Colorado State University Athletics
Three Harriers Added For Fall 2006
4/13/2006 12:00:00 AM | Outdoor Track & Field
April 13, 2006
The Colorado State track and field teams today announced the signing of three athletes to National Letters of Intent. All three will join the Rams in the fall of 2006. Ryan Friese, Tanesha Johnson and Leslie Peterson are all expected to make immediate contributions to the program.
Friese will join the Rams from Rampart High School in Colorado Springs. He finished sixth in both the 400 meters and the triple jump a year ago at the State Championship. Friese will join Rampart teammate J.D. Snell at CSU, whom the Rams signed during the early signing period in November.
Johnson is also a sprinter and horizontal jumper, hailing from Aurora, Colo., and Eaglecrest High School. Last season, Johnson was the third-leg of the state championship 4x100 meter relay team and all four return this year. She also finished fourth in the triple jump and eighth in the 200 meters at last year's state meet.
"Both Ryan and Tanesha are not only great athletes, but also phenomenal students," said assistant coach Tim Cawley, in charge of sprints and horizontal jumps. "I believe both will make an immediate impact to the program. Tanesha is built similar to Janay (DeLoach, the school record holder in the 60 meters and long jump) and with the graduation of Amanda (Huddleston) Miller in the spring, we expect big things of her."
Peterson was the state runner-up last year in the 400 meters at 3A for Battle Mountain High School and she resides in Avon, Colo. She was also a member of the 2005 state champion cross country team and is on the alpine skiing team. Peterson was home-schooled prior to 2005 and the Rams will likely convert her to a hurdler at Colorado State.
"We are very excited to be adding Leslie to the mix," said assistant coach John Carter, in charge of hurdlers and assisting with the middle distance events. "She has great athleticism and being a multi-sport athlete, should be able to handle life at the college level."