meter run at the 2008 3A State Track Championships for Newport High School, and Zach Stanfield (Adna, Wash.), who has posted solid times in the short distance events. Devlin Sweeney (Olympia, Wash.) has excelled in the 110 meter hurdles and the high jump while at Olympia High School, and Rustin Winger (Tracyton, Wash.) won the 800 meter run at the 2008 Narrows League Track Championships for Central Kitsap High School.
Besides the Auld brothers, five other newcomers hail from Oregon. Virginia Butt (Eugene, Ore.) comes to Seattle University from St. Olaf College, where she finished 42nd in the MIAC Cross Country Championships, while Elena Collins (Eugene, Ore.) has posted times of 27.6 seconds in the 200 meter dash and 59.37 seconds in the 400 meter dash at Marist High School. Also from Marist High School, Ty Jaros (Eugene, Ore.) has performed well in the jumping events, Becca Urbany (Demascus, Ore.) is a transfer from Mt. Hood Community College who has performed well in the jumping events, and Rachel Vranizan (Portland, Ore.) will add much-needed depth in the hurdling events after competing in that specialty at St. Mary’s High School.
The coaches were also able to bring recruits in from outside the Pacific Northwest. Ariel Johnson (Moscow, Idaho) is a two-time Idaho state champion in the pole vault with a top clearance of 11 feet, and Chris Quintana Martinez (Sandia Park, N.M.) was ranked first in the 400 and 1600 meter runs and third in the 800 meter run in New Mexico 5A. Coming from California are Sarah Bolce (Sacramento, Calif.), who finished fourth in the 3200 meter run at the 2008 Division 1 Track Finals representing St. Francis High School, and Miranda Triay (Upland, Calif.), who posted a personal best of 19:58 for a cross country five-kilometer race at Upland High School.
Representing Arizona are Alyssa Lout (Tempe, Ariz.), who was a short-distance specialist at St. Mary’s High School, and Nicole Waters (Phoenix, Ariz.), who finished fourth in the Gatorade Invitational while at Xavier College Prep. Two newcomers from the Midwest round out the 2008 recruiting class: Erik Barkhaus (Whitefish Bay, Wis.), who finished second in the 1600 meter run and third in the 3200 meter run at the 2008 outdoor conference meet, and Toni Tetzlaff (Mendota Heights, Minn.), who competed in the 100 meter dash, the 100 and 300 meter hurdles, and the high jump at Sibley High School.
According to assistant track and field coach Eric Schueffner, “These incoming sprinters, hurdlers, and jumpers will help advance Seattle University to the next level of competition and strengthen a team that has already raised the bar over every SU team of the past. Each year brings new challenges and this team has never ceased to meet those challenges.”
Talking about the distance runners, Steidl said, “This incoming class of distance runners is going to help us be stronger and deeper at all the distances than we’ve been before.”
The Seattle University cross country and track and field teams join the rest of the athletic teams in the school’s reclassification to NCAA Division I status. The 2008 cross country schedule is expected to be released soon.