The Eastern Washington University men's and women's track and field program has added 25 new student-athletes for the 2019-20 season, head coaches Stan Kerr and Marcia Mecklenburg have announced.
 
The total includes 15 women's athletes and 10 for the men, with eight already competing for EWU's cross country program. Among the newcomers is pole vaulter Brayden Freitag, whose father, Todd, was a Big Sky champion indoor high jump (16-2) and outdoor decathlon in 1988 (6,599 points). The list also includes Jordan VanAssche, whose brother, Jeremy, won a pair of league titles in 2016.
 
The group includes three females and three males who have won state high school individual championships, as well as another who won four community college titles in the Northwest Athletic Conference.
 
In the pole vault alone there are a trio of state champs, including Savannah Schultz from Gresham, Ore. (Centennial HS) who won the Oregon 6A title for girls with a height of 12-0. Boys' titles included the Washington 3A championship won by Freitag in 2019 with a 15-9 vault while competing for Kamiakin HS in Kennewick, Wash. Zach Klobutcher is from Covington, Wash. (Tahoma HS) and won the State 4A title with a vault of 15-0, but has a personal best of 16-9.
 
Alax Grimes is from Kennewick's Southridge HS and won the State 3A title in the discus (158-10). Other female champions are Katie Petsch from Kamiakin HS (State 3A title in the 100 with a time of 12.40) and Faith Kennedy from nearby Lakeside HS in Nine Mile Falls, Wash. (State 1A title in the 400 with a time of 57.81).
 
The newcomers also include Kaitlyn Paller from Shelton (Wash.) HS and Olympic Community College where she won three Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC) championships as a freshman in the shot put, discus and hammer, and also won the hammer as a sophomore. She set the Olympic record with a 160-2 throw in the hammer.
 
Classes for fall quarter begin at EWU on Sept. 25. While the cross country teams are in the midst of their seasons, the other members of the track and field team squad will practice in the fall in preparation for the indoor season, which begins Dec. 6-7 when Eastern hosts the annual Candy Cane Invitational at Thorpe Fieldhouse in Cheney, Wash.
 
 
 
 

FEMALE ADDITIONS (15)

 
Chloe DiBisceglie - Fr. - HS - Gig Harbor, Wash. / Gig Harbor HS '19
 
High School: Graduated from Gig Harbor HS in 2019. DiBisceglie competed in the 3A WIAA State Track and Field Meet both her junior and senior year. In the shot put her senior year she placed sixth setting her personal best throw of 41-1 3/4. Her junior season she placed seventh in the shot put with a mark of 39-0. She helped her team to win the 3A state title.
 
 
Maddie Drennen - Fr. - HS - Orting, Wash. / Orting HS '19
 
High School: Graduated from Orting HS in 2019. Drennen was a four-year letter winner in both track and field and cross country for Orting HS. In all of those four years she competed at the WIAA 2A State Championships. Her senior season at the state meet she set two personal bests -- 5:03.70 in the 1,600 and 10:58.06 in the 3,200 meters. In three of four cross country seasons she competed at the 2A WIAA State XC Meet. In her senior season, she placed ninth in the state.
 
Personal: Considering majoring in pre-dental, chemistry, and psychology at EWU. Born 6/11/01 in Puyallup. Parents are Scott and Tammy Drennen.
 
 
Rosalie Folger-Vent - Fr. - HS - Portland, Ore. / Madison HS '19
 
High School: Graduated from Madison HS in 2019. She competed in the OSAA 6A State Championships her sophomore, junior and senior seasons. She placed second in the pole vault her senior year with a height of 12-0. As well, in the high jump she placed fifth at a height of 5-2. In the triple jump she placed 11th. As a junior, she took home third in the pole vault, seventh in the high jump and 13th in the triple jump. Her sophomore season she placed ninth in the pole vault, 11th in the high jump and 13th in the triple jump. She won the pole vault at the USATF Oregon Association Junior Olympic Championships both her junior and senior year with vaults of 11-0 1/4 and 11-11 3/4, respectively. She also competed in the National Pole vault Summit her junior and senior season. She had a personal best of 11-6 in her junior season to win the event and had a fifth place finish her senior season (10-10).
 
 
Kenzie Gaines - Fr. - HS - Spokane, Wash. / Lewis & Clark HS '19
 
High School: Graduated from Lewis & Clark HS in 2019. She was a three-year letter winner in cross country for Lewis & Clark. In two of those three seasons she ran in the 4A WIAA State XC Meet. Her senior season she placed 33rd in the 5,000 meters, which helped her team to a second place finish in the state meet. She had a 37th place finish during her junior season when Lewis & Clark HS took home the 4A WIAA State title in cross country.
 
Personal: Major undecided. Born 6/26/01 in Richland. Parents are Brian and Natalie Gaines.
 
 
Anna Harrison - Fr. - HS - Vancouver, Wash. / Fort Vancouver HS '19
 
High School: Graduated from Fort Vancouver HS in 2019. Harrison was a four-year letter winner in cross country for Fort Vancouver. She competed in the 3A WIAA State XC Meet in all four years of her high school career. During her junior season she placed 30th at the state meet.
 
Personal: Considering majoring in exercise science at EWU. Born 3/22/01 in Vancouver. Parents are Sam and Wendy Harrison.
 
 
Rees Jacot - Fr. - HS - Tacoma, Wash. / Curtis HS '19
 
High School: Graduated from Curtis HS in 2019. During her four years at Curtis she earned four varsity letters in cross country. Her senior season she placed fourth at the 4A WIAA State XC Meet, which was her best finish in her four appearances at the state championships. In track and field, Jacot was a three-year letter winner. During her senior season she set a mark of 11:16.66 in the 3,200 meters at the WIAA 4A State Championship.
 
Personal: Considering majoring in psychology and Spanish at EWU. Born 6/7/01 in Tacoma. Parents are Bruce and Anne Jacot
 
 
Faith Kennedy - Fr. - HS - Nine Mile Falls, Wash. / Lakeside HS '19
 
High School: Graduated from Lakeside HS in 2019. Kennedy competed at the WIAA State 1A Track and Field Championship her sophomore, junior and senior seasons. In the 400 meters her senior season she placed fifth with a mark of 59.17, and also ran on the school's championship 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams. Her junior season she placed first in the 400 and fourth in the 200 with marks of 57.81 and 26.64, respectively. She helped her team to a repeat state championship victory. As a sophomore she placed third in the 400 at 58.63 and ninth in the 200 at 26.70, helping her team win the State 1A title. Her personal best in the 400 is 57.64, and in the 200 her best is 25.60. 
 
 
Madelyn Knight - Fr. - HS - Walla Walla, Wash. / Walla Walla HS '19
 
High School: Graduated from Walla Walla HS in 2019. In her senior season, Knight competed in the 4A WIAA State Track and Field Championships. She placed sixth in the 100 meter hurdles at 15.20. In the 300 meter hurdles she placed seventh with a mark of 47.11. Also, she placed 11th in the long jump with a distance of 16-6. Her personal bests in the 100 meter hurdles, 300 meter hurdles, and the long jump are 15.18, 45.70, and 17-4, respectively.
 
 
Anastasia Konugres - Fr. - HS - Seattle, Wash. / Ballard HS '19
 
High School: Graduated from Ballard HS in 2019. She earned four varsity letters in cross country for Ballard. She competed in the 3A WIAA State XC Meet in all four of her years at Ballard. Konugres placed 33rd in the 5,000 which helped her team to place third overall at the 3A WIAA State XC meet. Her best finish was a 27th place finish as a sophomore in the 5,000 meters at the state meet. Konugres also competed all four years in track and field, earning four varsity letters as well.
 
Personal: Considering majoring in early childhood education at EWU. Born 1/6/01 in California. Parents Mike and Eleni Semandiris.
 
 
Kaitlyn Paller - Fr.  - HS  - Shelton, Wash. / Shelton HS '17 / Olympic College
 
Olympic College: She competed in the NWAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships both her freshman and sophomore year at Olympic College. As a sophomore, Paller placed first in the hammer throw at 155-8 1/2. She also placed second in the shot put and ninth in the discus with marks of 40-10 1/4 and 106-11 1/2, respectively. At the NWAC Championships her freshman year she placed first in the shot put (39-8), discus (129-8) and hammer throw (160-2). Her mark in the hammer of 160-2 inches set her personal best and set the new Olympic College record. 
 
High School: Graduated from Shelton HS in 2017. She competed in 2016 and 2017 in the shot put, discus and javelin.
 
 
Katie Petsch - Fr.  - HS - Kennewick, Wash. / Kamiakin HS '19
 
High School: Graduated from Kamiakin HS in 2019. Petsch competed in the WIAA 3A State Track and Field Championships her sophomore, junior and senior year. In her senior season she placed first in the 100 meters with a time of 12.40, and was fourth in the 200 meters at 25.84. Petsch also helped her 4x100 and 4x200 teams to become champions. Kamiakin placed second overall. Her junior season she placed second in the 100 (12.37) and sixth in the 200 (25.96). As a sophomore she placed ninth in the 100 meters at the state meet. Running for the Spokane Speed Academy she competed in the USATF National Junior Olympics. She ran a leg in the 4x100 relay that placed second nationally. She also set her personal best in the 100 and 200 at 12.37 and 26.28, respectively.
 
 
Savannah Schultz - Fr. - HS - Gresham, Ore. / Centennial HS '19
 
High School: Graduated from Centennial HS in 2019. Schultz competed in the OSAA 6A State Championships both her junior and senior year. As a senior she placed first in the pole vault with a height of 12-0, just one inch short of her personal best. Centennial HS tied for third overall. In the pole vault as a junior she earned second place 11-6 1/4.
 
 
Kaylin Sheley - Fr. - HS - Eugene, Ore. / Sheldon HS '19
 
High School: Graduated from Sheldon HS in 2019. She was a four-year letter winner at Sheldon. She also competed in the OSAA 6A State Cross Country Championships every year she was at Sheldon. Her senior year she placed 40th in the 5,000 meters, 38th her junior year and 32nd in her sophomore year when she helped her team to a fourth place finish overall. In track and field she also earned four letters.
 
Personal: Considering majoring in exercise science at EWU. Born 3/15/01 in Oregon. Parents are Greg and Sharrie Sheley.
 
 
Carissa Stovall - Fr. - HS - Yelm, Wash. / Yelm HS '19
 
High School: Graduated from Yelm HS in 2019. Stovall competed in the WIAA 3A State Track and Field Championships all four years she was in high school. Her senior season she placed second in the discus with a personal best throw of 138-0. She also placed 10th in the shot put at 39-7 3/4. As a junior she took fourth in the shot put (41-1 1/2) and fifth in the discus (128-8). In the shot put as a sophomore she placed third (40-3 1/4), and also placed seventh in the discus (115-11).  As a freshman she competed in the discus and placed 12th at a mark of 114-5. Her personal best in the shot put is 42-6, and in the javelin it is 109-3.
 
 
Madison Wilson - Fr. - HS - Hermiston, Ore. / Hermiston HS '19
 
High School: Graduated from Hermiston HS in 2019. Wilson competed in the OSAA 5A State Track and Field Championships in her freshman, sophomore and junior season. In her junior season she placed second in the 100 meter hurdles with a time of 14.98, and in the 300 meter hurdles she placed fifth at 46.70. Hermiston placed third overall. As a sophomore she placed second in the 100 meter hurdles at 15.12, and was sixth in the 300 meter hurdles with a time of 47.56. Hermiston finished third overall. Her freshman season she placed 10th (16.84) in the 100 meter hurdles. As a junior, Wilson competed in the heptathlon at the USATF Region 13 Junior Olympic Championships. She placed fourth overall in the heptathlon. In the high jump she placed second and set her personal best of 5 feet 1 inch. In the 100 meter hurdles she took third with a time of 15.59. 
Personal:
 
 
 

MEN'S ADDITIONS (10)

 
Elijah Conley - Fr. - HS - Lacey, Wash. / Timberline HS '19
 
High School: Graduated from Timberline HS in 2019. During the 2018 Washington State Multi Events Championships he set his personal best in the decathlon with a sixth place score of 4,872 points.
 
 
Brayden Freitag - Fr. - HS  - Kennewick, Wash. / Kamiakin HS '19
 
High School: Graduated from Kamiakin HS in 2019. During his senior season he took first place in pole vault with a personal best mark of 15-9 at the WIAA 3A State Track and Field Championships. He helped his team to a first place victory. His junior year he placed ninth in the pole vault at the state meet with a height of 14-0.  He won the pole vault at the USATF Inland Northwest Association Junior Olympic Championships his junior and senior year with vaults of 14-0 and 15-0, respectively.
 
Personal: His father, Todd, won the Big Sky Conference indoor championshipin the pole vault in 1988 with a mark of 16-2 and the outdoor decathlon the same year with 6,599 points. He also had a pair of third-place finishes outdoors in 1989 (15-9) and 1988 (16-0 3/4) in the pole vault. He held a trio of records for at least 12 years each – outdoor pole vault (16-7 for 17 years), indoor pole vault (16-5 for 20 years) and the decathlon (6,599 for 12 years).
 
 
Ethan Green - Jr. - TR* - Ephrata, Wash. / Ephrata HS '17 / CC of Spokane
 
CC of Spokane: Green took home two second place finishes at the Northwest Athletic Conference Track and Field Championships in both the 5,000 and 10,000 meters.
 
High School: Graduated from Ephrata HS in 2017. Green competed in the 2A WIAA State XC Meet three out of the four years he ran at Ephrata. His senior season he took fourth place in the 5,000 meters at state. In track and field, he place third at state his junior year in the 3,200 meters with a personal best of 9:27.86. His senior year he was the first place finisher in the 3,200 meters at the CWAC District 5/6 Meet with a time of 9:51.19.
 
Personal: Considering majoring in secondary education at EWU. Born 7/17/98 in Ellensburg. Parents are Jess and Miriam McClure.
 
 
Alax Grimes - Fr. - HS - Kennewick, Wash. / Southridge HS '19
 
High School: Graduated from Southridge HS in 2019. In his senior season, Grimes took home a first place WIAA 3A State Track and Field Championships victory in the discus. He threw a distance of 158-10. His personal best in the discus is 175-11.
Personal:
 
 
Zach Klobutcher - Fr. - HS - Covington, Wash. / Tahoma HS '19
 
High School: Graduated from Tahoma HS in 2019. Klobutcher competed in the pole vault at the 4A WIAA State Track and Field meet his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons. His senior year he placed second with a height of 15-6. In 2018, as a junior, he was the state champion with a vault of 15-0, and as a sophomore he placed ninth. His personal best in the pole vault is 16-9.
 
 
Alec Kness - Fr. - HS - Spokane, Wash. / North Central HS '19
 
High School: Graduated from North Central HS in 2019. His senior season he took 15th place with his personal best time in the 5,000 meters at the 3A WIAA State XC Meet. He helped lead his team to a second place finish. His junior year when North Central took third at the state meet, Kness placed 46th. He also competed at the NXR Northwest Regional Championships both his junior and senior seasons. In track and field, he set two personal best times at the 3A WIAA State Championship Meet in both the 800 and 1,600 meters. With a time of 1:53.88 in the 800 meters he placed third overall, and in the 1,600 he took fourth with a time of 4:16.67.
 
Personal: Considering majoring in mechanical engineering at EWU. Born 12/19/00 in Alaska. Parents are John and Karen Kness.
 
 
James Lane - Fr. - HS - Kirkland, Wash. / Lake Washington HS '19
 
High School: Graduated from Lake Washington HS in 2019. Lane finished sixth in the javelin and 11th in the pole vault at the WIAA 3A State Track and Field Championships. He threw a distance of 160-3 in the javelin and he vaulted 14-0. His personal best in the javelin was 168-1, and in the pole vault his best was 14-6.
 
 
Thaddeus Newman - Fr. - HS - Lake Stevens, Wash. / Lake Stevens HS '19
 
High School: Graduated from Lake Stevens HS in 2019. In his senior season, at the WIAA 4A Track and Field Championships he placed seventh in the 400 meters with a time of 50.07. He ran a leg in the 4x400 meter relay that took third in 3:24.28. Newman took second place in the 200 meters at the WESCO 4A Track and Field Championship with a personal best of 22.67. In the 100 meters he placed 6th at a time of 11.40. He helped his team to a first place victory.
 
 
Lucas Robert - Fr. - HS - Mill Creek, Wash. / Henry Jackson HS '19
 
High School: Graduated from Henry Jackson HS in 2019. Jackson competed in the 4A WIAA State XC Meet both his junior and senior years. In track and field his senior season he ran 1:59.80 in the 800 meters at the WIAA 4A State Championship Meet, placing him in seventh. He was a four year letter winner in track and field for Henry Jackson HS.
 
Personal: Considering majoring in biology at EWU. Born 8/14/00 in Seattle. Parents are James and Stacey Robert.
 
 
Jordan VanAssche - Fr. - HS - Wenatchee, Wash. / Wenatchee HS '19
 
High School: Graduated from Wenatchee HS in 2019. VanAssche competed in the 4A WIAA State Track and Field Meet in his senior season. He placed second in the javelin with a personal best throw of 194-0.
 
Personal: Brother of Jeremy VanAssche, who was an Eagle from 2014-2019 and won the 2016 Big Sky Conference indoor championship in the 60 meters (6.77) and the 2016 title outdoors in the 100 (10.35). His time of 10.29 in the 100 remains a school record, and he was a perfect 8-for-8 in earning Big Sky Conference All-Academic honors indoors and outdoors during his four years in Cheney.