Colorado State University Athletics
Rams add seven athletes to incoming class
4/26/2017 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
FORT COLLINS, Colo. - The Colorado State track and field team has added seven athletes to its incoming class, head coach Brian Bedard announced on Wednesday.
Among the seven athletes joining the Rams during the spring period are sprinters Jasmine Chesson (Fort Collins HS/Fort Collins, Colo.), Mia Coats (Mountain Range HS/Thornton, Colo.), Jessica Ozoude (Spanish Springs HS/Sparks, Nev.) and Marybeth Sant (Oregon/Valor Christian HS/Parker, Colo.).
Three distance athletes are set to join the Rams for cross country and distance events in track & field: Maximilliano Martinez (Widefield HS/Colorado Springs, Colo.), Devon Peterson (Cherry Creek HS/Greenwood Village, Colo.) and Lily Tomasula Martin (Estes Park HS/Estes Park, Colo.).
"Between our early signing class and this class, we've taken major steps toward replacing some of the athletes of this special senior class," Bedard said.
These seven athletes are set to join jumper Isa Bynum (Suitland HS/District Heights, Md.), distance athlete Jenna Diers (Lincoln Way West HS/New Lenox, Ill.), thrower Adam Dawson (Lutheran HS/Parker, Colo.), middle distance runner Hannah Freeman (Fairview HS/Boulder, Colo.), thrower Jackson Morris (Albuquerque Academy/Albuquerque, N.M.), sprinter Destinee Rocker (Arabia Mountain HS/Lithonia, Ga.), thrower Tarynn Sieg (Eaton HS/Eaton, Colo.) and jumper/vaulter Tate Thornton (Rocky Mountain HS/Fort Collins, Colo.). Each of those eight athletes joined the Rams during the fall. The combined total of 15 athletes from the spring and fall periods will each be eligible to compete in the 2017-18 season.
Read below for details on each of the seven student-athletes joining the Rams.
Jasmine Chesson
Sprints
Fort Collins, Colo. (Fort Collins HS)
- 100 meters PR: 12.39
- 200 meters PR: 24.71
- 400 meters PR: 55.20
- Helped Fort Collins High School to state championships in 2014 and 2016
- Won the 2015 state title in the 4x400-meter relay with a time of 3:49.50 seconds, the sixth fastest time in Colorado
- Was honored at the Northern Colorado Sports Awards
- At Fort Collins HS, was part of the National Science Honors Society and participated in the bioscience career academy program
Sprints and hurdles coach Karim Abdel Wahab on Jasmine Chesson:
"Jasmine is a very mature young woman that has a lot of potential on the track. She is really excited to be a specialized quarter-miler. She has big aspirations to do great things on the track for the Rams."
Mia Coats
Sprints
Thornton, Colo. (Mountain Range HS)
- 100 meters PR: 12.09
- 200 meters PR: 24.37
- 400 meters PR: 54.29
- Was team captain in 2016-17
- Earned varsity letters all four years in high school
- Was recognized for her artistic ability at the Vans Custom Culture competition
- Earned musical honors as a member of the district honor choir, Adams 12 district honor choir and top jazz choir and had a leading role in multiple spring musicals
Sprints and hurdles coach Karim Abdel Wahab on Mia Coats:
"Since my home visit with Mia, I have been extremely impressed with her character She's been her team captain, and shows great leadership traits. I'm really excited to bring her talent and leadership to her team."
Maximilliano Martinez
Distance
Colorado Springs, Colo. (Widefield HS)
- Cross country 5k PR: 15:17
- Placed in the top four in each of the last three Colorado 4A state cross country championships
- Placed fifth in the 3,200 meters at the Colorado 4A state track & field championships
- Placed 14th at Nike Cross Southwest Regional
Distance coach/head cross country coach Art Siemers on Maximilliano Martinez:
"We're excited to add Max to our distance roster. He's a true leader, guiding Widefield High School to their first-ever team trophy in cross country. We believe Max will fit perfectly with the guys and benefit greatly from the longer college distances."
Jessica Ozoude
Sprints
Sparks, Nev. (Spanish Springs HS)
- 60 meters PR: 7.69
- 100 meters PR: 11.87
- 200 meters PR: 23.77
- 400 meters PR: 55.35
- 2016 Nevada state champion in the 100 meters, 200 meters and 400 meters
- 2016 Gatorade State Girls' Track & Field Athlete of the Year
- Honored at Nevada Sports Awards as Best of Girls' Track
Sprints and hurdles coach Karim Abdel Wahab on Jessica Ozoude:
"Jessica is very serious about track & field. She's a gamer and loves to compete. Her character matches closely with our team culture."
Devon Peterson
Distance
Greenwood Village, Colo. (Cherry Creek HS)
- Cross country 5k PR: 18:02
- In competition at the Colorado 5A state cross country meet, Peterson has finished sixth, 10th, 14th and 18th
Distance coach/head cross country coach Art Siemers on Devon Peterson:
"Devon has loads of untapped potential as she balanced high-level high school soccer and running. We're excited to see what she can accomplish when she puts her focus in track and cross country."
Marybeth Sant
Sprints
Parker, Colo. (Oregon/Valor Christian HS)
- 60 meters PR: 7.30
- 100 meters PR: 11.25
- 200 meters PR: 23.61
- Set the Colorado high school state record in the 100 meters (11.25)
- Two-time state champion in the 100 meters and 200 meters
- Competed in the Pan-American Games in 2013 as a member of the U.S. national team
- Honored by the Sportswomen of Colorado in 2014
- Competed in the Adidas Grand Prix
- Named a Track & Field News All-American following her 2013 season at Valor Christian HS
- Won 2015 NCAA Championships and Pac-12 Championships
- Part of a 4x100-meter relay team that ran 43.41, the third-fastest time on Oregon's all-time list
- Finished second in the 4x100-meter relay at each of the 2014 and 2015 Pac-12 Championships
Sprints and hurdles coach Karim Abdel Wahab on Marybeth Sant:
"I couldn't be more excited to have Marybeth's character, leadership and talent in our program. Marybeth has very high expectations for herself and she will settle for nothing less than excellence."
Lily Tomasula Martin
Distance
Estes Park, Colo. (Estes Park HS)
- Cross country 5k PR: 18:04
- Won the 2015 and 2016 Colorado 3A state championships in the 3,200 meters, and has an altitude personal best of 11:13.43
- 2014 Colorado 3A state cross country champion
- Has also finished third, fifth and 13th at the Colorado 3A state cross country championships
Distance coach/head cross country coach Art Siemers on Lily Tomasula Martin:
"Lily has been one of the top cross country and distance track athletes the past few years in the state of Colorado. She's a great altitude runner, which should help her adjust quickly to our program."
