According to Steidl, the distance running group will include Audrey Brennan (Harbor HS/Santa Cruz, Calif.), a self-motivated individual who has the potential to make big improvements. Rosalyn DiLillo (Santa Rosa HS/Santa Rosa, Calif.) will work hard to lower her times at the collegiate level, while Hannah Mittelstaedt (Tahoma HS/Maple Valley, Wash.) will look to put herself in position for a top spot at the conference championships right away.
Cara Talty (Bridgewater Raritan HS/Raritan, N.J.) comes off a great high school career and could also be an immediate contributor to the team's ultimate success at the Great West Conference Championships. Mary Thompson (La Reina HS/Simi Valley, Calif.) will be counted on as an important contributor to the team both in competition and in the classroom.
On the men's side for distance running, Jeff Baklund (Jefferson HS/Auburn, Wash.) stays close to home to be a strong addition to the roster, while Graham Kinzel-Grubbs (Wilson HS/Portland, Ore.) will bring his commitment and strong work ethic to the team. Kevin Kopetz (Pinkerton Academy/Derry, N.H.) significantly improved on his personal records over the past year and hopes to continue that progression at Seattle U.
Peter Slauson (Central Catholic HS/Portland, Ore.) brings a great amount of passion and tenacity and will add depth to the men's team, according to Steidl. Peter VanNuland (Hazen HS/Newcastle, Wash.), the younger brother of current team member Michael Van Nuland, is extremely motivated and has the potential for great improvements during his college career.
"We have a stellar group of men and women joining our distance team in the fall," Steidl said. "Each person in this class is focused, passionate, and exudes positive energy that will feed in well to the current team. Their talents and abilities will add a great depth and have an immediate impact on the team's results."
The track and field team will welcome seven males and four females to the squad for fall practices. Kayla Greer (Grant HS/Portland, Ore.) anchored her high school team's 4x400 meter relay squad to many first place finishes, plus improved her marks in both the high jump and long jump. Noelle Marchesini (Gig Harbor HS/Gig Harbor, Wash.) was a member of the 4x400 meter relay quartet that finished seventh at the 2009 Washington 4A State Championships.
Katie Tougas (Edmonds-Woodway HS/Edmonds, Wash.) has the ability to contribute immediately in the 100, 200, long jump, and relays as well as in the classroom. Emily Walters (Olympia HS/Olympia, Wash.) competed in numerous events during her high school career and will start her Seattle U career by participating in the heptathlon and the triple jump.
The incoming men's class includes Nick Bever (Seattle Prep/Seattle, Wash.), whose improvement in the jumps will lead to a much-needed addition in that area for the Redhawks. Samuel Engle (Westview HS/Portland, Ore.) helped his team place third in the 4x400 meter relay at the state championships and has the potential to make an impact in the long sprints and hurdles.
Brandan Haggerty (Loyola-Sacred Heart HS/Missoula, Mont.) will look to make an immediate contribution in the javelin throw, while Duncan MacKay (Hazen HS/Renton, Wash.) is coming off a great 2010 season and will look for success in the sprint events. Michael McGillivrary (Hazen HS/Renton, Wash.) will continue to specialize in the 400 and 4x400 relay for Seattle University.
Eric Patterson-Floyd (O'Dea HS/Seattle, Wash.) was the runner-up in the 200 meter dash at the Metro Championships and will add necessary depth in the sprinting events. Zac Schlachter (Tigard HS/Tigard, Ore.) helped his high school win the state title in the 4x400 relay and will use his great range in the sprints to hopefully become an immediate contributor to the program.
"The incoming track and field women and men we have joining us this year are a strong group who will add needed depth in multiple events. I'm looking forward to seeing our team have an even stronger season this year with the addition of these motivated student-athletes," said Steidl.
These newcomers will join a program in which, in the first year of competition within the Great West Conference, saw the men's cross country team finish second and the women's cross country squad place fourth at the conference championships. After the indoor track and field squads struggled at the conference meet, they recovered at the outdoor championships, with the men finishing in fourth place and the women placing sixth.