T&F Signs Eight More for 2015-16 Seasons
PULLMAN, Wash. -- Eight student-athletes, including three with international experience, have signed National Letters of Intent to attend and compete in cross country and track and field for Washington State University in the 2015-16 seasons, WSU Director of Cross Country/Track & Field Wayne Phipps announced Tuesday.
The Spring 2015 signees to date include (alphabetically): Betsy Arlt, a middle distance runner from Wenatchee, Wash., Josie Brown, a middle distance runner from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Ja’Maun Charles, a sprinter from Pleasanton, Calif., Stephanie Cho, a hurdler from Vancouver, British Columbia, Regyn Gaffney, a sprinter from Chehalis, Wash., Tracy Myers, middle distance runner from Beamsville, Ontario, Canada, Sarah Stavig, a sprinter from Bothell, Wash., and Grace Victor, a middle distance runner from Wakerley, Australia.
Stephanie Cho is in grade 12 at Sir Winston Churchill Secondary in Vancouver, B.C., and is one of the top Canadian junior hurdlers. In 2013, Cho competed for Team Canada at the 8th IAAF World Youth Championships in Donetsk, Ukraine, running a 400m hurdles PR time of 1:00.05, 10th-best time in the semifinals. She was named the Vancouver Olympic Club team Youth Female Athlete of the Year for 2013 after breaking five BC records, being the BC Champion in the 300m hurdles and World finish. At the 2014 B.C. High School Track & Field Championships in Langley, Cho won the 400m hurdles (1:00.09), was the runner-up in the 100m hurdles (14.85) after having the top prelim time of 14.75, and placed third in the heptathlon with a score of 4,342 points. Cho lowered her intermediate hurdles PR time to 59.96 in June 2014 at the University Athletics Series #2 meet in Coquitlam, B.C. Cho has a 4.0 grade point average and plans to study kinesiology at WSU.
“Stephanie has had an incredible high school career and is one of the top female track athletes in Canada,” Phipps, who also serves as the cross country and distance coach for the Cougars, said. “She has competed at the very highest level of competitions in the 400m hurdles so her transition to the NCAA and Pac-12 should be quite seamless. Her times for her junior year would already qualify her for NCAA first round and we view her as someone who can compete at the NCAA finals her first year in the 400m hurdles as well as contribute in a number of other events.”
Grace Victor comes to Pullman after a highly-decorated career at Wakerley, Queensland, Australia. At the 2014 Oceania Area Championships, Victor won the junior 400m dash (55.99) and was runner-up in the junior 800m (2:13.92) and anchored the winning 4x400m relay team with a record time of 3:54.91. She was the 400m runner-up and third in the 2000m steeplechase at the Queensland State Championships. She was the regional cross country, 400m and 800m champion in 2014. Among the many honors, Victor was given the Pierre de Coubertin Award by the Australian Olympic Committee for sporting performance and sportsmanship and was accorded the Sporting Star by the Queensland Women in Sport. She plans to study international business at WSU.
”Grace has incredible range with the ability to run anywhere from 400m to the longer cross country distances. Her high school times in the 400m and 800m set her up to be an NCAA first round qualifier in individual events as well as a member of our 4 x 400m team,” Phipps said.
Tracy Myers attends Grimsby Secondary School in Ontario, Canada, and has an accomplished running resume. Myers finished 12th in the 800m at the 2014 Canadian Junior Track & Field Championships with a time of 2:14.73. Last fall Myers was the runner-up at the Southern Ontario Secondary Schools Association cross country championships and took seventh at the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations cross country championships. At the Canadian Youth Girls Cross Country Championships, Myers finished 10th and was a member of Team Ontario’s championships squad. Myers has a 4.0 grade point average and plans to study medical sciences at WSU.
“Tracy is one of the top high school middle distance and cross country runners in Canada. She has the ability to be an NCAA first round qualifier as a freshman,” Phipps said.
Betsy Arlt has earned seven varsity letters at Eastmont High in cross country and track and field and earned numerous Columbia Basin Big Nine all-conference honors. Arlt was the CBBN cross country league champion as a junior and went on to a 25th place finish at the state 4A meet, but was limited by injury during the 2014 track season. Arlt won the 800m (PR 2:15.19) and 1600m at the district meet and then finished eighth in the 1600m (PR 4:58.83) and ninth in the 800m at the 2014 state track championships. Arlt has a 4.0 grade point average and plans to study kinesiology at WSU.
“Betsy had an awesome junior year and I feel she will make an immediate impact on our cross country and track teams in her first year as a Cougar,” Phipps said.
Josie Brown is a senior at Coeur d’Alene High School and completed an outstanding fall cross country season. Brown won the regional meet and was third at the Idaho 5A State Championships as the Vikings won the team title for the third time in her career. She went on to race at the 2014 Nike Northwest Cross Country meet where she finished 30th and her Pantalones Rapidos club team was second. At the Nike National meet Brown finished 80th. Brown was named co-runner of the year for high school girls cross country at the 2015 North Idaho Sports Banquet. Brown has a 3.9 grade point average.
“Josie has had a great high school cross country career but has somewhat limited track experience. I am very excited to watch her progression on the track,” Phipps said.
Ja’Maun Charles is a senior at Amador Valley High School in Pleasanton, Calif., where he lettered in both basketball and track. In the 2015 track season, Charles won the 100m dash at the Arcadia Invitational meet where he ran a PR time of 10.66, and set a Dan Gabor Invite meet record with his PR 400m time of 49.33. He also repeated as the prep 100m dash champion at the Stanford Invitational, winning both the prelims and finals in both 2014 and 2015. As a junior he was the North Coast Section winner in the 100m (10.66) and the 200m (21.60w). Charles advanced to the 2014 CIF State Championships and placed ninth in the 100m and 10th in the 200m. Charles plans to major in chemical engineering at WSU.
“Ja’Maun is an extremely talented sprinter from the Bay area who can run everything,” Cougar sprints coach Yogi Teevens said. “He’s a strong kid over 200 and 400 meters, and can drop down to the 100 as well. He should come in and make an impact in the Pac-12 in his first season as a Coug. Ja’Maun was highly recruited and is a great fit for our men’s sprint group. I’m excited to work with him next year.”
Sarah Stavig is a senior sprinter at Bothell High School and her 100m dash winning time of 11.82 at the Pasco Invitational is currently leading the state of Washington. She also won the 200m at Pasco in a PR time of 24.91. Earlier this year, Stavig ran a 60m indoor time of 7.60 at the Simplot Games, ranked 18th-best nationally, and she finished 34th in the 60m at the 2015 New Balance Indoor National meet (7.81). As a junior, Stavig was the runner-up at the state 4A championships in the 100m and ran a PR time in the prelims of 12.03w. She also finished fourth in the 200m at the state meet, again running a PR time of 24.97w in the prelims and anchored the runner-up 4x100m relay squad (48.12). Stavig also competed for the Seattle Speed Track Club at AAU National Junior Olympics in 2012. She took second place in the 100m and third place in the 200m at the 2013 USATF Region 13 Junior Olympics meet. Stavig plans to study business at WSU.
“Sarah is currently the top sprinter in the state of Washington and has had a real break out year in her senior season. I’m looking forward to watching her continue her success here with us. She’s a great kid who will do anything for the team and the team’s success. I’m excited to start working with her,” Teevens said.
Regyn Gaffney is a senior at Adna High School in Chehalis, Wash., where she received all-league honors in soccer, basketball and track. Gaffney is a three-time state 2B 100m dash champion with a PR time of 12.10. She has also racked up back-to-back state 200m and 400m titles with PR times of 24.74w and 56.40. Additionally, Gaffney won the state 2B long jump title as a junior. Running for the Evergreen Storm Track Club, Gaffney won the girls’ 17-18 division 100m (12.13), 200m (24.96), ran the third leg of the winning 4.100m relay (49.32), and placed fourth in the 400m (59.85) at the USATF Region 13 Junior Olympics meet.
“Regyn is a very versatile sprinter who has been a top contender at state every year in Washington, even though her high school has no track at all,” Teevens said. “I’m excited to see her progress at this level with year round training on our facilities. I think it’s going to be special. Regyn has a big personality and is very excited to be a Coug!”
These signees join previously announced signees listed below:
Anisa Allaet, distance runner from Spokane, Wash. (Ferris HS)
Cole Christman, distance runner from Wenatchee, Wash. (Wenatchee HS)
Paul Ryan, distance runner from Moscow, Idaho (Logs HS)
Tierney Silliman, sprinter from Yakima, Wash. (West Valley HS)
Nathan Tadesse, distance runner from Surrey, British Columbia, Canada (N. Surrey Senior)
Chandler Teigen, distance runner from Anatone, Wash. (Asotin High)
Nathan Wadhwani, distance runner from Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada (Terry Fox Secondary)
Washington State Cougars Track & Field
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Courtesy: Washington State Athletics
The Spring 2015 signees to date include (alphabetically): Betsy Arlt, a middle distance runner from Wenatchee, Wash., Josie Brown, a middle distance runner from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Ja’Maun Charles, a sprinter from Pleasanton, Calif., Stephanie Cho, a hurdler from Vancouver, British Columbia, Regyn Gaffney, a sprinter from Chehalis, Wash., Tracy Myers, middle distance runner from Beamsville, Ontario, Canada, Sarah Stavig, a sprinter from Bothell, Wash., and Grace Victor, a middle distance runner from Wakerley, Australia.
Stephanie Cho is in grade 12 at Sir Winston Churchill Secondary in Vancouver, B.C., and is one of the top Canadian junior hurdlers. In 2013, Cho competed for Team Canada at the 8th IAAF World Youth Championships in Donetsk, Ukraine, running a 400m hurdles PR time of 1:00.05, 10th-best time in the semifinals. She was named the Vancouver Olympic Club team Youth Female Athlete of the Year for 2013 after breaking five BC records, being the BC Champion in the 300m hurdles and World finish. At the 2014 B.C. High School Track & Field Championships in Langley, Cho won the 400m hurdles (1:00.09), was the runner-up in the 100m hurdles (14.85) after having the top prelim time of 14.75, and placed third in the heptathlon with a score of 4,342 points. Cho lowered her intermediate hurdles PR time to 59.96 in June 2014 at the University Athletics Series #2 meet in Coquitlam, B.C. Cho has a 4.0 grade point average and plans to study kinesiology at WSU.
“Stephanie has had an incredible high school career and is one of the top female track athletes in Canada,” Phipps, who also serves as the cross country and distance coach for the Cougars, said. “She has competed at the very highest level of competitions in the 400m hurdles so her transition to the NCAA and Pac-12 should be quite seamless. Her times for her junior year would already qualify her for NCAA first round and we view her as someone who can compete at the NCAA finals her first year in the 400m hurdles as well as contribute in a number of other events.”
Grace Victor comes to Pullman after a highly-decorated career at Wakerley, Queensland, Australia. At the 2014 Oceania Area Championships, Victor won the junior 400m dash (55.99) and was runner-up in the junior 800m (2:13.92) and anchored the winning 4x400m relay team with a record time of 3:54.91. She was the 400m runner-up and third in the 2000m steeplechase at the Queensland State Championships. She was the regional cross country, 400m and 800m champion in 2014. Among the many honors, Victor was given the Pierre de Coubertin Award by the Australian Olympic Committee for sporting performance and sportsmanship and was accorded the Sporting Star by the Queensland Women in Sport. She plans to study international business at WSU.
”Grace has incredible range with the ability to run anywhere from 400m to the longer cross country distances. Her high school times in the 400m and 800m set her up to be an NCAA first round qualifier in individual events as well as a member of our 4 x 400m team,” Phipps said.
Tracy Myers attends Grimsby Secondary School in Ontario, Canada, and has an accomplished running resume. Myers finished 12th in the 800m at the 2014 Canadian Junior Track & Field Championships with a time of 2:14.73. Last fall Myers was the runner-up at the Southern Ontario Secondary Schools Association cross country championships and took seventh at the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations cross country championships. At the Canadian Youth Girls Cross Country Championships, Myers finished 10th and was a member of Team Ontario’s championships squad. Myers has a 4.0 grade point average and plans to study medical sciences at WSU.
“Tracy is one of the top high school middle distance and cross country runners in Canada. She has the ability to be an NCAA first round qualifier as a freshman,” Phipps said.
Betsy Arlt has earned seven varsity letters at Eastmont High in cross country and track and field and earned numerous Columbia Basin Big Nine all-conference honors. Arlt was the CBBN cross country league champion as a junior and went on to a 25th place finish at the state 4A meet, but was limited by injury during the 2014 track season. Arlt won the 800m (PR 2:15.19) and 1600m at the district meet and then finished eighth in the 1600m (PR 4:58.83) and ninth in the 800m at the 2014 state track championships. Arlt has a 4.0 grade point average and plans to study kinesiology at WSU.
“Betsy had an awesome junior year and I feel she will make an immediate impact on our cross country and track teams in her first year as a Cougar,” Phipps said.
Josie Brown is a senior at Coeur d’Alene High School and completed an outstanding fall cross country season. Brown won the regional meet and was third at the Idaho 5A State Championships as the Vikings won the team title for the third time in her career. She went on to race at the 2014 Nike Northwest Cross Country meet where she finished 30th and her Pantalones Rapidos club team was second. At the Nike National meet Brown finished 80th. Brown was named co-runner of the year for high school girls cross country at the 2015 North Idaho Sports Banquet. Brown has a 3.9 grade point average.
“Josie has had a great high school cross country career but has somewhat limited track experience. I am very excited to watch her progression on the track,” Phipps said.
Ja’Maun Charles is a senior at Amador Valley High School in Pleasanton, Calif., where he lettered in both basketball and track. In the 2015 track season, Charles won the 100m dash at the Arcadia Invitational meet where he ran a PR time of 10.66, and set a Dan Gabor Invite meet record with his PR 400m time of 49.33. He also repeated as the prep 100m dash champion at the Stanford Invitational, winning both the prelims and finals in both 2014 and 2015. As a junior he was the North Coast Section winner in the 100m (10.66) and the 200m (21.60w). Charles advanced to the 2014 CIF State Championships and placed ninth in the 100m and 10th in the 200m. Charles plans to major in chemical engineering at WSU.
“Ja’Maun is an extremely talented sprinter from the Bay area who can run everything,” Cougar sprints coach Yogi Teevens said. “He’s a strong kid over 200 and 400 meters, and can drop down to the 100 as well. He should come in and make an impact in the Pac-12 in his first season as a Coug. Ja’Maun was highly recruited and is a great fit for our men’s sprint group. I’m excited to work with him next year.”
Sarah Stavig is a senior sprinter at Bothell High School and her 100m dash winning time of 11.82 at the Pasco Invitational is currently leading the state of Washington. She also won the 200m at Pasco in a PR time of 24.91. Earlier this year, Stavig ran a 60m indoor time of 7.60 at the Simplot Games, ranked 18th-best nationally, and she finished 34th in the 60m at the 2015 New Balance Indoor National meet (7.81). As a junior, Stavig was the runner-up at the state 4A championships in the 100m and ran a PR time in the prelims of 12.03w. She also finished fourth in the 200m at the state meet, again running a PR time of 24.97w in the prelims and anchored the runner-up 4x100m relay squad (48.12). Stavig also competed for the Seattle Speed Track Club at AAU National Junior Olympics in 2012. She took second place in the 100m and third place in the 200m at the 2013 USATF Region 13 Junior Olympics meet. Stavig plans to study business at WSU.
“Sarah is currently the top sprinter in the state of Washington and has had a real break out year in her senior season. I’m looking forward to watching her continue her success here with us. She’s a great kid who will do anything for the team and the team’s success. I’m excited to start working with her,” Teevens said.
Regyn Gaffney is a senior at Adna High School in Chehalis, Wash., where she received all-league honors in soccer, basketball and track. Gaffney is a three-time state 2B 100m dash champion with a PR time of 12.10. She has also racked up back-to-back state 200m and 400m titles with PR times of 24.74w and 56.40. Additionally, Gaffney won the state 2B long jump title as a junior. Running for the Evergreen Storm Track Club, Gaffney won the girls’ 17-18 division 100m (12.13), 200m (24.96), ran the third leg of the winning 4.100m relay (49.32), and placed fourth in the 400m (59.85) at the USATF Region 13 Junior Olympics meet.
“Regyn is a very versatile sprinter who has been a top contender at state every year in Washington, even though her high school has no track at all,” Teevens said. “I’m excited to see her progress at this level with year round training on our facilities. I think it’s going to be special. Regyn has a big personality and is very excited to be a Coug!”
These signees join previously announced signees listed below:
Anisa Allaet, distance runner from Spokane, Wash. (Ferris HS)
Cole Christman, distance runner from Wenatchee, Wash. (Wenatchee HS)
Paul Ryan, distance runner from Moscow, Idaho (Logs HS)
Tierney Silliman, sprinter from Yakima, Wash. (West Valley HS)
Nathan Tadesse, distance runner from Surrey, British Columbia, Canada (N. Surrey Senior)
Chandler Teigen, distance runner from Anatone, Wash. (Asotin High)
Nathan Wadhwani, distance runner from Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada (Terry Fox Secondary)
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