Colorado State University Athletics
Rams add 3 to 2015-16 roster
11/20/2014 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
FORT COLLINS, Colo. - The Colorado State cross country and track & field program announced the additions of Eli Oftedal, Ali Kallner and Karlie Gilbeck to its 2015-16 roster on Thursday, bringing the total number of signees to five.
Eli Oftedal comes to Colorado State from Salt Lake City, Utah, where he ran for Rowland Hall High School under his coach and father, Mark Oftedal. Oftedal most recently placed eighth at the 2014 Utah State Cross Country Championships. During the spring he won the 2014 UHSAA 2A State Championship for the Winged Lions in the 800 meters, clocking a personal-best time of 1:55.36, which is a Utah state record. He also earned a top-three finish in 1,600 meters at the same meet. In the regional round Oftedal was the 2014 Region 14 champion in the 400-meter dash by nearly 4 seconds, and also won the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs. In 2013, his sophomore season, Oftedal was the 2A state champion in the 800 meters and 1,600 meters.
Following in his father's footsteps, Oftedal started running at an early age. He owns the 10-and-under record in the 800- and 1,500-meter runs, which he set back in 2007. He also set the boys 13-and-14 record in the 800 meters in 2011.
"Eli Oftedal brings to CSU a Utah State championship in the 800 meters, which should dramatically help us fill a needed role in the middle distances," said Siemers. "We look forward to helping him grow into an All-Mountain West Conference performer."
Fellow distance runner Ali Kallner brings her talents to Colorado State from Chaparral High School in Scottsdale, Ariz. In the fall of 2014 she placed fourth at the Arizona Division I State Cross Country Championships. Earlier in the year Kallner finished eighth at the 2014 Arizona Division I State Track and Field Championships in the 1,600 meters, after a seventh-place finish in 2013. She also earned an eighth-place finish in the 3,200 meters in 2013. Kallner was the Scottsdale District Champion in cross country, and also in track and field in the 3,200 meters and 1,600 meters in 2014.
"We are so excited to add Ali Kallner to our cross country and track and field program," commented distance coach Art Siemers. "She is the perfect example of the kind of student-athletes we are trying to bring into CSU. She is one of the top cross country and 1,600-meter runners in Arizona while also earning a presidential academic scholarship."
Karlie Gilbeck comes to CSU from Plainview Elgin Millville High School, where she was a top-10 finisher at the 2014 Minnesota State Class A Finals in the long jump and triple jump, placing sixth and eighth, respectively. At that meet she set a personal record in the triple jump. In 2013, during her sophomore year, Gilbeck earned top-10 marks at the state meet in the long jump (seventh) and triple jump (10th). Gilbeck is a two-sport athlete, also playing basketball for the Bulldogs.
Horizontal jumps coach Ryan Baily is excited to sign his first recruit as the latest edition to the Rams' staff. "Karlie is an excellent student with a lot of potential in track," Baily said. "She is an all-sport athlete with the ability to improve her marks greatly her senior year."
Oftedalm, Kallner and Gilbeck join Mostafa Amr Ahmed and Linnéa Jönsson as the five athletes representing the fall 2014 recruiting class. Click here for the complete release.