Cavalier Track and Field Adds Five Throwers for 2009
PORTLAND, Ore.—With six individual national champions in three years, the Concordia University throwing program will look to keep its momentum going with the addition of five signings to the 2008-09 track and field recruiting class, head coach Randy Dalzell announced.
Joining the Cavaliers next season will be Bo Johnson (Toledo, Ore.), Matthew Webster (Indianapolis, Ind.) and Jesse Staub (Wilsonville, Ore.) on the men’s side and Kristine Leonard (Lakeland, Idaho) and Emily Redmayne-Titley (Aloha, Ore.) for the women.
“This group of throwers adds more depth to an already very talented group in some key areas,” Dalzell said. “We are excited to add these young men and women to the track program and believe that each will have a significant impact on the team’s performance on both the conference and national level.”
Staub capped his senior year by scoring in three events at the 5A state meet for Wilsonville High School after scoring second-place results in the discus and the javelin as well as placing fourth in the shot put. As a junior, Staub captured the 5A state javelin crown and set the school record in the event this past season with a mark of 208-3. In addition, Staub holds personal records of 54-1 1/4 in the shot put and 168-10 in the discus. Staub was also a standout on the Wildcat football and basketball teams, captaining both squads and earning all-state status on the gridiron.
Johnson completed his career at Toledo High School with a 3A state championship in the discus, having thrown a career-best 167-4 at the meet. Johnson also placed sixth in the shot put to help the Boomers to a ninth-place team finish. Johnson holds personal-best marks of 46-10 in the shot and 146-1 in the hammer. He also has contributed on a number of relay squads throughout his prep career.
Webster will come to Concordia after a leading Warren Central High School (Indianapolis, Ind.) to a pair of state championships. Webster earned all-state honors with a seventh-place finish after recording a 164-7 in the discus. Webster tossed a season-best 171-8 last year and holds the school record in the event. He also went 50-7 in the shot put for the Warriors.
“Jesse is one of the top high school javelin throwers in the nation and has the athleticism to be a fine decathlete,” Dalzell said. “Matt and Bo are excellent discus throwers that could also be very competitive for us in the hammer.”
Leonard was a three-time letterwinner for Idaho’s Lakeland High School. As a senior, Leonard scored a win in the shot put at the 4A state championships with a 43-5 launch and added a third-place toss in the discus throw after posting a 122-6. With school records of 43-5 in the shot and a 134-1 in the discus, Leonard had the top mark among Idaho 4A schools in both events. Leonard was a part of the school-record 800-meter relay team and also competed in the 100- and the 300-meter hurdles.
Redmayne-Tilly finished the season ranked No. 2 among Oregon 6A schools with a 131-7 toss in the discus. The mark bettered a 27-year old school record for the Aloha High School Warriors. After a discus title at the Metro League Championships, Redmayne-Titley scored a runner-up result in the event with a 129-6 at the state championships. As a junior, Redmayne-Titley placed seventh in the discus with a 111-7. She also holds a prep best mark of 35-10 in the shot put.
“Kristine and Emily are both very good multi-event throwers and could also develop as fine hammer throwers,” Dalzell said.
Concordia University Throwers - NAIA National Champions
2006 Men’s Javelin, Scott Halley
2006 Women’s Javelin: Lauren Sexton
2007 Women’s Discus: Annie Hess
2008 Men’s Hammer: Greg Schultz
2008 Women’s Discus: Annie Hess
2008 Men’s Discus: Nik Kay