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Alyssa Johnson will be one of the 10 incoming freshmen that will join the University of Utah track and field team for the 2009-10 season.
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Feb. 26, 2009
SALT LAKE CITY - University of Utah track and field head coach Kyle Kepler, along with associate head coach Burke Bockman and throws coach Tapio Kuusela, have announced 10 new incoming freshmen for the 2009-10 season. The newest Utes are comprised of two international student-athletes, and eight athletes from across the nation, four of which currently compete in Utah.
"We are very excited about this group of student athletes. It is a very talented and diverse group of athletes that will be able to make contributions in a wide variety of events," said Kepler. "I am extremely proud of my coaching staff and all of the hard work they put in to this great recruiting class."
Alyssa Johnson is a decorated athlete currently residing in Winnipeg, M.B., Canada. She will join the Utes with impressive current personal bests of 55.14 in the 400-meter run and a time of 39.94 in the 300-meter, which broke the Manitoba Provincial record. In 2007, Johnson won the gold medal in the women's 400-meter run at the Western Canada Summer Games and also represented Canada at the IAAF World Youth Championships in Ostrava, Czech Republic. More recently in 2008, Johnson was a semi-finalist in the 400-meter run at the IAAF World Youth Championships in Poland and a fourth-place finisher at the Commonwealth Youth Games.
"Alyssa is one of Canada's top junior level sprinters. She has a wealth of experience and success at the international and national levels," said Kepler. "We expect she will make an immediate impact in the long sprint events for our program."
Amanda Mergeart is currently a senior at Utica High School in Shelby Township, Mich., who will be competing on both the cross country and track and field team in distance events beginning in the fall of 2009. Mergeart placed third in the 800-meter run at the Division I State Championships, clocking in at 2:16. She is an all-state, all-conference, and all-county contender in addition to being an all-academic athlete. As a future student at the University of Utah, Mergeart plans to enroll in pre-med.
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Angela (Angie) Kaplar, a native to Alpine, Utah, will be following in her sisters' footsteps. Older sisters Jennifer Kaplar Cutrer and Chelsey Kaplar have both competed for Utah's track and field team. Jennifer still holds the 60-meter hurdles record (8.60, 2007) while Chelsey is currently a team standout in the 400-meter hurdles. Angie is a defending two-time Class 5A State Champion in the 100-meter hurdles. She was also a member of the Lone Peak High School 4x400-meter relay team that placed third at the state championships in 2008.
"Like her sisters before her, Angie has had an outstanding high school career thus far. We expect her to continue to grow in our program and be a productive member of our team from day one," said Kepler. "We have put a huge emphasis in recruiting the very best athletes in the state of Utah and Angie certainly fits into that category."
Anneli Stahl is a native to Stockholm, Sweden and a student at Upplands-Bro Bymnasiet. She is currently ranked third in Sweden in the weight throw. In 2008, Stahl was ranked third in the hammer throw for juniors under 19-years old. At the Swedish Junior Championships in 2008, she placed third in the hammer throw.
"Anneli is an up and coming throwing star in Sweden. She has a ton of talent and I know Coach Kuusela is really looking forward to working with her and doing what we all do very well, which is develop student-athletes," said Kepler.
Jenny McCune, a Salt Lake City native, is a six-time state track meet qualifier as a member of Alta High School's track and field team. In 2008, she finished ninth overall at the state championships in the 800-meter run, and fourth in the senior girls' race at the Footlocker West Regional Cross Country Championships. In 2007, McCune was a region champion in the 800-meter and 1,600-meter events, and was a member of the state runner-up 4x400-meter relay team. She is also a defender on the Alta soccer team, which has won three consecutive state championships.
"Jenny is an outstanding all around athlete. She has been a starter on the three-time 5A state champion Alta Soccer team," said Kepler. "She is another outstanding in-state student-athlete, who has decided to continue her running career close to home. She has a lot of room to grow as a runner and has a tremendous family history here at the U."
McKenzie Dean is a member of Pahrump High School's cross country and track and field team in Pahrump, Nev. Between the two sports, Dean has earned state champion status seven different times: three consecutive years in the 3,200-meter run, once in both the 1,600-meter and 800-meter run in 2008, and was a two-time cross country champion in 2006 and 2007. She is currently Student Body President and a member of the National Honor Society.
"McKenzie is one of the most heralded distance runners in the state of Nevada. She has great range and will be successful at cross country and a wide range of distances on the track," said Kepler. "She is another outstanding student who is fulfilling a lifetime dream of running for the Utes."
Natalie Young from Springville, Utah, was a five-time Class 4A Utah state champion during her high school career. In 2008, she dominated the 200-meter, 4x100-meter and 4x400-meter relays and earned championship recognition. In 2007, she earned state champion status in the 400-meter and 4x400-meter relay. As a senior, Young was named the 4A Female Athlete of the Year for girl's track and field. Her personal best times are currently 56.81 in the 400-meter run and 25.62 in the 200-meter run. Young was named the 2008 Utah Valley Girl's Soccer Player of the Year and will be playing for the University of Utah women's soccer team beginning in the fall of 2009.
"Natalie is another two-sport star in the making. She will play soccer for Coach Rich Manning in the fall and then join us for the indoor and outdoor track seasons," Kepler said. "We expect Natalie to step in and contribute heavily within our sprint group right away."
Nikkie Rudder will be joining the Utes after being a successful member of the Skyview High School track & field team in Nampa, Idaho. She will be under the direction of Coach Kuusela for the 2009-10 track and field season as a shot put and discus thrower. Rudder placed third in the Class 4A Idaho State Championships with a toss of 41'9.5". Her best marks to date are 42'3" in the shot put and 124'0" in the discus.
"Nikkie is the top returning thrower in the state of Idaho. She comes from a very athletic family (her father played football at Idaho State and her brother currently plays)," said Kepler. "We believe Nikkie is a huge talent with great desire to improve and contribute to our program immediately. She is pretty easy-going away from the track, but once she begins to prepare for a competition, she's all business."
Stephanie Muelleck was recruited out of Centerville, Utah as a member of Viewmont High School's track and field team, where she currently holds two school records. In 2007, she was named Class 5A State Champion in the 300-meter hurdles and was runner-up in the 100-meter hurdles to Angie Kaplar. In 2008, she placed second in the state championship in the 100-meter hurdles and placed fourth overall in the 300-meter hurdles. Muelleck's personal bests are currently 15.13 in the 100-meter hurdles and 44.08 in the 300-meter hurdles.
"As a hurdler, Stephanie is both talented and versatile. Coach Bockman really believes she is next in our great line of 400-meter hurdlers," said Kepler. "Stephanie has been one of the most consistently successful performers at the biggest meets over the last two years. She is another student-athlete we expect to make an immediate impact."
Theresa Waybright is a promising pole vaulter out of Boise, Idaho. She is a member and four-time letter winner of the Borah High School track and field team. In 2008, Waybright added three prestigious awards to her résumé: Class 5A Idaho State Champion and Outdoor All-American. She also placed seventh overall at the Junior Olympics.
"Theresa is the epitome of speak softly, but carry a big stick. She is a kid who is always listening and learning as she tries to perfect her skills. She is willing to do whatever it takes to get better," said Kepler. "All of her hard work really paid off last year as she became a state champion and Junior Olympic All-American. We think she will only continue to improve and add tremendous depth to our vault crew."
Utah will be sending its top athletes to the Mountain West Conference Indoor Championships at Air Force Thursday through Sunday. The seasoned Utes will be looking to improve from last year's seventh-place finish in the league (36 points).
