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The University of Utah Athletics
Track Signs Three More to National Letter-of-Intent
6/24/2008 12:00 AM | Track & Field
June 24, 2008
SALT LAKE CITY - University of Utah track and field head coach Kyle Kepler announced the signing of three more prospects to National letters-of-intent today. The veteran head coach signed one of the top throwers in the state of Utah, netting Candus Aiello (Riverton HS/Riverton, Utah). Kepler will also add two international students in Klaudia Rokossa (Munster, Germany) and Lucy Yates (St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England/St. Albans Academy).
"Beyond their individual athletic achievements, we were also impressed with their overall character," said Kepler. "We really feel like they are excited to come to Utah, and that they are anxious to get their collegiate careers started.
"It will be important for our staff and our team to help them make the transition so that they can come in and have an immediate impact."
Aiello was a two-time state champion in 2008. She claimed the state 5A titles in the shot put (42-1 ¼) and the discus (130-0). Among other accomplishments in 2008, Aiello finished fifth in discus at the Great Southwest meet, 130-8. In 2007, she was third in the state in the shot and second in the discus. Her personal bests are in the shot, 42-1 ¼, and in the discus, 136-6.
"Candus is the best thrower in the state of Utah, having just won two state titles," Kepler pointed out. "Candus has the potential to further the throwing tradition here at Utah, and she will add quality depth to one of this team's strengths next year."
Rokossa is a German provincial and regional champion in the pole vault. The Munster, Germany, native also finished seventh at the Under-23 National Championships with a vault of 12-5 1/2. Her all-time best jump is 12-11 ½, cleared at an international youth competition in 2006.
"Klaudia is a former gymnast, and she even competed with current Utah gymnast Daria Bijak," said Kepler. "Klaudia had to give up gymnastics due to injury, but she took up pole vaulting, and she has made tremendous progress in a short amount of time. We see her scoring for us at the conference meet, and even qualifying for the NCAA meets."
Yates, who will also run cross country, is a solid middle-distance runner. She finished second in the 800m at the Southern Under-20 Championship. She was also a third-place finisher in the 800m at the BMC Nike Grand Prix 1 where she recorded a personal best of 2:09.89.
"Lucy is an outstanding distance runner who will help us in many different disciplines," Kepler noted. "Having run in the United Kingdom, she will bring international running experience to our team. We look forward to Lucy stepping in and contributing right away. She will build upon the solid corps of middle-distance runners we have on this team."
The three signees join Langley Iverson and Bree Leroy who committed to Utah back in March.
Iverson is now a four-time state title winner in the high jump. The Reno, Nev., native signed with three titles to her credit, and she won the fourth this past May with a jump of 5-6. Her personal best is 5-8, recorded when she won the 2007 state title.
Leroy added three top-seven finishes to her accomplishments at the 2008 state high school meet in Washington. She won the 100m hurdle title with a personal best of 14.38, and then she finished second in the long jump (18-6 ¾) and seventh in the high jump (5-4).
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