Bobcats Bolster Distance Squads
4/29/2004 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
Montana State's cross country teams added talent and experience Thursday, as Bobcat coach Dale Kennedy announced the signing of five women's standouts and one men's team recruit.
Three high school stars, two from the Montana prep ranks, and a pair of junior college transfers join the MSU women's program. Ana Casillas from Washington joins Pinesdale's Athlene Allred and Kayla Larson from Opheim, along with Stephanie Carter from Lane Community College in Eugene, Ore., and Ashley Hadway of Spokane Community College. Grady Costello from Great Falls CM Russell joins the men's squad.
"I expect all of these kids to have a major impact on the program," said MSU coach Dale Kennedy. "They will really give us a boost in cross country, especially on the women's side, and give us a major infusion of talent on the distance side on the track. This is the biggest group of cross country recruits I've added, but I like the potential of each kid."
Casillas, from Puyallup, Wash., led Tacoma's Bellerman Prep to a second-place finish at the Washington State 4A Cross Country Championships last fall, and she finished 14th in the state. She has posted best marks of 11:30 in the 3200m and 5:30 in the 1600m. "My expectation is that Ana will fit into the long races, the 5,000 and 10,000 meters," Kennedy said. "She will provide instantaneous help in cross country."
Allred was the 2001 state 1600m and 3200m champion in 2001, and after an injury forced her out of competition in 2002 finished third in the 1600 and 3200 in 2003. She has best marks of 5:11.49 in the 1600, and 11:34.0 in the 3200, and the prosective education marjo is a 4.0 student who is on track to graduate no. one in her class. "Athlene is a kid who has a fairly wide range of events, from the mile up to the 10,000 meters," Kennedy said. "She projects more in the middle distance events, the 1500 or 3,000 meters. She is a great candidate for the steeplechase because of her all-around athletic ability."
Larson was the Class C runnerup in the 1600m in '01, and won the state 3200m last spring. She led the Glasgow High cross country team to the '02 State B title, but was injured last fall. "Kayla has outstanding potential," Kennedy said. "She comes from a small-school situation and is the type of kid that could come in here and really flourish. She is more of a long-distance type runner, the 5,000 and 10,000, but I think she has a really high up-side."
Carter comes to MSU from Lane Community College and, before that, Sheldon High in Eugene, Ore. She earned junior college All-America honors in the 3,000m and in cross country in 2003. She finished sixth in the Northwest Association of Community Colleges (NWACC) cross country meet last fall. Kennedy said her competition experience against Division I foes will allow her to make a smooth transition. "Kids in that conference compete against a lot of four-year schools, so that competition is not a shock when they get to this level," Kennedy said. "I think Stephanie will be a real boost for a very young cross country team next fall."
Hadway comes to MSU from Spokane Community College and Northwest Christian High School. She was second in the NWACC cross country championships last fall, earning JC All-America honors. She has best marks of 17:38.71 in the 5,000, 10:30 in the 3,000, and 37:24 in the 10,000. The future horticulture major is oriented toward the 3,000 and 5,000 meters, according to Kennedy. "Ashley reminds a little bit of (current Bobcat) Mayra Morgado. Ashley and Stephanie bring college running experience to our team, and they'll really bring stability to the cross country program."
Costello is a long sprinter and middle distance runner who finished third in the state in the 800m, and has a best mark of 1:56.02. "Grady really caught my eye last year, running in one of the best 800 meter races I've seen. He battled to the finish, and even though he came out third I thought it was a very impressive race. He finished fourth in the 400 last year, too. He brings some speed to the 800. He has the top mark in the 800 this spring, and I think he'll be an excellent half-miler."
Kennedy indicated he will sign at least one more distance runner this spring.
Three high school stars, two from the Montana prep ranks, and a pair of junior college transfers join the MSU women's program. Ana Casillas from Washington joins Pinesdale's Athlene Allred and Kayla Larson from Opheim, along with Stephanie Carter from Lane Community College in Eugene, Ore., and Ashley Hadway of Spokane Community College. Grady Costello from Great Falls CM Russell joins the men's squad.
"I expect all of these kids to have a major impact on the program," said MSU coach Dale Kennedy. "They will really give us a boost in cross country, especially on the women's side, and give us a major infusion of talent on the distance side on the track. This is the biggest group of cross country recruits I've added, but I like the potential of each kid."
Casillas, from Puyallup, Wash., led Tacoma's Bellerman Prep to a second-place finish at the Washington State 4A Cross Country Championships last fall, and she finished 14th in the state. She has posted best marks of 11:30 in the 3200m and 5:30 in the 1600m. "My expectation is that Ana will fit into the long races, the 5,000 and 10,000 meters," Kennedy said. "She will provide instantaneous help in cross country."
Allred was the 2001 state 1600m and 3200m champion in 2001, and after an injury forced her out of competition in 2002 finished third in the 1600 and 3200 in 2003. She has best marks of 5:11.49 in the 1600, and 11:34.0 in the 3200, and the prosective education marjo is a 4.0 student who is on track to graduate no. one in her class. "Athlene is a kid who has a fairly wide range of events, from the mile up to the 10,000 meters," Kennedy said. "She projects more in the middle distance events, the 1500 or 3,000 meters. She is a great candidate for the steeplechase because of her all-around athletic ability."
Larson was the Class C runnerup in the 1600m in '01, and won the state 3200m last spring. She led the Glasgow High cross country team to the '02 State B title, but was injured last fall. "Kayla has outstanding potential," Kennedy said. "She comes from a small-school situation and is the type of kid that could come in here and really flourish. She is more of a long-distance type runner, the 5,000 and 10,000, but I think she has a really high up-side."
Carter comes to MSU from Lane Community College and, before that, Sheldon High in Eugene, Ore. She earned junior college All-America honors in the 3,000m and in cross country in 2003. She finished sixth in the Northwest Association of Community Colleges (NWACC) cross country meet last fall. Kennedy said her competition experience against Division I foes will allow her to make a smooth transition. "Kids in that conference compete against a lot of four-year schools, so that competition is not a shock when they get to this level," Kennedy said. "I think Stephanie will be a real boost for a very young cross country team next fall."
Hadway comes to MSU from Spokane Community College and Northwest Christian High School. She was second in the NWACC cross country championships last fall, earning JC All-America honors. She has best marks of 17:38.71 in the 5,000, 10:30 in the 3,000, and 37:24 in the 10,000. The future horticulture major is oriented toward the 3,000 and 5,000 meters, according to Kennedy. "Ashley reminds a little bit of (current Bobcat) Mayra Morgado. Ashley and Stephanie bring college running experience to our team, and they'll really bring stability to the cross country program."
Costello is a long sprinter and middle distance runner who finished third in the state in the 800m, and has a best mark of 1:56.02. "Grady really caught my eye last year, running in one of the best 800 meter races I've seen. He battled to the finish, and even though he came out third I thought it was a very impressive race. He finished fourth in the 400 last year, too. He brings some speed to the 800. He has the top mark in the 800 this spring, and I think he'll be an excellent half-miler."
Kennedy indicated he will sign at least one more distance runner this spring.
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