Rams welcome eight newcomers for 2018-19 cross country, track & field seasons

FORT COLLINS, Colo. - The Colorado State track & field and cross country programs have announced the additions of eight athletes set to join the Rams beginning with the 2018-19 seasons.

Middle distance, distance and cross country athletes combine to make up the majority of this class. Those five athletes include Ryan Birkmeier (Downers Grove North HS/Downers Grove, Ill.), Mason Brown (Eaglecrest HS/Centennial, Colo.), Brock Dykema (Silver Creek HS/Longmont, Colo.), Ivy Gonzales (Broomfield HS/Westminster, Colo.) and Tom Oates (Chelsea HS/Chelsea, Mich.).

"We are super excited to welcome our five early signees to the distance and middle distance crew," Colorado State cross country head coach Art Siemers said. "They are strong cross country runners with solid track credentials. We believe they will all help us achieve even higher team goals moving forward."

The sprints and hurdles event group is represented with the signing of German junior national champion Constantin Preis, who joins the Rams from Pforzheim, Germany and Kepler-Gymnasium Pforzheim.

"I'm ecstatic that Constantin chose Colorado State as his new home," Colorado State sprints and hurdles coach Karim Abdel Wahab said. "His passion for the sport and potential on the track are incredible. I'm excited for the journey with Constantin and the possibility of having him competing amongst the best in Division I track & field."

Also joining the women's team in this class is Alexis Keller, who competed in the high jump, sprints and relays for La Cueva High School. The native of Albuquerque, N.M., projects to contribute to the Rams in the high jump and multis.

"Lexie spent most of her years dedicated to soccer; she has a young training age in track with a huge potential," Colorado Stata head assistant coach Ryan Baily said. "Lexie has the heart, drive and passion to reach her goals. We are very thrilled she decided to be part of the Ram family."

The final member of this group for CSU track & field is Gabi McDonald, who is set to compete in the throws at Colorado State. McDonald, who will compete in both track & field and soccer at CSU, is a Fort Collins, Colo., native and attended Rocky Mountain High School.

"Gabi is a competitor first of all," Colorado State head coach Brian Bedard said. "She likes to win, and works extremely hard to put herself in a position to be successful at whatever she does. Doubling up in soccer and track & field will present some challenges but if anyone can pull it off, she can. I think she can help us out right away in the discus and shot put. The hammer might end up being her best event."

Read below for details on each of the eight student-athletes joining the Rams.

Ryan Birkmeier
Distance
Downers Grove, Ill. (Downers Grove North HS)
- Finished 10th in the 1,600 meters at the 2017 3A IHSA State Championships
- Helped Downers Grove North HS win the 2017 3A IHSA State Cross Country Championship
- 1,600 meters PR - 4:18.72
- 3,200 meters PR - 9:27.44
- Cross country three-mile PR - 14:49.70

Mason Brown
Distance
Centennial, Colo. (Eaglecrest HS)
- Finished in fourth place at the 2017 Colorado 5A State Cross Country Championships
- Second place finish in the 3,000 meters at the 2016 USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships
- 3,000 meters PR - 8:56.41
- 3,200 meters PR (altitude) -9:39.92
- Cross country 5k PR (altitude) - 15:24.00

Brock Dykema
Distance
Longmont, Colo. (Silver Creek HS)
- Finished runner-up at the 2017 Colorado 4A State Cross Country Championships
- Placed eighth in the 1,600 meters at the 2017 Colorado 4A State Championships
- Finished 23rd at the 2017 Nike Cross Country Regional - Southwest
- 1,600 meters PR (altitude) - 4:24.53
- 3,200 meters PR - 9:21.64
- Cross country 5k PR - 15:05.10

Ivy Gonzales
Distance
Westminster, Colo. (Broomfield HS)
- Finished in fourth place at the 2017 Colorado 5A State Cross Country Championships
- Placed third at the 2016 Colorado 5A State Cross Country Championships
- Took 60th place at the 2016 Nike Cross Country National Championships
- Led Broomfield HS to a team title at the 2016 Colorado 5A State Cross Country Championship and a seventh-place national finish
- 1,600 meters PR (altitude) - 5:12.60
- 3,200 meters PR - 10:55.76
- Cross country 5k PR - 18:07.00

Alexis Keller
High Jump/Multi-Events
Albuquerque, N.M. (La Cueva HS)
- New Mexico 6A state champion in the high jump
- Finished runner-up in the 400 meters at the New Mexico 6A State Championships
- Member of La Cueva HS's 4x100-meter relay team that placed third at the New Mexico 6A State Championships
- Won the state title as a member of La Cueva's sprint medley relay team in 2016
- High jump PR – 5-6 (1.67m)
- 400 meters PR – 57.36

Gabi McDonald
Throws
Fort Collins, Colo. (Rocky Mountain HS)
- Five-time all-state performer between the discus and the shot put
- Holds the Rocky Mountain HS record in the shot put (44-10.5)
- Holds the CHSAA 5A State Championships meet record in the discus (154-3)
- Coloradoan Northern Colorado Female Athlete of the Year in 2017 and runner-up in 2016
- Four-year varsity athlete in track & field, soccer and basketball at Rocky Mountain HS
- Also signed to play soccer as a goalkeeper at Colorado State
- Brother, Max, currently plays linebacker at Colorado State

Tom Oates
Distance
Chelsea, Mich. (Chelsea HS)
- Took fifth place at the 2017 MHSAA State Cross Country Championships LP
- Finished runner-up in the 1,600 meters at 2017 MHSAA State Championships LP-2
- Placed sixth in the 800 meters at the 2017 MHSAA State Championships LP-2
- 800 meters PR - 1:55.62
- 1,600 meters PR - 4:15.14
- Cross country 5k PR - 15:26.50

Constantin Preis
Sprints/Hurdles
Pforzheim, Germany (Kepler-Gymnasium Pforzheim)
- Two-time German junior national champion in the 400-meter hurdles
- 10th in the European junior rankings in the 400-meter hurdles
- 400-meter hurdles PR – 51.64
- Indoor 400 meters PR – 48.44

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