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The University of Utah Athletics
Utah Track Signs Six to National Letters-of-Intent
4/30/2013 12:00 AM | Track & Field
April 30, 2013
SALT LAKE CITY - University of Utah track and field head coach Kyle Kepler announced the signing of six prospects to national letters-of-intent Tuesday. The signing class includes Jessica Sams (Ogden, Utah/ Ogden HS), the top distance runner in the state of Utah.
Kepler also announced the commitments of Boise, Idaho, native Dana Snell (Rocky Mtn. HS), Hannah McInturff (Century HS/ Pocatello, Idaho), Rhianna Williams (Fossil Ridge HS/ Fort Collins, Colo.), Courtney Jost (Gig Harbor HS/ Gig Harbor, Wash.) and Ilse Kaaja (Makelanrinne HS/ Espoo Finland).
"Overall, our coaching staff has done a terrific job of identifying and signing the type of student-athletes who possess great talent, work ethic, and desire that will continue to help our program be successful and move forward," Kepler said. "Along with the great talent, we also believe these student-athletes have a lot of room to develop."
Sams is a state qualifier in cross country and track. In her junior season, she finished sixth in the 3200m at the state championships. Her senior cross country season ended with an eighth overall finish at the state meet. Sams posted career-best marks in the 1600m with a 5:15, and a 3200m time of 11:20.
"Jessica comes from a very good high school program," Kepler stated. "She has been a steady performer at a high level in both cross country and track on championships level teams. She definitely has room for development and will likely contribute in the longer distances."
McInturff is a two-time Idaho state champion. The Pocatello native, finished first in both the 800m and 1600m events during her junior season at the state meet. During her senior season, McInturff finished sixth at the cross country state championships. Her top marks include an 800m time of 2:14 and 1600m time of 5:05.
"Hannah is a very disciplined person who also has good maturity for an incoming freshmen," Kepler said. "Her sister swam here at Utah (2003-07), so she is no stranger to Utah Athletics which should help her transition into our program. She will focus on the middle distance events."
Snell, a Boise, Idaho native, is a state qualifier in both cross country and track. During her junior season of track, she finished second in the 800m and third in the 3200m events. Snell finished ninth overall at the state cross country championships in her senior year. Her top performances include an 800m time of 2:15 and a 1600m time of 11:07.
"Dana is a hard worker at everything she does," Kepler said. "She is very coachable and a good leader. Her versatility will be her greatest strength as she enters our program and looks to make an immediate impact."
Williams qualified for the state championships in two events. During her junior season, she was the state champion in the 400m, and finished sixth in the 200m. Williams's personal-bests include a time of 55.36 seconds in the 400m, and 25.14 seconds in the 200m.
"An outstanding athlete who we feel has huge potential and will be able to contribute right away in our long sprints group," Kepler stated. "Rhianna is probably known more for all of her swimming accolades where she is a multi-time state champion as a high school athlete, but won the state title in the 400 meters on the track last year."
In her junior season, Jost qualified for three events at the Washington state championships. Jost finished won the state championship in the triple jump, finished second in the long jump and third place in the high jump. Her top marks include a 39' 4.5" in the triple jump, 18' 7.5" in the long jump, followed by 5' 6" in the high jump.
"Courtney is from the same high school as former All-Pac 12 and NCAA performer, Bree LeRoy," Kepler said. "She should be able to contribute immediately in both horizontal jumps and the high jump. She is another gal who we think will only get better as she transitions into a college level program."
Kaaja will help add depth to the throws group. Kaaja qualified for the finals in the hammer throw at the Finland Championships and will represent Finland at the Under-23 European Championships this summer. Kaaja has a top mark in the hammer throw of 198' 4".
"We think Ilse can be another in Coach Kuusela's long line of outstanding hammer throwers at Utah," Kepler said. "She possesses all of the physical attributes to continue to develop into an NCAA and Pac-12 level performer."
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