April 1, 2014
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IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa track and field program announced Tuesday that 13 student-athletes have signed national letters of intent to attend the University of Iowa. Nine women and four men will join the Hawkeyes in the fall of 2014.
“Every year we look for high-character individuals that will contribute to the mission of this team,” said UI director of track and field Larry Wieczorek. “I believe this group will serve as great representatives of our program, and show up every day ready to compete for championships.”
The women include hurdler Jahisha Thomas, sprinter Sheridan Champe, middle distance runner Isabella Smith, distance runners Anna Eisenzimmer, Taylor Majher and Anne Reischmann, and throwers Leah Colbert, Paige Hackman, and Kayla Hochhalter.
The men include distance runner Michael Melchert, middle distance runner Carter Lilly, and sprinters Ryan Dorman, Noah Larrison.
“We strive to be a balanced program with contenders in every event,” added Wieczorek, “and this class will aid that balance. We’re excited to welcome them to campus.”
Jahisha Thomas – Hurdles and Jumps – Great Britain
Personal Best:
60-meter hurdles: 8.59
100-meter hurdles: 14.14
Long Jump: 6.04 meters
What Clive Roberts says about Thomas: “Great addition to the program. She will definitely fill an area of need in the hurdles and horizontal jumps. She was high school teammates with Babatunde Amosu, the Big Ten triple jump champion, and she shows great promise.”
Sheridan Champe – Sprints – Amherst, Ohio (Amherst Steele)
Personal Best:
400 meters: 55.75
Notes on Champe: placed seventh at 2013 Ohio state championships in 400 meters.
What Roberts says about Champe: “Sheridan just started doing the 400 last year and she should add tremendous depth to an already strong young group of sprinters. We’re very excited to have her.” Leah Colbert – Throws — Troy Mo. (Buchanan)
Personal Best:
Hammer Throw: 163-7 (2012)
Notes on Colbert: Competes in the weight throw, discus, and shot put.
What Cappos says about Colbert: “Leah is a top recruit in the hammer despite not having the hammer throw as an official event in her state. She is also an outstanding thrower in the shot put and discus. Iowa has developed one of the best hammer throwing groups in the nation and adding Leah will help maintain and strengthen the throwing tradition at Iowa.”
Ryan Dorman — Middle Distance — Iowa City, Iowa (City High)
Personal Bests:
800 meters: 1:56.7
Notes on Dorman: placed sixth in 800 meters in Class 4A and ran on the 2013 state champion 1,600-meter relay with current Hawkeyes Brook Price and Mohamed Traore.
What Joey Woody says about Dorman: “Ryan is a local athlete from Iowa City and one of the top middle distance runners in the state of Iowa. He has amazing range from the 400 to the mile. We are looking for Ryan to continue to progress throughout his senior track season after a successful cross country season, and add another great talent along with Carter to our talented middle-distance group.”
Anna Eisenzimmer – Distance – Mineral Point, Wis. (Mineral Point)
Personal Best:
3,200 meters: 11:05.03
4,000 meters: 14:44
Notes on Eisenzimmer: placed fourth in the 3,200 meters at the 2012 state meet with a personal-best time of 11:05.03.
What Layne Anderson says about Eisenzimmer: “Anna Eisenzimmer is a young lady with tremendous potential. An outstanding student, she really adds depth to our group and will be a name to really watch in the future.”
Paige Hackman – Throws/Combined Events – Woodbine, Iowa (Woodbine)
What Scott Cappos says about Hackman: “Paige has shown a lot of promise with limited exposure to combined events. She expressed a desire to be a Hawkeye and I know she’ll come to campus ready to work.”
Kayla Hochhalter – Throws – Carrington, N.D. (Carrington)
Personal Best:
Javelin: 144-11
Notes on Hochhalter: 2013 discus state champion… state runner-up in the shot put… placed third in the javelin at the 2013 state meet.
What Scott Cappos says about Hochhalter: “Kayla is a great all-around athlete and one of the leading javelin throwers in the country. She throws three events and will be a force in the Big Ten immediately.”
Noah Larrison – Sprints – Clive, Iowa (Waukee)
Personal Best:
400 Meter Hurdles: 53.74
Notes on Larrison: placed third in in 400 meter hurdles and was 2013 state champion on the 1,600-meter relay.
What Joey Woody says about Larrison: “Noah is a tremendous athlete with great range. He is one of the top hurdlers in Iowa, and has the ability to compete at a high level in the 110 and 400 hurdles in college. Noah has the athletic ability, speed, and endurance needed to perform at a high level in the Big Ten.”
Carter Lilly – Middle Distance – Sioux City, Iowa (Sioux City East)
Personal Best:
800 Meter: 1:54.61
Notes on Lilly: State runner-up in 800 meters in 2013.
What Joey Woody says about Lilly: “Carter is the top returning 800 meter runner in Iowa. We are very excited how he has progressed over the last two years and expect him to be a big contributor to our current group of 800 meter runners. Carter has great speed, and the determination and work ethic we like to see in our athletes.”
Taylor Majher – Distance – Naperville, Ill. (Metea Valley) Personal Best:
1,600 meters: 5:13
What Layne Anderson says about Majher: “We are excited to have Taylor in the program as she has shown tremendous potential to develop as collegiate distance runner. She was excited from day one about the potential to be a Hawkeye and she will add great depth to our cross country program and middle distance group on the track.”
Michael Melchert – Distance – Monticello, Iowa (Monticello) Personal Bests:
Two Mile: 9:19
Notes on Melchert: 2013 State Champion in the 3,200 and 1,600 meters, and distance medley relay… ran on the third-place finishing 1,600-meter relay team at the 2013 state meet… 2013 cross country state champion (15:18.20).
What Larry Wieczorek says about Melchert: “Michael brings a wide range of talent to the Hawkeyes. He has a rare blend of speed and stamina. He brings a winning attitude with him from Monticello High School which is one of the top high school programs in the state of Iowa. I look for him to have an immediate impact next fall in cross country and the versatility to run middle or long distance events for the track team.”
Anne Reischmann – Distance – Ravensburg, Germany (Kontstanz)
Personal Bests:
800 meters: 2:12
1,500 meters: 4:25
6,000 meters: 21:10
Notes on Reischman: two-time German national team member.
What Layne Anderson says about Reischmann: “Anne is the type of athlete we anticipate will contribute to both our cross country and track and field programs. She has great range and is showing great potential in the longer distances. She arrives with similar credentials to Mareike Schrulle and we feel equally excited about her potential as a Hawkeye.”
Isabella Smith – Middle Distance – Queensland, Australia
Personal Bests:
1,500 meters: 4:31
800 meters: 2:11
What Layne Anderson says about Smith: “Bella is one of the top junior middle distance runners in Australia and just recently finished second in the Under-18 National 1,500-meter final. She has competed internationally for Australia and brings a real desire to work and grow both academically and athletically. She is a tremendous addition to an area in a middle distance program that is a great strength.”