2015 MEDIA HEADLINE GUIDE
CROSS COUNTRY
QUICK FACTS
University of Utah Information Location.............................. Salt Lake City, Utah Metro Population............................. 1,124,197 Elevation.................................................. 4,657 Founded................................................... 1850 Enrollment............................................. 31,515 Nickname.................................................. Utes Colors.......................Red and White (pms 187) Mascot......................Swoop (Red-Tailed Hawk) Web Site........................... www.UtahUtes.com Conference.............................................Pac-12 President..............................David W. Pershing Athletics Director....................... Chris Hill, Ph.D Coaching Staff Head Coach....................Kyle Kepler (11th Year) Assistant Coach.................................................. .................. Mackenzie Wartenberger (1st Year) Director of Operations (GA)............................... ............................Rebekah Winterton (1st Year) Social Media Facebook.....www.facebook.com/UtahTrackXC Twitter.................................. @Utah_trackfield Instagram...................................@UtahTrackXC
MEDIA INFORMATION
Sr. Associate AD/Sports Information.... Liz Abel Assistant SID/Cross Country Contact................ ......................................Brooke Frederickson Email........ bfrederickson@huntsman.utah.edu Phone....................................... (801) 581-8302 Cell............................................ (801) 493-9254 Student Assistant SID/Cross Country................ ..................................................... Eric Doughty Email..............E.Doughty@huntsman.utah.edu Mailing Address....... 1825 E. South Campus Dr. ................................... Salt Lake City, UT 84112
TABLE OF CONTENTS Quick Facts/Media Information................ IFC 2015 Roster................................................. 1 2015 Season Outlook/Schedule.................. 2 Venues......................................................... 3 Coaches and Staff.....................................4-5 Returner Profiles....................................6-12 Newcomer Profiles.................................... 13 2014 Results.............................................. 14 Record Book.............................................. 15
The 2015 University of Utah cross country media guide was designed and written by Assistant Director of Communications Brooke Frederickson and SID Student Assistant Eric Doughty. Editorial assistance was provided by the Utah SID office. Photography by Steve Wilson, Kory Mortensen, Sarah Shebek, and the Utah Travel Council and the Salt Lake City Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Experience Utah The University of Utah............................... 16 Utah Athletics History................................ 17 Who’s Who at the U. ................................ 18 Salt Lake City............................................. 19
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BROOKE FREDERICKSON Assistant Director of Communications
ERIC DOUGHTY Student Assistant SID
2015 HEADLINE ROSTER
Name Hannah Allred Andrea Chavez Makenzie Clark Shaylen Crook Caitlin Faust Sarah Feeny Dakota Grossman Millika Holbrook Susannah Hurst Claire MacMillan Hannah McInturff Lauren Roberts Jessica Sams Becky Sarmiento Giselle Slotboom Dana Snell Megan Spehar Kate Stringfellow Jocelyn Todd Sadie Wassum
Yr. Fr. RS Sr. Jr. So. Fr. So. So. Fr. RS Sr. RS Fr. RS So. Fr. Jr. RS So. RS Jr. Jr. Fr. RS Sr. Sr. So.
CROSS COUNTRY Hometown Ogden, Utah Ogden, Utah Bountiful, Utah Coos Bay, Ore. Stone Mountain, Ga. Ogden, Utah Haiku, Hawaii North Salt Lake, Utah Salt Lake City, Utah Felton, Calif. Pocatello, Idaho La Jolla, Calif. Ogden, Utah Orange, Calif. Sassenheim, Netherlands Meridian, Idaho Bountiful, Utah Salt Lake City, Utah St. Louis, Mo. Worland, Wyo.
Last School Ogden HS St. Joseph’s HS Woods Cross HS Marshfield HS Marist School Ogden HS Seabury Hall HS Woods Cross HS East HS San Lorenzo Valley HS Century HS La Jolla HS Ogden HS El Modena HS Jacksonville State Rocky Mountain HS Bountiful HS Highland HS Iowa Worland HS
Coaches Kyle Kepler - Head Coach Mackenzie Wartenberger - Assistant Coach Rebekah Winterton - Director of Operations (GA)
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SEASONHEADLINE OUTLOOK
CROSS COUNTRY Coming off a successful 2014 campaign, the Utah cross country team heads into its fifth season as a member of the Pac-12 Conference with high expectations. The Utes return four of their top five runners from the 2014 season as head coach Kyle Kepler enters his 11th year at the helm. “Experience is hard to gain,” Kepler explained. “I think experience is invaluable, but at the same time we are still going to be young by the standards of some of the other teams. We have some growing to do and I think that we have room to grow. What we need to do is take what we learned last year, move forward and see if we can make another big leap.” Leading the pack of returning runners is sophomore Sarah Feeny. Feeny led Utah at the Pac-12 Championships (41st) and at the NCAA Regional Championships (32nd), just missing qualifying for the national meet. She also represented the United States this summer in the Pan American Junior Championships, where she finished third in the 1,500. “Sarah had issues with iron last year, but I think that we have got that solved,” Kepler said. “We are not going to see her until October because of the long track season she had. That is something that we planned for and were ready for it. I feel very confident that she will be ready to go when we need her to at the end of the season.” Following closely in Feeny’s footsteps will be junior Jessica Sams and sophomore Shaylen Crook. Sams finished the 2014 cross country season with arguably two of the best performances of her collegiate career, finishing 53rd at the Pac-12 Championships and 37th at the NCAA Regional Championships. Crook recorded an impressive freshmen season, finishing sixth at the Nevada Twilight Classic and 44th at the Washington Invitational with a personal-best time of 21:18. The addition of senior transfer Jocelyn Todd from Iowa will also help bolster the 2015 lineup. Todd comes to Utah with one year of eligibility. She recorded her best Big 10 Cross Country Championships finish in 2014, where she crossed the line in 72nd. Working towards her PHD in biomedical engineering, Kepler will look to Todd to not only be a leader on the track, but in the classroom as well. “Jocelyn will bring more experience and some different ideas to the table,” Kepler stated. “She has been through the rigors of collegiate cross country and distance running in general. Hopefully, she will be able to relay her experience to our younger runners.” After redshirting the entire 2014 season, senior Susannah Hurst returns to help make an impact in her final cross country campaign as a Ute. In 2013, Hurst finished 19th at the NCAA Regional Championships. “She has looked really good, in terms of the summer training,” Kepler said of Hurst. “She has her mile times up high again, but when you haven’t raced for a year it is always interesting. We will get her some early races to get her back into
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that mode, but she looks good and she looks fit. We certainly like to think that she will be in our scoring five and will be a big difference maker for us in her final year. “ Other runners returning include senior Andrea Chavez, who finished in the top 50 in the Pac-12 and the NCAA Regional Championships in 2013. Sophomore Hannah McInturff competed at the NCAA Regional Championships for the Utes last year. Junior Makenzie Clark, junior Giselle Slotboom, junior Dana Snell, sophomore Dakota Grossman, sophomore Becky Sarmiento, and sophomore Sadie Wassum also have experience under their belts for the Utes. Senior Kate Stringfellow is returning following a two-year LDS church mission while freshman Claire MacMillan redshirted in her first season in 2014. The 2015 freshman class is once again saturated with talent as the Utes add five skilled student-athletes in Hannah Allred, Caitlin Faust, Millika Holbrook, Lauren Roberts and Megan Spehar. Highlighting this freshmen group will be Faust, who won the Georgia State 4A championships in the 800 and finished third in the state at the 2014 cross country championships. “Every freshmen class is a little bit different,” Kepler explained. “I think that Caitlin Faust is a little more experienced on the track, but I think that there is enough talent there that we could see her break into that group that gives us some depth. Hannah Allred is another product of Ogden High for us. We now have a sophomore, a junior and a freshman from Ogden High. They have been good to us with the kids that they have produced. If she can have the same gradual increase in performance and development that Jessica Sams has had, we will be very happy.”
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The Utes open their season at the Utah State Open on Sept. 5 in Logan, Utah. Utah hosts its home meet on Sept. 11 at Murray Park, with the men’s 6-km beginning at 3:00, followed by the women’s 4-km. The Pac-12 Championships take place Oct. 30 in Colfax, Wash., followed by the NCAA Regional Championships on Nov. 13 in Albuquerque, N.M., and the NCAA Championships on Nov. 21 in Louisville, Ky. “Our ultimate goal is to qualify a full team for the NCAA Championships,” Kepler said. “I think that we are in a place with our program now where that is going to become the goal every year. We haven’t done it yet, but I think we are inching our way there. In the Pac-12 we want to finish in the top half. If your team is in the top half in the league, you are going to have a really good chance to make it to the NCAA meet. Ninth was disappointing a year ago, but I think that if we train well and can stay healthy, that will be our best road to a successful season.”
2015 Schedule
Date .......................................................... Event Sept. 5..........................................Utah State Open Sept. 11.............................................. Utah Open Sept. 19....................... Montana State Invitational Oct. 2................................Notre Dame Invitational Oct.3.....................................................UNLV Invite Oct 17..................................... NCAA Pre-Nationals Oct. 30................................ Pac-12 Championships Nov. 13...........................NCAA Mountain Regional Nov. 21................................ NCAA Championships (Louisville, Ky.)
HEADLINE VENUES Rose Park is one of the home courses of Utah cross country. The University of Utah has hosted the NCAA Mountain Regional Championships 15 times at the venue over the last three decades, including the 2010 meet, as well as the 2006 Mountain West Conference Championships. Utah also regularly hosts its yearly home meet in Murray Park. For non-competition training, the Salt Lake Valley as well as the surrounding area offers the Utes a lot of options and is considered to be one of the top 20 running cities in the United States by several of the best running publications and experts. The University of Utah distance running corps has access to some of America’s greatest running trails. These trails consist primarily of dirt, grass, crushed rock, or other runner friendly surfaces. All of these trails are located at elevations ranging from 4,500-8,000 feet. The breathtaking scenery of the Wasatch and Oquirrh Mountains serve as a backdrop to one of America’s most beautiful and cleanest cities — Salt Lake City.
CROSS COUNTRY The Bonneville Trail runs through the University campus, University Research Park, above Utah’s famous Red Butte Gardens, and by Hogle Zoo. It is a dirt trail with rolling terrain and the best view of the entire valley. City Creek Canyon Trail is a popular running and biking avenue among Salt Lake locals. A portion of this trail includes running through downtown Salt Lake City, a view of the state capitol building and the World Business Center for the Church of Jesus Christ Later-Day Saints. The canyon trail includes a path that is primarily dirt and another that is more suitable for biking. Liberty Park is another training favorite among the U.’s distance runners. It includes a 1.45 mile woodchip running trail where various workouts are performed. Pipeline Trail is located in Millcreek Canyon which is only 15 minutes from the University of Utah campus. This out-and-back, 11-mile roundtrip trail is located at 6,000 feet elevation. The greenery of the canyon is surrounded by 10,000-foot peaks and combines an incredible view of the Salt Lake Valley at trail’s end. Rose Park
City Creek Canyon Trail
Liberty Park
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CROSS COUNTRY
COACHING HEADLINE STAFF
KYLE KEPLER Head Coach 11th Season at Utah
Kyle Kepler is in his 11th year as the head coach of the Utah women’s cross country and track & field programs. Kepler’s organization and attention to detail have allowed him to develop a solid foundation and create a competitive program that has steadily improved each year. Kepler has coached four athletes to All-America honors at Utah. Amanda Mergaert was a five-time All-American, with her career culminating in firstteam honors in 2013 in the indoor mile and the outdoor 1,500 as well as cross country honors in 2012. Langley Iverson (2011, indoor high jump), Brianna LeRoy (2012, outdoor high jump), and Rosalie Waller (2014, outdoor 800) have also earned All-America honors at Utah under Kepler. Under Kepler, the Utes have had 37 athletes post 78 NCAA Outdoor preliminary qualifying marks, and sent nine athletes to the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Mergaert (2011-13, 1,500) and Chelsea Shapard (2007-09, 400 hurdles) were both three-time NCAA attendees. Mergaert finished third in the 1,500 at NCAA’s as a senior in 2013. She was the 2011 USTFCCCA Mountain Region Women’s Track Athlete of the Year. Kepler increased Utah’s NCAA Outdoor Regional Championships attendees from five in 2006 to 10 in 2013. The Utes have also sent two athletes to the NCAA Indoor Championships under Kepler. Mergaert (2012, mile) and Rebekah Winterton (2014, 5,000) have both won Mountain Pacific Sports Federation indoor track championships. Utah has set 17 outdoor and 13 indoor school records since 2006. In cross country, Kepler has sent athletes to the NCAA Championships five times. Mergaert was a three-time cross country NCAA qualifier. The Utes have had five runners combine for seven all-region honors. Utah was ranked as high as fifth in the region in 2008. During Utah’s six years in the Mountain West Conference under Kepler, the Utes won nine outdoor conference titles and two indoor titles. Shapard was a three-time 400 hurdles outdoor champion. Utah earned 23 outdoor and 20 indoor All-MWC honors. Kepler’s influence on his student-athletes is not just visible on the track, but also in the classroom. His cross country teams have earned USTFCCCA AllAcademic Team honors eight years while his track teams have earned honors five times.
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His athletes have combined for 38 individual honors from the USTFCCCA between track and cross country. Lauren Endersen was a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American in 2008 and 2009, while Waller earned honors in 2014. Since Utah joined the Pac-12 in 2011-12, the Utes have earned 36 allacademic cross country and 63 all-academic track accolades, in addition to 62 MPSF all-academic honors. Kepler is in his 17th year coaching at the NCAA Division I level. Prior to coming to Utah, Kepler served as Northern Iowa’s head men’s and women’s cross country coach and assistant track and field coach for two seasons. He was on staff at UNI for a total of seven years, serving as an assistant cross country coach for five years prior to being named head coach in 2003. Kepler was named the Missouri Valley Conference Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year in 2003 after leading the Panthers to a MVC title. The Panthers won 12 MVC titles among cross country and indoor and outdoor track during his tenure with the Panthers. He coached nine All-Americans at UNI, and 15 athletes qualified for the NCAA Championships between track and cross country. At UNI, he served as the meet manager for the 2003 NCAA Cross Country Championships and Pre-Nationals meet. Kepler was also named the meet director of the annual A. D. Dickinson Relays, one of the largest high school indoor meets in the nation. Kepler competed at Northern Iowa, taking part in both cross country and track and field for the Panthers and serving as a team captain during the 1997-98 school year. As an athlete, Kepler was a member of five MVC championship teams. He earned all-conference honors nine times during his collegiate career, was a two-time all-region cross country selection and a six-time Academic All-MVC honoree. Kepler holds both master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Northern Iowa. He earned his master’s degree in physical education in 2004 and graduated with a bachelor’s in secondary education (geography) in 1998. Kepler is married to Hannah Vickery.
HEADLINE STAFF COACHING
CROSS COUNTRY
MACKENZIE WARTENBERGER
REBEKAH WINTERTON
Assistant Coach 1st Season at Utah
Mackenzie Wartenberger is in her first season as an assistant track and cross country coach. Wartenberger comes to Utah from Radford University, where she has spent the past two seasons as the head cross country coach and track assistant distance coach. In 2014 the women’s cross country team finished third in the Big South Conference, their best finish since 1990, and had two all-conference performers. The men finished fourth for their best finish since 2007. In track, she helped Radford win six conference titles in women’s distance races. Wartenberger spent four seasons at UNC Charlotte (2009-13) as an assistant distance coach. Between the men’s and women’s distance squads, she coached three NCAA Outdoor Championships qualifiers, nine NCAA regional qualifiers, three USATF Championships qualifiers, and two Atlantic 10 Conference champions. Charlotte won 12 team conference titles in indoor and outdoor track. Wartenberger (formerly Pierce) competed in track and cross country at California from 2005-09. She was the 2009 MPSF Champion in the 800. Wartenberger was a member of the 4x400-meter relay team that that finished 18th at the 2007 NCAA Championships, and is part of the group that holds the school record in the event. In 2007 she advanced to the semifinals in the 800 at the USA Championships and was a two-time regional qualifier in the event. Wartenberger’s career-best 800 time of 2:04.78 currently ranks sixth all-time at Cal. Warternberger, who is originally from North Carolina, earned a bachelor of arts degree from California in peace and conflict studies in 2009. She is married to husband Marc.
Director of Operations (GA) 1st Season at Utah
Following a strong four-year career for the Utes, Rebekah Winterton is in her first year as a graduate assistant, serving as the Director of Operations. Winterton is a three-time NCAA regional qualifier in the 10,000 and holds the school record in the event (33.28.43). She was the 2014 MPSF champion in the 5,000 and competed at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in 2013. Winterton ranks second all-time at Utah in both the indoor and outdoor 5,000 as well as the indoor 3,000. Winterton is a three-time track Pac-12 All-Academic selection, a twotime MPSF All-Academic team pick and earned Academic All-Conference honors in cross country four times. She was the recipient of a Pac-12 Postgraduate Scholarship. Winterton earned a bachelor of science from Utah in accounting in the spring of 2014 and is working towards an MBA in accounting.
SUPPORT STAFF
Manny Hendrix Associate A.D.
Heather Elliot Athletic Trainer
Chanelle Furner Executive Secretary
Jon Webster Strength & Conditioning
Taryn Horner Academic Advisor
Sydney Jones Marketing
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RETURNERHEADLINE PROFILES
CROSS COUNTRY
Andrea Chavez RS Sr. Ogden, Utah St. Joseph’s HS
Personal Bests Mile (Indoor)
4:47.75
1,500 (Outdoor)
4:28.39
800 (Outdoor)
2:07.64
800 (Indoor)
2:14.68
On Chavez: Ranks third all-time at Utah in the indoor mile (4:47.75) and in the top 10 at Utah in the outdoor 800 and 1,500 ... two-time cross country AllAcademic honorable mention ... two-time track Pac-12 Academic honorable mention ... 2015 MPSF All-Academic. 2015 Outdoor Track: Redshirt. 2015 Indoor Track: Member of the distance medley team that recorded a time of 11:38.75 to finish eighth at the MPSF Championships ... recorded a team-best time of 2:14.68 in the 800 at the Husky Classic ... seasonbest mile time was at the Washington Invitational in 5:02.31 ... earned eighth in the 1000-meter run at the Bronco Invitational with a time of 2:59.70 ... MPSF All-Academic Team. 2014 Cross Country: Finished 91st at the Pac-12 Championships with a time of 22:17.5 ... finished 25th at the ISU Pre-National Invitational ... earned 81st at the Washington Invitational with a season-best 6K time of 21:50.0 ... finished 24th in the four mile at the Utah Open with a time of 15:50.5 ... Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention. 2014 Outdoor Track: Represented Utah in the 1,500 at the Pac-12 Championships where she clocked a time of 4:38.51 ... earned third at the Longhorn Invitational in the 1,500 with a time of 4:32.30 ... captured fifth in the 800 with a season-best time of 2:13.89 at the Trojan Invitational ... finished second in the 1,500 with a time of 4:42.33 at the Wildcat Open ... season-best time of 4:28.65 in the 1,500 at the Mt. Sac Relays ... Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention.
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2014 Indoor Track: Member of the distance medley relay team that finished seventh at the MPSF Championship with a time of 11:42 ... season-best time in the mile of 5:02.19 at the MPSF Championship ... placed sixth in the mile with a time 5:08.61 at the Bronco Invitational. 2013 Cross Country: Finished 44th at the Pac-12 Conference Championships ... earned third for the Utes and 46th overall at the NCAA Regional Championships ... placed eighth at the Montana State Bobcat Invitational ... finished 17th at the Utah Open ... honorable mention Pac-12 All-Academic team. 2013 Outdoor Track: Finished seventh in the 800 with a time of 2:11.19 at the Pac-12 Championships, running a seasonbest time of 2:09.44 in the preliminaries ... earned fourth at the Trojan Invitational with a time of 2:11.49 ... member of 4x800 relay that broke the school record with a time of 8:38.56 ... honorable mention all-academic status from the Pac-12. 2013 Indoor Track: Posted a season-best 800 time of 2:15.13 in a seventh-place performance at the Bronco Invitational ... finished 25th in the mile with a time of 5:12.67 at the MPSF Championships ... posted a seasonbest time of 5:07.03 in the mile at the Husky Classic ... member of the distance medley relay team that finished fourth at the MPSF Championships ... earned MPSF all-academic honors. 2012 Cross Country: Finished 66th at the Pac-12 Conference Championships ... 84th at the NCAA Regional Championships ... crossed the line eighth at the Montana State Bobcat Invitational. 2012 Outdoor Track: Qualified for the NCAA West Regional where she finished 48th in the 800 with a time of 2:13.69 ... captured 15th place at the Pac-12 Championships in the 800, clocking a time of 2:11.58 ... finished first with a season-best time of 2:07.64 in the 800 at the Utah Spring Classic. 2012 Indoor Track: Earned 14th place at the MPSF Championships in the mile with a time of 4:47 ... finished second in the mile in her first collegiate race with a time of 4:52.55 at the Boise State Open ... clocked a thirdplace time of 2:14.76 in the 800 for third at the Mountain States Games. 2011 Cross Country: Redshirt.
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High School: Member of the four-time 1A Utah state champion cross country team ... won the state cross country meet during her sophomore year ... finished fifth at the state cross country meet ... individual state champion in the 800 ... ran anchor leg of the state champion 1,600 relay team ... earned second place at the state cross country meet during her junior season ... earned Southwest Conference honors in track and field ... named 1A Female Runner of the Year by Coaches Association in Utah Track and Field. Personal: Daughter of Javier and Amada Chavez ... psychology major ... hobbies include reading and spending time with family.
Makenzie Clark Jr. Bountiful, Utah Woods Cross HS
Personal Bests 1,500 (Outdoor)
4:47.75
800 (Outdoor)
4:28.39
800 (Indoor)
2:07.64
2015 Outdoor Track: Competed in the 800 at the Pac-12 Championships ... recorded a season-best 800 time of 2:14.07 at the Border Clash, finishing 10th ... fourth in the 800 at the Robison Invitational ... season-best 1,500 time at the Bryan Clay Invitational (2:51.42) ... honorable mention Pac-12 All-Academic. 2015 Indoor Track: Captured the event title in the 800 at the Snake River Open ... had a season-best 800 time of 2:17.98 at the New Mexico Classic ... competed on the distance medley relay team at the Husky Classic ... earned sixth in the 600 (1:37.88) and 11th in the 1,000-meter run (3:06.53) at the Bronco Invitational ... MPSF All-Academic Team. 2014 Cross Country: Finished 42nd at the ISU Pre-National Invitational ... earned 107th with a season-best 6K time of 22:46.9 at the Washington Invitational ... 33rd in the four mile at the Utah Open and 33rd at the Nevada Twilight Cross Country Classic ... Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention.
HEADLINE PROFILES RETURNER 2014 Outdoor Track: Captured ninth in the 1,500 at the Mark Faldmo Invitational with a time of 4:56.81. 2014 Indoor Track: Captured third in the 800 with a time of 2:24.97 at the Wildcat Indoor ... best time in the 800 2:22.31 at the Bronco Invitational ... recorded a time of 1:42.75 in the 600 at the Cherry and Silver Invitational. 2013 Cross Country: Finished 44th in her first collegiate race at the Utah State Invitational ... posted a 31st-place performance at the Utah Open ... clocked a season-best six-kilometer time of 25:29 at the Stanford Invitational. High School: Won the title in the 800 and finished third in the mile at the region six championships ... team captain of region championship team ... posted a best 800 time of 2:19 and mile time of 5:14 ... also competed on soccer and softball teams ... earned academic all-region honors. Personal: Daughter of Susie and Jeff Clark ... majoring in exercise and sports science ... hobbies include hiking, snowboarding and reading.
Shaylen Crook So. Coos Bay, Ore. Marshfield HS
2015 Indoor Track: Recorded a season-best time of 17:21.52 in the 5,000 at the MPSF Championships to earn 15th overall, which ranks seventh all-time at Utah ... finished ninth in the 3,000 at the Bronco Invitational with a season-best time of 10:11.78 ... captured 11th in the 3,000 at the New Mexico Classic. 2014 Cross Country: Earned 55th at the Pac-12 Championships ... finished 75th at the NCAA Mountain Region Championships ... placed seventh at the Nevada Twilight Classic and was eighth at the Utah Open ... 44th overall at the Washington Invitational with a season-best 6K time of 21:17.7 ... 19th at the Montana State Invitational. High School: Oregon 4A state champion as a senior in the 3,000 and placed third in the state in the 1,500 ... 2013 4A cross country state champion ... Far West League district cross country champion ... personal-best times include: 17:57.1 (5k), 10:12.27 (3k) and 4:46.83 (1,500) ... finished third in the state in the 3,000 as a junior, and was in the top 10 in the state all four years of high school in the event ... competed in swimming freshman year ... salutatorian of senior class ... received honor roll recognition all four years of high school ... National Honor Society treasurer. Personal: Daughter of Alan and Michele Crook ... has not declared a major but is working in pre-exercise and sport science ... second of two children ... hobbies include baking, mountain biking, snowboarding and reading.
Sarah Feeny So. Ogden, Utah Ogden HS
Personal Bests 10,000 (Outdoor)
35:59.68
5,000 (Outdoor)
17:15.56
5,000 (Indoor)
17:21.52
3,000 (Outdoor)
10:04.08
3,000 (Indoor)
10:11.78
2015 Outdoor Track: Finished 17th in the 10,000 at the Pac-12 Championships ... season-best mark of 35:59.68 in the 10,000 at the Mt. SAC Relays, which is ninth all-time at Utah ... season-best time of 17:15.56 in the 5,000 at the San Francisco Distance Carnival ... ran a time of 10:04.08 in the 3,000 against Oregon State.
CROSS COUNTRY
Personal Bests 1,500 (Outdoor)
4:18.24
Mile (Indoor)
4:44.41
5,000 (Outdoor)
16:25.04
3,000 (Indoor)
9:24.54
800 (Outdoor)
2:09.71
2015 Outdoor Track: Ran the second-best time nationally among freshmen in the 1,500 (4:18.24) at the Payton Jordan Invitational ... finished third in the 1,500 at the Pan Am Junior Championships ... second in the 1,500
at the USATF Junior Championships ... season-best 1,500 time ranks second all-time at Utah ... qualified for the NCAA West Preliminary in the 1,500, 800 and 5,000, but chose to only compete in the 1,500 ... struggled with injury as the season ended ... season-best 800 time in the Utah Spring Classic (2:09.71) with a second-place finish ... won the 800 a the Stanford Invitational ... ran a time of 16:25.04 in the 5,000 at the Mt. SAC Relays, finishing seventh ... USTFCCCA All-Academic Team. 2015 Indoor Track: Recorded the third-fastest 3,000-meter time in Utah history (9:24.54) at the MPSF Championships to place tenth... also placed tenth in the mile at the MPSF Championships with a season-best time of 4:44.41 which ranks second all-time at Utah ... won the 1,000 at the Bronco Invitational (2:50.24) ... placed 13th overall in the mile at the Washington Invite. 2014 Cross Country: Was the first Utah finisher and 32nd overall at the NCAA Regional Championships with a time of 22:08.79 ... earned 41st at the Pac-12 Championships with a season-best 6K time of 21:17.9 ... captured first in the three mile at the Montana State Invitational in her collegiate debut. High School: Finished 14th at the 2013 Foot Locker Cross Country Championships to earn All-America honors ... 2013 Utah 4A cross country state champion after finishing as a runner up the previous three years, breaking the all-time state record (17:25) ... helped lead Ogden HS to state XC titles in 2010 and 2013, as well as a state track title in 2012 ... also won state championships in the 800, 1,600, 3,200 and sprint medley relay in 2014, setting state meet records in the 1,600 and 3,200 ... made up a 50-meter deficit for Ogden in the sprint medley relay ... Nike Nationals and Foot Locker Cross Country Championships qualifier ... 2013 Wendy’s High School Heisman state winner ... 2013-14 Utah girls track and field Gatorade Player of the Year ... Governor’s State of Sport Award finalist for High School Female of the Year ... set the meet record in the 1,600 at the Simplot Games (4:46.97) ... set 800 meet record at the Great Southwest Track & Field Classic ... two-time adidas High School Dream Mile qualifier ...2014 New York Dream Mile champion (4:39) ... 2014 Brooks PR Invitational mile champion ... earned four letters in cross country ... two-time Deseret News 10K runner up (2012, 2013) ... received honor roll recognition ... member of National Honor Society ... member of Ogden HS orchestra. Personal: Daughter of Elaine and Scott Feeny ... majoring in intermediate mechanical engineering and wants to design roller coasters ... first of three children ... hobbies include skiing and playing the piano.
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RETURNERHEADLINE PROFILES
CROSS COUNTRY
Dakota Grossman So. Haiku, Hawaii Seabury Hall HS
Personal: Daughter of Robert and Heather Grossman ... father is head track coach at Seabury Hall HS... has not declared a major but is working towards pre-exercise and sport science ... second of three children ... hobbies include running and listening to music.
Susannah Hurst Spencer
Personal Bests Mile (Indoor)
5:09.22
1,500 (Outdoor)
4:47.11
800 (Outdoor)
2:19.95
800 (Indoor)
2:27.02
2015 Outdoor Track: Competed in the 800 and 1,500 ... season-best 1,500 time of 4:47.11 at the San Francisco State Distance Carnival ... season-best 800 time of 2:19.95 at the Utah Spring Classic ... finished fourth in the 800 at the Robison Invitational and was eighth in the event at the Weber State Twilight. 2015 Indoor Track: Finished fourth in the mile at the Bronco Invitational with a season-best time of 5:09.22 ... earned 20th in the 3,000 with a season-best time of 10:35.42 at the Bronco Invite ... competed in the 800 at the New Mexico Classic with a time of 2:27.02. 2014 Cross Country: Finished 100th at the Pac-12 Championships with a time of 22:44.7 ... placed 23rd in the open race at ISU Pre-Nationals ... earned 96th at the Washington Invitational with a season-best 6K time of 22:15.4 ... captured 17th in the four mile Utah Open with a time of 15:19.9 ... 23rd at the Nevada Twilight Cross Country Classic. High School: Four-time Hawaii Gatorade Cross Country Athlete of the Year ... four-time cross country state champion ... four-time state champion in the 3,000 race ... two-time state champion in the 1,500 ... helped lead Seabury Hall to the 2014 track and field championship ... Seabury Hall won two state cross country titles (2012, 2013) ... earned four letters for cross country and track and field ... 2014 HHSAA Hall of Honor inductee, which recognizes the top 12 senior student-athletes in Hawaii ... personal-best times include: 4:37 (1,500), 2:17 (800), 58.00 (400) and 10:21 (3,000) ... was a guard on the varsity basketball team ... received honor roll recognition ... earned a spot on the Headmaster’s List (GPA of 3.5 or higher).
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RS Sr. Salt Lake City, Utah East HS
Personal Bests 10,000 (Outdoor)
33:55.98
5,000 (Outdoor)
16:06.31
5,000 (Indoor)
16:43.50
3,000 (Indoor)
9:37.83
On Hurst: Holds the Utah school record in the outdoor 5,000 (16:06.31) ... third all-time at Utah in the indoor 5,000 (16:43.50) and the outdoor 10,000 (33:55.98) ... ranks fifth all-time at Utah in the indoor 3,000 (9:37.83) ... two-time NCAA Preliminary qualifier in the 10,000, qualifying in the 5,000 as a freshman ... finished fifth in the 5,000 at the 2012 U.S Track and Field Junior Outdoor Championships ... two-time track Pac-12 All-Academic ... two-time cross country Pac-12 All-Academic ... 2012 USTFCCCA All-Academic ... 2013 MPSF All-Academic. 2015 Outdoor Track: Redshirt. 2015 Indoor Track: Redshirt. 2014 Cross Country: Redshirt. 2014 Outdoor Track: Broke school record in the 5,000 with a time of 16:06.31 at the Mt. Sac Relays, finishing fifth ... qualified for the NCAA Preliminaries in the 10,000, finishing with a time of 16:54.17 ... earned 12th in the 10,000 at the Pac-12 Conference Championships with a time of 16:51.00 ... became the second Utah runner to break the 34-minute barrier in the 10,000 at the Stanford Invitational, when she clocked a time of 33:55.98 ... finished second in the 5,000 and third in the 1,500 (4:30.05) at the Trojan Invitational ... honorable mention Pac-12 All-Academic team.
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2014 Indoor Track: Finished 14th in the 3,000 with a time of 9:39.82 at the MPSF Championships ... recorded a seasonbest time of 17:01.20 in the 5,000 at the MPSF Championships, finishing 11th ... recorded a season-best time of 9:37.83 in the 3,000 invitational at the Husky Classic, where she placed 23rd. 2013 Cross Country: Finished second for the Utes and 19th overall at the NCAA Regional Championships with a seasonbest time of 21:05.80 (6K) ... earned 29th at the Pac-12 Championships ... placed fourth at the Stanford Invitational ... finished fourth in the three mile with a time of 17:35.00 at the Montana State Bobcat Invitational ... captured fourth in the 4,000 at the Utah Open with a time of 14:34.90 ... honorable mention Pac-12 All-Academic Team. 2013 Outdoor Track: Finished third with a time of 34:46.96 at Mt. Sac Relays ... qualified for the NCAA West Preliminaries in the 10,000, finishing with a time of 36:42.37 ... earned 10th in the 5,000 at the Pac-12 Championships with a time of 16:57.28 ... won the 5,000 at the Stanford Invitational in 16:34.17 ... ran the 1,500 at the Trojan Invitational in 4:31.29, finishing fourth ... ran the 800 at the Utah Spring Classic in 2:18.90 ... received academic all-Pac-12 honorable mention honors. 2013 Indoor Track: Posted an eighth-place finish in the 5,000 with a time of 16:43.50 at the MPSF Championships ... clocked a season-best 3,000 time of 10:04.29 to earn 37th at the Husky Invitational ... earned second at the Bronco Invitational in the 3,000 with a time of 10:08.15 ... named to the MPSF All-Academic Team.
HEADLINE PROFILES RETURNER 2012 Cross Country: Finished 29th at the NCAA Regional Championships with a six-kilometer time of 21:23.8 ... earned 28th at the Pac-12 Championships, finishing the course in a time of 21:06 ... placed 10th at the Stanford Invitational with a time of 21:14 ... posted a fourth-place finish at the Utah State Open clocking a five-kilometer time of 17:51.72 ... honorable mention all-academic Pac-12. 2012 Outdoor Track: Garnered a fifth-place performance in the 5,000 at the U.S Track and Field Junior Outdoor Championships, clocking a time of 17:28.56 ... secured 36th place at the NCAA Preliminary meet with a 5,000 time of 17:25.10 ... best 5,000 time was at the Stanford Invitational in 16:45.63 to finish 15th ... finished second in the 1,500 with a time of 4:48.17 at the Wildcat Invitational ... earned USTFCCCA AllAcademic honors. 2012 Indoor Track: Finished sixth in the 5,000 at the MPSF Championships with a season-best time of 16:45.43 ... earned 22nd in the 3,000 at the MPSF Championships finishing in a season-best time of 9:44.01 ... first in the 3,000 at the Jackson Invitational in 9:59.51 ... fifth in the mile at the Jackson Invitational in 5:02.09. 2011 Cross Country: In first collegiate race, finished second overall at Utah State Open ... clocked a third-place time of 15:07 at the Nevada Twilight ... second overall and first collegiate athlete to finish at the UNLV Invitational with a time of 18:23 ... finished 45th at the Pac-12 Conference Championships ... finished fifth for the Utes and 80th overall at the NCAA Mountain Region Championships. High School: Four-time state qualifier in track and cross country ... placed fourth in the 1,600 and fifth in the 3,200 her junior season at the 4A state championships ... won region cross country championship and placed third at the state championships ... made the Footlocker All-West second team and finished 22nd overall at the national meet ... broke the indoor state record in the 3,200 with a time of 11:01 ... won state championships in the 1,600 in 4:54, and 3,200 during her senior season ... earned the performance of the year award in track ... won the 3,200 at the Great Southwest track meet after her high school season ended. Personal: Daughter of JoAnn and Wendell Hurst ... has two older brothers and one younger sister ... earned a bachelor of science in exercise and sport science and is working towards a master’s in public health.
CROSS COUNTRY
Claire MacMillan
Hannah McInturff
RS Fr. Felton, Calif. San Lorenzo Valley HS
RS So. Pocatello, Idaho Century HS
2015 Outdoor Season: Redshirt. 2015 Indoor Season: Redshirt. 2014 Cross Country: Redshirt. High School: Finished fourth as a senior and eighth as a junior at the CIF cross country meet ... lettered four years in cross country and track and field ... 2013 secondteam all-CSS cross country ... personal-best times include 10:58 (3,200), 5:02 (mile) and 2:19 (800) ... received team’s Coach, Most Inspirational, and MVP awards ... played midfield for varsity soccer team ... received honor roll recognition all four years of high school ... student body and junior class president. Personal: Daughter of Angus and Susan MacMillan ... has not declared a major but is working towards pre-civil engineering ... second of three children ... born September 19, 1995.
Personal Bests Mile (Indoor)
4:49.61
1,500 (Outdoor)
4:29.89
800 (Outdoor)
2:14.73
2015 Outdoor Track: Finished 25th in the 1,500 at the Pac-12 Championships ... season-best time of 4:29.89 in the 1,500 at the Mt. SAC Relays ... fourth in the 1,500 at the Weber State Open ... finished 13th in the 800 at the Border Clash in 2:14.73. 2015 Indoor Track: Recorded a season-best time of 4:49.61 in the mile at the Husky Classic, which ranks fourth all-time at Utah ... finished 18th in the mile at the MPSF Championships ... member of the distance medley team that recorded a time of 11:38.75 to finish eighth at the MPSF Championships ... captured the event title in the mile at the New Mexico Classic ... MPSF All-Academic Team. 2014 Cross Country: Placed 86th overall at the NCAA Regional Championships with a time of 23:04.43 ... placed 61st at the Pac-12 Championships ... captured 52nd at the Washington Invitational with a season-best 6K time of 21:26.1 ... finished 12th in the three mile at the Montana State Invitational ... Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention. 2014 Outdoor Track: Redshirt. 2014 Indoor Track: Redshirt. 2013 Cross Country: Redshirt. High School: Won five state championships, three in the 800 and two 1,600, during her career ... career-best 800 time was 2:14 with a 1,600 time of 5:04 ... also competed in swimming and volleyball ... member of the National Junior Honors Society. Personal: Daughter of Don and Joyce McInturff ... majoring in health promotion and education ... hobbies include triathlons, swimming and biking ... her sister, Ali, was a member of the Utah swim team and Bethany ran track at the University of Portland. W W W. U TA H U T E S . C O M
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RETURNERHEADLINE PROFILES
CROSS COUNTRY
Jessica Sams Jr. Ogden, Utah Ogden HS
Personal Bests 5,000 (Outdoor)
16:47.99
3,000 (Outdoor)
9:52.03
3,000 (Indoor)
9:42.64
Mile (Indoor)
5:11.37
2015 Outdoor Track: Finished 24th in the 5,000 at the Pac-12 Championships ... season-best 5,000 time of 16:47.99 at the Mt. SAC Relays, finishing 12th, which ranks seventh all-time at Utah ... won the 3,000 at the Utah Spring Classic ... season-best 3,000 time of 9:52.03 against Oregon State ... honorable mention Pac-12 All-Academic.
2013 Cross Country: Posted an 83rd-place performance at the Pac-12 Championships ... clocked a season-best time of 23:08.28 (6k) for 41st in the open heat of the NCAA Pre-Nationals ... earned 30th in her collegiate debut at the Utah State Invitational. High School: Was a member of the 2010 cross country and 2011 track state championship teams ... earned four letters in both cross country and track ... high school personal bests include five-kilometer (19:02), 3,200 (11:20), and 1,600 (5:15) ... member of National Honor Society. Personal: Daughter of Pamela and Walter Sams ... majoring in health promotion and education ... went to Japan (2013) and Guatemala (2011) on two week service missions for the Washington Heights Church.
2014 Cross Country: Redshirt. 2014 Outdoor Track: Finished 12th in the 1,500 at the Trojan Invitational, recording a season-best time of 4:43.42 ... season-best mile time of 5:33.28 at the BYU Robison Invitational, finishing 11th ... season-best 3,000 steeplechase time of 11:31.75 at the Beach Invitational, finishing 13th.
2013 Cross Country: Scored team points with a 64th-place finish at the NCAA Mountain Regional Championships ... finished 68th at the Pac-12 Championships ... posted a team-best fifth-place finish running unattached at the Utah State Invitational.
2014 Cross Country: Finished 37th overall and was the second Ute to cross the line at the NCAA Regional Championships with a time of 22:14.75 ... earned 53rd at the Pac12 Championships with a season-best 6K time of 21:26.8 ... captured eighth in the three mile at the Montana State Invitational with a time of 17:33.25 ... placed 11th at the Nevada Twilight and 22nd at the Utah Open.
High School: Named All-Century League first-team twice ... earned league honors in the 1,600 and 3,200 events ... holds the school record in the 1,600 (5:03) and 3,200 (11:07) ... received a letter four years.
Becky Sarmiento
2014 Outdoor Track: Finished second in the 3,000 at the Utah Spring Classic with a season-best time of 10:36.05 ... season-best 5,000 time of 17:49.29 at the San Francisco State Distance Carnival ... fifth in the 5,000 at the Beach Invitational and eighth at the BYU Robison Invitational.
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2015 Indoor Track: Competed at the New Mexico Classic, finishing ninth in the mile (5:09.77) and 15th in the 3,000 (10:40.15) ... participated on the distance medley relay team twice during the season.
2014 Indoor Track: Ran the 3,000 at the MPSF Championships, finishing with a season-best time of 10:17.88 ... member of the distance medley relay team that finished seventh at the MPSF Championships ... earned eighth in the mile at the Bronco Invitational with a season-best time of 5:13.73.
2015 Indoor Track: Finished 29th in the 3,000 at the MPSF Championships ... season-best 3,000 time of 9:42.64 at the Husky Classic ranks sixth all-time at Utah ... finished fifth in the mile at the Bronco Invite (5:11.37) ... ran a time of 17:03.02 in the 5,000 at the Husky Classic, fifth-best all-time at Utah ... MPSF AllAcademic Team.
2014 Indoor Track: Improved her personal-best 3,000 time in all three meets during the season, with a time of 9:58.73 at the MPSF Indoor Championships ... ninth in the 3,000 at the UW Invitational ... captured 13th in the mile at the Bronco Invitational with a time of 5:21.99.
2015 Outdoor Track: Finished 10th at the Pac-12 Championships in the 3,000 steeplechase with a school-record time of 10:38.08 ... fourth in the 3,000 steeplechase at the Border Clash and 13th in the event at the San Francisco Distance Carnival ... finished fourth in the 3,000 at the Utah Spring Classic (10:40.18).
RS So. Orange, Calif. El Modena HS
Personal Bests 3,000 Steeplechase (Outdoor)
10:38.08
5,000 (Outdoor)
16:06.31
5,000 (Indoor)
16:43.50
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Personal: Daughter of John Jr. and Theresa Sarmiento ... majoring in pre-education ... enjoys reading.
HEADLINE PROFILES RETURNER Giselle Slotboom RS Jr. Sassenheim, Netherlands Jacksonville State
Personal Bests 5,000 (Outdoor)
17:07.15
1,500 (Outdoor)
4:37.06
2015 Outdoor Track: Did not compete.
CROSS COUNTRY
Prior to Utah: Named Ohio Valley Conference Cross Country Freshman of the Year at Jacksonville State in 2011 ... finished 21st at the NCAA South Region meet ... named to all-conference first team ... held nine school records when left (five indoor, four outdoor) ... finished third in the mile and was on the third-place distance medley relay team at the OVC indoor track conference championships while finishing fourth in the 3,000 ... three-time Dutch junior champion in the 3,000 steeplechase ... member of the 4x400 and 4x800 relay teams that finished second at the National Relay Junior Championships. Personal: Daughter of William Slotboom and Eveline Botter ... majoring in exercise and sports science ... hobbies include speed skating, reading, hiking, mountain biking, skiing and snowboarding.
2015 Indoor Track: Did not compete.
Dana Snell
2014 Cross Country: Did not compete. 2014 Outdoor Track: Redshirt.
Jr. Meridian, Idaho Rocky Mountain HS
2014 Indoor Track: Did not compete. 2013 Cross Country: Redshirt. 2013 Outdoor Track: Finished 19th in the 5,000 with a time of 17:34.48 at the Pac-12 Championships ... second at the Long Beach State Invitational with a season-best time of 17:07.15 in the 5,000, which ranks ninth all-time at Utah ... season-best time of 4:37.06 in the 1,500 at San Francisco ... Pac-12 Academic honorable mention. 2013 Indoor Track: Redshirt. 2012 Cross Country: Earned all-region accolades with a 12th-place finish at the NCAA Mountain Region Championships ... finished 39th at the Pac-12 Championships, running the final 5,000 meters with only one shoe ... placed fifth at the Montana State Bobcat Invitational ... finished 45th at the pre-national meet.
2014 Outdoor Track: Recorded a season-best time of 2:16.80 in the 800 at the Utah Spring Classic ... earned ninth in the 800 at the BYU Robison Invitational ... season-best 1,500 time of 4:41.76 at the San Francisco State Distance Carnival. 2014 Indoor Track: Finished 17th in the 800 at the UW Invitational with a season-best time of 2:19.51. 2013 Cross Country: Finished 76th at the Pac-12 Championships with a time of 24:16 ... placed 103rd at the NCAA Regional Championships ... captured 20th in the 5k at the Utah State Open ... earned 27th at the Utah Open. High School: At the state championship meet, she finished runner-up in the 800, third in the 3,200 and was a member of the 4x800 champion relay ... earned seventh at the state cross country championships ... three-year team captain, four-year letterwinner in both cross country and track ... member of Rocky Mountain High School’s Hall of Fame ... graduated with academic honors. Personal: Daughter of Cheryl and Dave Mulvihill ... anthropology major ... enjoys playing the piano.
Personal Bests 3,000 Steeplechase (Outdoor)
11:19.42
1,500 (Outdoor)
4:41.76
800 (Outdoor)
2:16.34
800 (Indoor)
2:19.51
2015 Outdoor Track: Season-best time in the 3,000 steeplechase of 11:19.42 at the San Francisco Distance Carnival, which ranks seventh all-time at Utah ... sixth in the 3,000 steeple at the Border Clash ... won the mile at the Robison Invitational (5:15.41) ... eighth in the 1,500 at the Weber State Open (4:48.13) ... 12th in the 800 at the Utah Spring Classic (2:16.34). 2015 Indoor Track: Finished 14th in the 1,000 at the Bronco Invite (3:12.28) ... 24th in the 800 at the New Mexico Classic (2:21.27). 2014 Cross Country: Finished 98th at the Pac-12 Championships with a time of 22:39.1 ... placed 21st in the four mile at the Utah Open with a time of 15:38.4 ... earned 29th at the Nevada Twilight and was 30th at the MSU Invitational ... Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention.
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RETURNERHEADLINE PROFILES
CROSS COUNTRY
Kate Stringfellow RS Sr. Salt Lake City, Utah Highland HS
Personal Bests 10,000 (Outdoor)
36:48.06
5,000 (Outdoor)
17:20.05
3,000 (Indoor)
10:35.97
1,500 (Outdoor)
4:46.20
On Stringfellow: Returning to the Utes following a two-year LDS Mission ... two-time track Pac-12 All-Academic ... two-time cross country Pac-12 All-Academic ... 2013 MPSF All-Academic. 2013 Outdoor Track: Finished 12th in the 10,000 at the Pac-12 Championships ... season-best 10,000 time of 36:48.06 at the Mt. SAC Relays ... 16th in the 5,000 at the San Francisco State Distance Carnival (17:20.05) ... eighth at the Trojan Invitational in the 3,000 (10:07.32) ... second in the 1,500 at the Robison Invitational (4:46.20) ... second-team Pac-12 AllAcademic. 2013 Indoor Track: Season-best 3,000 time of 10:35.97 at the Husky Classic ... time of 17:59.83 in the 5,000 at the Husky Classic ... MPSF All-Academic Team. 2012 Cross Country: Finished 86th at the NCAA Regional Championships ... 82nd at the Pac-12 Championships ... posted a 22nd-place performance at the Nevada Twilight ... finished 196th at the NCAA Pre-Nationals in a time of 22:31.8 ... 107th at the Stanford Invitational with a time of 22:43.1 ... second team Pac-12 AllAcademic.
2011 Cross Country: Finished 103rd at the Pac-12 Championships with a time of 23:06 ... finished 15th at the Nevada Twilight with a time of 15:59 ... earned 12th at the UNLV Invitational with time of 19:23 ... Pac-12 AllAcademic honorable mention. 2011 Outdoor Track: Clocked a fourth-place finish time of 19:02.61 in the 5,000 at the Robison Invitational ... fourth in the 5,000 at the BYU Twilight and seventh in the event at the Utah State Invitational ... earned 18th in the 1,500 at the UVU Invite with a time of 5:09.04. 2011 Indoor Track: Won the mile with a season-best time of 5:30.64 at the Wildcat Open ... season-best 3,000 time of 10:49.95 at the Bronco Open ... 2nd in the 3,000 at the Mountain State Games. 2010 Cross Country: Redshirt. High School: All-state cross country selection three years in a row ... academic all-state ... team captain for two years ... region champion in cross country ... fourth place overall at state cross country meet ... personal records include 18:08 (3 mile) and 19:35 (5,000) ... Highland High School Female Athlete of the Year in 2009 ... Senior Highland Ram Award in 2010 ... three time region champion in 1,600 ... region champion in track and field for the 3,200, 4x400, and medley relay ... was class valedictorian with a 4.0 cumulative GPA ... also played volleyball ... member of National Honor Society. Personal: Daughter of Brent and Laurie Stringfellow ... youngest of five siblings ... hobbies include playing piano, reading and playing the guitar ... mathematics major.
2012 Outdoor Track: Recorded a season-best 5,000 performance at the Robison Invitational earning a time of 18:36.49 and placing sixth ... fourth in the 5,000 at the Utah Spring Classic while finishing seventh in the event at the UVU Invite ... earned eighth in the 1,500 with a time of 5:04.65 at the Wildcat Invitational ... Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention. 2012 Indoor Track: Clocked a season-best time of 10:50.58 in the 3,000 at the Bronco Open, finishing ninth ... earned third at the Mountain States Games in the 3,000.
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Sadie Wassum So. Worland, Wyo. Worland HS
2015 Outdoor Track: Redshirt. 2015 Indoor Track: Redshirt. 2014 Cross Country: Finished 14th in the four mile at the Utah Open with a time of 15:18.1 ... earned 25th in the three mile at the Montana State Invitational with a time of 18:08.74 ... placed 97th at the Washington Invitational with a season-best 6K time of 22:16.2 ... finished 62nd at the ISU Pre-National Invite. High School: Won the Wyoming 3A state championship in the 400 in 2014 and was second in the 800 and third in the 200 ... two-time indoor state champion in the 800 (2013 and 2014) ... finished third at the state cross country meet in both 2013 and 2012, earning all-state honors ... lettered four years in cross country... personal bests of 19:27 (5k), 2:16.27 (800) and 57.94 (400) ... named captain of the varsity soccer team. Personal: Daughter of Charlie and Becky Wassum ... has not declared a major ... second of five children ... hobbies include reading, ultimate frisbee, and playing the piano.
HEADLINE PROFILES NEWCOMER
CROSS COUNTRY
Hannah Allred
Millika Holbrook
Megan Spehar
Fr. Ogden, Utah Ogden HS
Fr. North Salt Lake, Utah Woods Cross HS
Fr. Bountiful, Utah Bountiful HS
High School: Finished eighth at the 4A Utah state cross country championships in 2014 … seventh in the 3,200 at the Utah state indoor meet in 2015 ... fifth at the 2015 Simplot Games in the 3,200 ... personal best time of 11:11.99 in the 3,200 with a 5-km cross country time of 18:44 ... has a 3.69 grade point average and is planning to major in pre-medicine.
High School: Won the Region 6 Championship in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 in 2015 … finished sixth in the state in the 1,600 in 2015 … fourth in the state at the 4A cross country championships in 2013, finishing 10th in 2014 … won the cross country Region 6 Championship in 2012 … personal-best high school times of 2:19.42 in the 800, 5:08.19 in the 1,600 and 11:08.96 in the 3,200.
High School: Two-year state championship qualifier in the 1,600 and 3,200 and two-year cross country state championship qualifier … finished fourth in Region 6 as a senior in both the 1,600 and the 3,200 … won Region 6 in 2013 in the 3,200 and finished second in both the 1,600 and 800 … sixth in the region in cross country as a sophomore.
Major: Undeclared (Pre-Med).
Major: Pre-Business.
Major: Undeclared.
Caitlin Faust
Lauren Roberts
Fr. Stone Mountain, Ga. Marist School
Fr. La Jolla, Calif. La Jolla HS
High School: Georgia state 4A champion in the 800 in 2014 and helped Marist finish third in the 4x400 relay ... finished third in the state at the 2014 cross country championships ... finished third in the 1,000 at the 2015 New Balance Indoor Nationals … third in the 800 at the USATF South Zone Indoor Youth Championships … third in the state in the 800 in 2013 ... personal bests include 2:59.57 in the 1,000, 2:10.68 in the 800 and 56.08 in the 400 along with a best 5-km cross country time of 18:35.
High School: Three-time CIF State Championship cross country qualifier … best cross country division finish 4th in 2013 with three total top-10 finishes … finished second in the Western League in the 1,600 in track in 2013 and third in 2014 … 4th in the league in the 3,200 in 2013 and 10th in 2014 … 11th in the league in the 800 in 2015 … best high school times include 5:11.70 in the 1,600, 11:35.69 in the 3,200 and 2:28.33 in the 800.
Major: Undeclared (Pre-Biomedical Engineering).
Pre-Psychology.
Major:
Jocelyn Todd Fr. St. Louis, Mo. University of Iowa
Prior to Utah: Spent four years at Iowa, competing in both cross country and track ... best finish at the Big 10 Cross Country Championships was 72nd in 2014 ... competed at the 2014 Midwest Region Cross Country Championships ... three-time cross country Academic All-Big Ten ... three-time Big Ten Conference Distinguished Scholar ... best indoor track times include 5:05.52 in the mile, 10:07.06 in the 3,000 and 18:01.56 in the 5,000 ... competed in the mile at the 2013 Big 10 Championships ... best outdoor times include 10:10.46 in the 3,000 and 4:40.72 in the 1,500 ... ran the 1,500 at the Big 10 Championships in 2013 ... 2013 track Academic AllBig Ten ... 2014 track team captain ... three-time all-state in cross country at Ladue Horton Watkins High School, with a best finish of third as a junior ... helped lead the team to a third-place finish as a senior ... two-time district champion ... three-time All-Metro ... three-time team MVP ... finished in the top 10 in the state twice in the 3,200 and as a senior in the 1,600 in track ... scholar-athlete. Major: Biomedical Engineering (PHD) ... earned a bachelor of science in engineering from Iowa ... received a 2015 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship.
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2014HEADLINE RESULTS
CROSS COUNTRY
2014 SEASON SUMMARY • The Utes placed ninth at the Pac-12 Championships and seventh at the NCAA Mountain Regional Championships. • Freshman Sarah Feeney won in her first collegiate race at the Montana State Invitational. She led Utah at the Pac-12 Championships (41st) and at the NCAA Regional Championships (32nd), just missing qualifying for the national meet. • Sophomore Jessica Sams finished the season with arguably two of the best performances of her collegiate career, finishing 53rd at the Pac-12 Championships and 37th at the NCAA Regional Championships. • Senior Rebekah Winterton finished the season 43rd at the NCAA Regional Championships and 49th at Pac-12’s. She was 16th at the Washington Invitational. • More than half the roster was made of freshmen and sophomores, with three seniors (Winterton, Lauren Mills and Nikki Rietz) all finishing their careers at Utah.
SCHEDULE AND TEAM RESULTS Aug. 29 Sept. 5 Sept. 20 Oct. 4 Oct. 18 Oct. 31 Nov. 14
Nevada Twilight Classic Utah Open Montana State Invitational Washington Invitational Indiana State Pre-Nationals Invitational Pac-12 Championships NCAA Regional Championships
Sparks, Nev. Salt Lake City Bozeman, Mont. Seattle, Wash. Terre Haute, Ind. Oakland, Calif. Albuquerque, N.M.
2nd 2nd 2nd 10th 13th 9th 7th Sarah Feeny was Utah’s top finisher at NCAA Regionals.
MEET-BY-MEET INDIVIDUAL RESULTS Andrea Chavez (R-Jr.) Makenzie Clark (So.) Shaylen Crook (Fr.) Sarah Feeny (Fr.) Dakota Grossman (Fr.) Susannah Hurst (Sr.) Claire MacMillan (Fr.) Hannah McInturff (R-Fr.) Lauren Mills (Sr.) Nicole Rietz (Sr.) Jessica Sams (So.) Becky Sarmiento (So.) Alex Shaw-Villagrana (R-Jr.) Giselle Slotboom (R-Jr.) Dana Snell (So.) Alyssa Stetler (R-So.) Sadie Wassum (Fr.) Rebekah Winterton (R-Sr.)
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Nevada Twilight Utah MSU Washington NCAA Pac-12 NCAA Classic Open Invitational Invitational Pre-Nationals Champ. Regionals (4K) (4K) (3 Mile) (6K) (6K) (6K) (6K) 28th 31st 6th DNR 21st DNR DNR DNR 5th 4th 9th DNR DNR DNR 27th DNR 25th DNR
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24th 33rd 8th DNR 17th 20th DNR DNR 7th 6th 22nd DNR DNR DNR 21st DNR 14th DNR
34th 70th 19th 1st 50th DNR DNR 12th 22nd 7th 8th DNR DNR DNR 30th DNR 25th 6th
81st 107th 44th 82nd 96th DNR DNR 52nd 84th 77th 61st DNR DNR DNR 102nd DNR 97th 16th
25th (open) 42nd (open) 118th 68th 23rd (open) DNR DNR 107th (tie) 254th 177th 137th DNR DNR DNR 46th (open) DNR 62nd (open) 77th
91st DNR 55th 41st 100th DNR DNR 61st 90th 88th 53rd DNR DNR DNR 98th DNR DNR 49th
DNR DNR 75th 32nd DNR DNR DNR 86th 78th 59th 37th DNR DNR DNR DNR DNR DNR 43rd
HEADLINE RECORD BOOK HONORS ALL-AMERICANS Jill Molen Carla Pittelkow Mary Lou Sedgewick Jill Molen Celsa Bowman Amanda Mergaert * AIAW
CROSS COUNTRY
ACADEMIC HONORS 1981* 1981* 1981* 1982 1987 2012
NCAA QUALIFIERS 2013: Rebekah Winterton 2012: Amanda Mergaert 2011: Amanda Mergaert 2010: Amanda Mergaert 2008: Alyssa Abbott 2004: Elise Greenwood-Bahr 1999: Johanna Nielsen 1996: Lauren Adams Johanna Trevenen 1987: Cesla Bowman 1982: Jill Molen ALL-REGION 2013: Rebekah Winterton Susannah Hurst 2012: Amanda Mergaert Giselle Slotboom 2011: Amanda Mergaert Alyssa Abbott 2010: Amanda Mergaert 2008: Alyssa Abbott Chelsea Digrazia
USTFCCCA ALL-ACADEMIC 2013: Rebekah Winterton 2012: Giselle Slotbom 2011: Alyssa Abbott 2010: Amanda Mergaert 2008: Alyssa Abbott USTFCCCA ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM 1995 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2013 2014
Amanda Mergaert was a three-time NCAA qualifier from 2010-12, earning All-America honors as a senior.
ALL-CONFERENCE ALL-PAC-12 2013: Rebekah Winterton (2nd team) 2012: Amanda Mergaert (1st team) 2011: Amanda Mergaert (2nd team) ALL-MWC 2010: Amanda Mergaert (1st Team) 2008: Alyssa Abbott (1st Team) Chelsea DiGrazia (2nd Team) 2004: Elise Greenwood-Bahr (1st Team) 2003: Elise Greenwood (1st Team) 2002: Charity Vernon (2nd Team) 1999: Johanna Nielsen (1st Team)
Cesla Bowman earned All-America honors in 1987.
Jill Molen was a two-time All-American at Utah.
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UNIVERSITYHEADLINE OF UTAH
CROSS COUNTRY
Founded in 1850, the University of Utah prepares students to live and compete in the global workplace. The U. encompasses 1,500 acres in the foothills of the Wasatch Mountain range. Utah became a member of the Pac-12 Conference on July 1, 2011. With an enrollment of over 31,000, the U. offers 100 undergraduate and more than 90 graduate level fields of study. It has earned a top-tier grading from the Academic Ranking of World Universities for 11 consecutive years, and offers nationally-ranked programs in law, pharmacy, mathematics, business, biomedical engineering, family medicine, life sciences, entertainment arts and engineering. The U. made CollegeAtlas.org’s 2014 A-List— which grades schools on academic quality, accessibility and affordability—ranking in the top 12 for both in-state and out-of-state tuition.
RESEARCH
The University of Utah ranks among the top public research universities in the nation. From universitydeveloped technology, the U. has launched nearly 127 new startups over the last seven years, consistently placing it in the top 10 in the nation for university startup creation. Geneticist Mario R. Capecchi received the 2007 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his work on gene targeting. Çağan Şekercioğlu, assistant professor of biology, won the Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey’s highest prize for 2014. Peter J. Stang, distinguished professor of chemistry, received the 2013 Priestley Medal and 2011 National Medal of Science for his pioneering work in supramolecular chemistry.
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TECHNOLOGY AND COMPUTER SCIENCES
In 2015, the U.’s entertainment arts and engineering program was ranked first in the country for the second time in three years. The University’s School of Computing was founded in 1965, and began a pioneering legacy in computer graphics and visualization that continues today. The internationally-recognized Scientific Computing & Imaging Institute is a leader in creating new scientific computing techniques, tools and systems to help solve wide-ranging challenges of human life. The College of Engineering was ranked 57th by U.S. News & World Report in 2014.
MEDICINE
University of Utah Health Care was named one of the “100 Great Hospitals in America” in 2013, and in 2012 ranked among the top 10 academic medical centers in the nation for the third year running. The Utah Genome Project is one of several innovative medical research programs at the U. Other notable programs include the Huntsman Cancer Institute, the Clinical Neurosciences Center and the Moran Eye Center.
BUSINESS SCHOOL
The David Eccles School of Business’ undergraduate program was ranked No. 47 by U.S. News & World Report in 2014. It also rated in the top 25 for entrepreneurship for the fourth straight year by the Princeton Review. The Executive MBA program was ranked 30th in the nation by Financial Times.
LAW SCHOOL
The S.J. Quinney College of Law was ranked second in the nation, just behind Yale Law School, for student clinical opportunities according to data compiled by National Jurist magazine in 2014.
A TOP 100 UNIVERSITY Among the U’s nationallyranked programs are law, pharmacy, mathematics, business, biomedical engineering, family medicine, entertainment arts and engineering.
UTAH ATHLETICS HISTORY
The latest chapter in Ute athletics history began on July 1, 2011, when Utah officially became a member of the Pac-12 Conference. But Utah’s reputation as an athletics power was established long before it joined the “Conference of Champions.” Utah had one of its best years ever in 201415. Gymnastics was the NCAA the runner-up, skiing placed third, men’s basketball made the Sweet 16 and football was No. 21 in the final AP poll. Volleyball, men’s swimming and softball also finished in the top 25. Football is 642-446-31 in its 121-year history. In the mid-1990s, the Utes evolved into a national force and won nine consecutive bowl games from 1999-2009, tying for the second-longest bowl winning streak on record. The original “BCS Buster,” Utah was 2-0 in BCS games with wins over Alabama (2009 Sugar Bowl) and Pittsburgh (2005 Fiesta Bowl). The Utes have finished in the nation’s Top 25 six times, including a No. 2 ranking in 2008 and No. 4 in 2004. Utah has sold-out every game in Rice-Eccles Stadium since the 2010 opener. Men’s Basketball has thrived throughout its history, winning an NCAA Championship in 1944 and finishing as the runner-up in 1998. Utah also won national championships in 1916 (AAU) and 1947 (NIT). The Runnin’ Utes have advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 on 10 occasions and are one of seven programs that have reached the regional semifinals at least once every decade since the 1950s. Utah ranks among the NCAA’s top 15 in all-time victories (1,732) and winning percentage (.644). It also sits fifth among all NCAA teams with 32 regular-season conference titles. Utah’s 28 NCAA Tournament appearances and 37 NCAA Tournament wins also rank in the top 25.
CROSS COUNTRY
Women’s Gymnastics boasts 10 national championships and nine runner-up finishes. Utah is the only school to qualify for all 34 NCAA Gymnastics Championships and has captured the most All-America awards. The Red Rocks also claimed the school’s first-ever Pac-12 titles in 2014 in ‘15. Utah holds every gymnastics attendance record, including highest single-meet attendance (16,019 in 2015) and highest season attendance average (14,950 in 2015). Utah has led the nation in gymnastics attendance 31 times and won its fifth all-women’s sports attendance title in 2014-15. Women’s Basketball has averaged over 20 wins a season since its start back in 1974-75 and ranks 16th in the NCAA in all-time winning percentage (.687). The Ute women have received 17 NCAA Tournament invites since 1982—advancing to the Sweet 16 twice and the Elite Eight once. They have won 22 conference championships. Utah was the WNIT runner-up in 2013. The Men’s and Women’s Ski Team has captured 10 NCAA Championships, including five in the 1980s and three in the 1990s. Volleyball has participated in 12 of the last 17 NCAA Tournaments with two Sweet 16 finishes. Softball has qualified for the postseason 19 times (14 NCAA) and has five College World Series appearances (four NCAA). Women’s Soccer has played in the NCAA Tournament in six of the last 13 years. Baseball won the 2009 Mountain West tournament and claimed two victories at the NCAA Regional. Other Ute athletic highlights include: Men’s Tennis (24 conference championships), Women’s Tennis (three-consecutive NCAA appearances from 2010-12), Men’s Swimming and Diving (24 conference championships, No. 22 NCAA finish in 2015), Women’s Swimming and Diving (2006 MWC champion) and Women’s Cross Country (1981 AIAW Division II National Champion).
TWO NO. 1 PICKS IN THE SAME YEAR Utah made NCAA history in 2004-05 when it became the only school ever to produce a No. 1 NFL and NBA draft pick in the same year. Quarterback Alex Smith was taken by the San Francisco 49ers and center Andrew Bogut went to the Milwaukee Bucks.
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WHO’S WHO AT THE U
CROSS COUNTRY
The University of Utah boasts many distinguished alumni, among them professional athletes, inventors, actors, politicians, educators, entrepreneurs, authors, university and church presidents and scientists. The names that follow (alphabetically) belong to some of the most recognizable public figures to attend the U. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
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Jamal Anderson, 1999 NFL Pro Bowl, led NFC in rushing Mike Anderson, 2001 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Rocky Anderson, former mayor of Salt Lake City Alan Ashton, co-founder of WordPerfect Corp. Zane Beadles, 2014 Super Bowl starter, 2012 Pro Bowl Terrel H. Bell, former U.S. Secretary of Education Bob Bennett, former U.S. Senator Andrew Bogut, 2015 NBA champion with Golden State, No. 1 draft pick in 2005 Nolan Bushnell, co-founder of Atari and inventor of Pong Orson Scott Card, award-winning science fiction author Ron Carlson, award-winning fiction author Ed Catmull, co-founder and president of Pixar, Disney Animation Jim Clark, co-founder of Silicon Graphics, Netscape, WebMD Stephen Covey, authored The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People C.J. Cron, Los Angeles Angels 1B/DH, 2011 MLB first round draft pick Keene Curtis, Tony Award winning actor Andre Dyson, 2006 Super Bowl starter Kevin Dyson, “Music City Miracle” put Titans in 1999 Super Bowl Spence Eccles, prominent financier and philanthropist Larry EchoHawk, former head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs LaVell Edwards (MS), former BYU football coach Luther Elliss, two-time NFL Pro Bowler Lily Eskelsen, vice president of the National Education Association David Evans, groundbreaking computer scientist Richard Paul Evans, authored best seller The Christmas Box Arnie Ferrin, NBA, former Utah athletics director Mark Fuller, president and CEO of WET Design Jake Garn, former U.S. Senator E. Gordon Gee, former president of Ohio State University Larry Gluth, vice president with Habitat for Humanity Bill Gore, inventor of Gore-Tex fabric Henri Gouraud, computer scientist invented Gouraud shading Jordan Gross, 2004 Super Bowl starter and two-time Pro Bowl starter Lee Grosscup, popularized “shovel pass,” former ABC football analyst Ann Weaver Hart, 21st president of University of Arizona Gordon B. Hinckley, 15th president of the Mormon Church
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Jon. M. Huntsman Jr., former U.S. Ambassador to China, former governor of Utah Mickey Ibarra, former White House director of intergovernmental affairs Robert Jarvik, MD, inventor of the Jarvik-7 artificial heart Alan C. Kay, innovator of overlapping windows concept for PCs Frederick Kempe, president and CEO of the Atlantic Council Kay Atkinson King, a director for the U.S. House of Representatives Blaine Lindgren, Olympic silver medalist in track Missy Marlowe, Olympic gymnast, NCAA champion J. Willard Marriott, founder of Marriott International Inc. Bob McDonald, former chair, president and CEO of Proctor & Gamble David O. McKay, ninth president of the Mormon Church Andre Miller, ranks in the NBA’s top 10 in career assists Wat Misaka, only Japanese-American to play in the NBA Leilani Mitchell, WNBA starting point guard, currently with Phoenix Charles K. Monfort, owner/general partner of the Colorado Rockies Thomas S. Monson, 16th president of the Mormon Church John Naisbett, author of the bestseller Megatrends David Neeleman, founder and former CEO of JetBlue Airways John C. Nelson, MD, advisor to the National Institutes of Health Martin Newell, computer scientist invented the Utah teapot John Nogawski, former president and COO for CBS TV distribution Raymond Noorda, former president, CEO and chair of Novell Inc. Jody Olsen, former deputy director of the Peace Corps Martha Raddatz, chief foreign correspondent for ABC News Simon Ramo, scientist developed the intercontinental ballistic missile Calvin Rampton, Utah’s only three-term governor Holly Rowe, ESPN sideline reporter and play-by-play John W. Ryan, former president of Indiana University Cecil O. Samuelson, 12th president of Brigham Young University George Seifert, former NFL coach won two Super Bowls Rocco Siciliano, special assistant to President Eisenhower Alex Smith, No. 1 NFL draft pick in 2005, 2014 Pro Bowl Sean Smith, NFL starter for the Kansas City Chiefs Steve Smith, five-time Pro Bowler led NFL in receiving in 2005 Wallace Stegner, Pulitzer Prize winning author Jane Summerhays, Tony Award-nominated actress Laurel Thatcher, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Keith Van Horn, No. 2 NBA draft pick averaged 16 pts in 10-year career Olene Walker, first woman governor of Utah John Warnock, co-founder of Adobe Systems Inc. Eric Weddle, five-time All-Pro safety for NFL’s San Diego Chargers Brad Wilkins, architect of the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa of Dubai Terry Tempest Williams, author and environmentalist Larry Wilson, NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame Evelyn Wood, speed reading innovator
HEADLINE SALT LAKE CITY
CROSS COUNTRY
Adam Barker
BEST CITY From being rated the fifthbest city for the next decade by Kiplingler’s Personal Finance Magazine to the best hiking city in America by National Geographic, Salt Lake City has something for everyone.
Home to the University of Utah and the state’s capital city, Salt Lake City blends the amenities of a major metropolitan area with beautiful natural surroundings. Featuring the majestic 11,000-foot peaks of the Wasatch Mountains to the east, and the Great Salt Lake and Oquirrh Mountains to the west, Salt Lake City is surrounded by majestic views in all directions. Its metro area population of 1.1 million ranks in the top 50 in the United States.
LIVING IN SALT LAKE
Named one of America’s friendliest cities by Travel+Leisure magazine, Salt Lake is the largest city in the state with 191,180 residents and has an ethnic population of 37 percent according to 2013 census figures. Its literacy rate, percentage of high school graduates, and percentage of college-educated citizens ranks among the best in the nation. Salt Lake has a moderate four-season climate with an average 237 days of sunshine and 15% humidity. With projects ranging from the renovation of historic buildings to the construction of new office towers, condominiums and apartments, Salt Lake City has been in a perpetual state of growth in recent years. Citing a favorable cost of living and low unemployment rate, Greatist.com listed Salt Lake City among its “20 best cities for 20-somethings” in October 2014.
ENTERTAINMENT
Salt Lake City was rated by Livability.com as the “No. 5 Best Downtown in America” in March 2015. It features a wide range of dining options, live music, two large modern malls, a diverse array of specialty stores, art galleries, professional symphony, opera, theater, dance, and cultural and ethnic festivals. The city played host to the 2002 Winter Olympics. The opening and closing ceremonies and the athletes’
village were located on the University of Utah campus. Salt Lake City annually joins forces with nearby resort town Park City to host the Sundance Film Festival. Professional sports franchises in Salt Lake City include the Utah Jazz of the NBA and Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer. Other franchises are the Salt Lake Bees (AAA baseball), the Utah Grizzlies (hockey) and the Salt Lake Monarchs (USL soccer).
OUTDOOR RECREATION
Some of the best skiing, fly fishing, backpacking, mountain biking, rock climbing and river running found anywhere in the world is easily accessible. Eleven major ski resorts are within an hour drive from downtown. Three of those resorts were listed among the “Top 10 in the U.S.” by Forbes in November 2014, including No. 2 Snowbird, No. 3 Alta and No. 10 Solitude. Salt Lake was also recognized as “one of the top 10 mountain-biking cities in North America” by Singletracks. com in March 2014 and “America’s best hiking city” by National Geographic in May 2012. Ten national parks are within a day’s drive.
BUSINESS
Forbes named Utah as the “Best State for Business and Careers” for the fourth time in five years in December 2014, and recognized Salt Lake City as one of the major industrial banking, healthcare and transportation centers in the U.S. Several publications have taken note of Salt Lake’s high number of “creative class” workers—including artists, scientists, engineers, and others in technology fields. Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine ranked Salt Lake the “No. 5 Best City for the Next Decade” in 2010.
TRANSPORTATION
Salt Lake International Airport, a Delta Airlines hub, is located just 20 minutes from campus and offers direct flights to 80 U.S. cities and nine international destinations. TRAX light rail provides access to downtown Salt Lake, the University of Utah, the airport and many of the suburbs. W W W. U TA H U T E S . C O M
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