Rams welcome nine 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 nine athletes set to join the Rams beginning with the 2018-19 seasons.

These nine athletes were each added during the spring period, bringing the Rams' total to 17 newcomers for the 2018-19 seasons. Distance and cross country have the largest representation, making up nearly half (four athletes) of the spring group. Among those athletes are Dawson Besst (Maple Valley, Wash./Tahoma Senior HS), Stephanie Carrasco (Denver, Colo./Thornton HS), Thomas Chaston (Colorado Springs, Colo./Cheyenne Mountain HS) and Michael Mooney (Broomfield, Colo./Broomfield HS).

Along with that distance group, the Rams have added athletes in additional event areas with the signings of sprinter/hurdler Germain Barnes (Pasco, Wash./Chiawana HS), sprinter Lauren Gale (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada/Discovery Canyon HS), sprinter/jumper Nia Powdrell (Rio Rancho, N.M./Portland State/Cleveland HS), thrower Morgan Stewart (Fort Collins, Colo./Fossil Ridge HS) and multi-event athlete Aria Tate (Irmo, S.C./UCF/Wharton HS).

Those nine athletes join distance runners 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.), as well as sprinter/hurdler Constantin Preis (Pforzheim, Germany/Kepler-Gymnasium Pforzheim), high jumper/multi-event athlete Alexis Keller (Albuquerque, N.M./La Cueva HS) and thrower Gabi McDonald (Fort Collins, Colo./Rocky Mountain HS). Those eight additions were announced previously.

Read below for details on each of the nine student-athletes joining the Rams in this group.

Germain Barnes
Sprints/Hurdles
Pasco, Wash. (Chiawana HS)
- 2017 Washington 4A state leader in the 110-meter hurdles
- 110-meter hurdles PR – 14.43
- 300-meter hurdles PR – 37.77
- 100 meters PR – 10.79

Dawson Besst
Distance
Maple Valley, Wash. (Tahoma Senior HS)
- Seventh place, 2017 WIAA 4A State Cross Country Championships
- Ninth place, 2017 WIAA 4A State Track & Field Championships 3,200 meters
- Ninth place, 2017 WIAA 4A State Track & Field Championships 1,600 meters
- Sixth place, 2016 WIAA 4A State Cross Country Championships
- 1,600 meters PR - 4:19.34
- 3,000 meters PR (indoor) - 8:42.71
- Cross country 5k PR - 15:15.50

Stephanie Carrasco
Distance
Denver, Colo. (Thornton HS)
- Fifth place, 2017 Colorado 5A State Cross Country Championships
- Second place, 2017 Liberty Bell Cross Country Invitational
- 17th place, 2017 Colorado 5A State Track & Field Championships 3,200 meters
- 1,600 meters PR- 5:17.09 (at altitude)
- 3,200 meters PR - 11:09.12 (at altitude)
- Cross country 5k PR - 17:58.00 (at altitude)

Thomas Chaston
Distance
Colorado Springs, Colo. (Cheyenne Mountain HS)
- Seventh place, 2017 Colorado 4A State Cross Country Championships
- First place, 2017 Pikes Peak Athletic Conference Cross Country Championships
- 18th place, 2016 Colorado 4A State Track & Field Championships 3,200 meters
- Cross country 5k PR - 15:41.00 (at altitude)

Lauren Gale
Sprints
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (Discovery Canyon HS)
- Competed in the 200 meters and 400 meters for Team Canada at the 2017 Youth Commonwealth Games
- Gold medalist, 2017 U20 Canadian Track & Field Championships 4x400-meter relay
- Second place, 2017 Colorado 4A State Track & Field Championships 400 meters and sprint medley relay
- Silver medalist, 2016 U20 Canadian Track & Field Championships 400 meters
- First place in 100 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters and sprint medley relay at 2016 Colorado 4A State Championships
- 2015 gold medalist in 200 meters, 400 meters, 300-meter hurdles in Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA)
- 60 meters PR - 7.73
- 100 meters PR - 11.96
- 200 meters PR - 24.03
- 300 meters PR - 38.38
- 400 meters PR - 53.72

Michael Mooney
Distance
Broomfield, Colo. (Broomfield HS)
- Currently ranks as the nation's leader in the 3,200 meters
- Seventh place, 2017 Colorado 5A State Cross Country Championships
- Sixth place, 2017 Colorado State 5A Track & Field Championships 1,600 meters
- Second place, Arcadia Invitational 3,200 meters
- 1,600 meters PR – 4:21.94 (at altitude)
- 3,200 meters PR – 8:50.96
- Cross country 5K PR – 15:25.00
- 2017-18 Colorado 5A Player of the Year in soccer
- Scored the game-winning goal in the Colorado 5A state men's soccer championship game

Nia Powdrell
Sprints/Jumps
Rio Rancho, N.M. (Portland State/Cleveland HS)
- Part of Portland State's all-time No. 6 4x400-meter relay team - 3:50.99
- Ranks sixth all-time in the 200 meters at Portland State - 24.45
- Ranks seventh all-time in the 60 meters at Portland State - 7.54
- 2015 and 2016 New Mexico State Championship High-Point Female Athlete of the Meet
- 10-time New Mexico state champion, winning the 100 meters, 200 meters, 4x100-meter relay and 4x200-meter relay in each of her junior and senior high school seasons
- Also won the state title in the 4x100-meter relay in her freshman and sophomore season, and anchored that unit each year of her high school career
- Set New Mexico state records in the 4x100-meter relay and 4x200-meter relay
- 60 meters PR - 7.54
- 100 meters PR - 11.96
- 200 meters PR - 24.45
- Long jump PR - 19-3.5

Morgan Stewart
Throws
Fort Collins, Colo. (Fossil Ridge HS)
- Currently ranks as the No. 2 athlete in the state of Colorado in the discus
- Discus PR – 143-2
- Shot put PR - 37-8.5

Aria Tate
Multis
Irmo, S.C. (UCF/Wharton HS)
- Placed second in the 100-meter hurdles at the state level as a senior
- Three-time state qualifier in the 100-meter hurdles
- Two-time state qualifier in the 4x400-meter relay
- Won district and regional titles in the 100-meter hurdles as a senior
- 55-meter hurdles PR - 8.17
- 55 meters PR - 7.44
- 60-meter hurdles PR - 8.75
- 100-meter hurdles PR - 13.88
- 100 meters PR - 12.27
- 200 meters PR - 24.84
- 300-meter hurdles PR - 47.72
- 400 meters PR - 58.03
- 60 meters PR - 7.97

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