Track Announces 12 Signees For 2007-08
BOULDER - University of Colorado Head Cross Country and Track & Field Coach Mark Wetmore has announced the signing of 10 prep student-athletes to National Letters of Intent including Megan Burrell (Colorado Springs, Colo.), Cameron Clayton (Superior, Colo.), Allison and Krista Eckert (Sioux Falls, S.D.), Richard Medina (Grand Junction, Colo.), Allison Sawyer (Hilton, N.Y.), Matt Tebo (Albuquerque, N.M), Christian Thompson (Candor, N.Y.), Laura Thweatt (Durango, Colo.) and Andy Wacker (Pinehurst, N.C.) and two recruited walk-ones in Allison Francke (Yorba Linda, Calif.) and Steven Seguin (Arvada, Colo.) for the 2007-08 season.
"I think this is probably our best overall recruiting class, both male and female, " Wetmore said. "We have people coming in on both sides, from top national level people or people that are not on the national level, but are very good. We also have some local talent coming in that should be very good. We've had other very good years, but never the depth across both genders as this year. Coach (Heather) Burroughs and I are really excited about this class with the upcoming cross country season and hosting the Big 12 Outdoor Championship in 2008."
MEGAN BURRELL, 5-5, Distance, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Coronado)
Burrell is a four-time letter winner in track and three-time in cross country at Coronado High School in Colorado Springs. She owns the school record in the 1,600-meter run at 5:07, set earlier this year. During her senior season, she took 10th in the state cross country meet and was fifth in the 1,600 and ninth in the 3,200. Burrell was a Gazette First Team selection for cross country and second team for track as a senior. She was the 2006-07 CHS Athlete of the Year and is a member of the National Honor Society. Burrell was also recruited by New Mexico.
CAMERON CLAYTON, 6-2, Distance, Superior, Colo. (Monarch)
Clayton was a three-time All-Front Range First Team selection in cross country. He also earned first-team recognition on the all-state team as a junior and senior. Clayton was fifth in the state meet as a senior and was sixth as a junior. He owns the MHS record in the 1,600-meter run at 4:25 and the 3,200-meter run at 9:36. In the 2007 Colorado State 5A Championship, he placed eighth in the 3,200 and was 13th in the 1,600. Clayton was also recruited by Oregon, Columbia, UC-Santa Barbara and Iona.
ALLISON ECKERT, 5-2, Distance, Sioux Falls, S.D. (Roosevelt)
Eckert was a three-time qualifier for Foot Locker Nationals. She earned her best finish in 2004 when she was 22nd overall. At the regionals, she was seventh ('04) and sixth in 2005 and '06. Eckert was also the Rimrock and Roy Griak course Champion as a senior. As a junior she won the 800, 1,600 and 3,200-meter state titles. Eckert set the state 3,200 record at 10:19 the same season. She will be attending CU with her identical twin, Krista. Eckert was also recruited by Stanford, Arkansas, Nebraska and Wisconsin.
KRISTA ECKERT, 5-3, Distance, Sioux Falls, S.D. (Roosevelt)
Eckert was the Roy Griak Champion in 2003 and 04 and the Rimrock champion in 2005. In 2004, she earned a 10th-place finish at Nike Team Nationals and was ninth in 2006. Eckert owns the outdoor school record in the 1,600-meter run at 4:53, which was set in 2005, as well as records in the 4x400, 4x800 and the sprint medley relay. Indoors, she owns the school 800-meter record at 2:14.7. She will be attending CU with her identical twin, Allison. Eckert was also recruited by Stanford, Arkansas, Oregon, Nebraska and Wisconsin.
ALLISON FRANCKE, 5-6, Distance, Yorba Linda, Calf. (Rosary)
Francke was a member of the 2004 California State Division III Champions at Rosary High School, which was her first year of competitive running. She was a three-time letterwinner in cross country and earned four letters as a member of the track team. Francke was named to the All-Trinity League First Team in cross country and track as a senior. She was also a South Section CIF 1,600-meter and cross country qualifier as a senior and a qualifier in the 800 as a junior. Francke's personal records are 18:40 (3k), 2:23 (800) and 5:20 (1,600). She was also recruited by Loyola Marymount, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Pepperdine and UC Irvine.
RICHARD MEDINA, 5-5, Distance, Grand Junction, Colo. (Grand Junction)
Medina won four individual state titles his junior through senior seasons. His first title was in the 3,200-meter run, finishing in 9:13. Medina won the 5A state cross country meet and added titles in the 1,600 and 3,200 his senior year. He owns school records in the 5k (15:19), 3,200 (9:13) and 1,600 (4:16). Medina was an All-Colorado selection by the Rocky Mountain News as a junior and senior. He placed 18th at the Foot Locker Championships and was eighth in the Midwest Region. Medina was also recruited by Arizona State, BYU, Iona, Oregon and Syracuse.
ALLISON SAWYER, 5-10, Distance, Hilton, N.Y. (Hilton)
Sawyer was the 2006 New York State Champion. She was 32nd at the 2006 Foot Locker Nationals in San Diego. At Nike Team Nationals in 2005, Sawyer placed eighth overall, while her team finished first. The following year she improved to third overall. Sawyer owns school records in the 3,000 (9:56.85), the 2,000-meter steeplechase (6:51.22) and the 3,200-meter relay (9:17.92); all were set in 2006. Sawyer was named the HHS Senior Athlete of the Year and was also recruited by Notre Dame, Brown and Syracuse.
STEVEN SEGUIN, 6-0, Distance, Arvada, Colo. (Ralston Valley)
Seguin was a member of the 2006 4A Cross Country and Jefferson County First Teams. He became the highest state finisher at RVHS with a third-place finish in the 4A championships his senior season and led his team to third-place as well. Seguin also is the school record holder in the 1,600-meter run at 4:30. At the 2007 state championships, he placed third in the 1,600 with a mark of 4:31, just off his pr. Seguin earned a spot on the 1,600-Meter All-State honorable mention squad with the performance. Seguin was also recruited by Metro State and Western State.
MATT TEBO, 5-9, Distance, Albuquerque, N.M. (Eldorado)
Tebo was a member of the USA Cross Country team at the World Championships this past March in Kenya. He earned a spot by placing third overall in the junior men's division at nationals in Boulder. In Kenya, he was 100th overall. In 2006, Tebo won the Foot Locker West Region and then took fifth at nationals. Tebo earned a second-place junior and the all-time high school record in New Mexico. Tebo was also recruited by New Mexico, Texas, Baylor, Wisconsin, Stanford, Oregon and Arizona.
CHRISTIAN THOMPSON, 5-10, Distance, Candor, N.Y. (Candor)
Thompson was 11th at the Northeast Foot Locker Championships in 2006. He won three class D New York State Public High School Athletic Association Cross Country titles, with his third being a come-from-behind win. Thompson won the 3,000-meter steeplechase twice at the New York Track and Field Championships. He finished third in the steeplechase at the 2007 USA Junior National Championship. He earned a total of nine letters at CHS, five in cross country and four in track. Thompson was also recruited by Kentucky, William and Mary, Montana and Portland.
LAURA THWEATT, 5-4, Distance, Durango, Colo. (Durango)
Thweatt is a two-time regional champ from Durango High School. During her senior season, she was the 5A state runner-up in cross country and the 3,200, while finishing third in the 5A state 1,600-meter run. Thweatt was named to the All-Colorado Girls Cross Country Team her sophomore through senior campaigns. At the USA Cross Country Championship in 2007, she took 14th in the junior women's 6k race. The two-time DHS captain was also recruited by Arizona State, Iowa, Baylor, Western State and Adams State.
ANDREW WACKER, 5-11, Distance, Pinehurst, N.C. (Pinecrest)
Wacker was a member of the PHS cross country conference champions from 2001-06, as well as the East Region champions in 2005 and 06 and the State Champions in 2004. His track team also won the conference and regional championship in 2006 and 07 and the state championship in 2005. Wacker owns the school record in the 3,200 (9:19). He was a Nike Indoor All-American as a junior and senior and during the outdoor season his senior year. Wacker was a member of the 4x800-meter relay team which broke the school, state meet and state record at 7:45 on May 20, 2006. Wacker was also recruited by Iona and North Carolina State.
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