University of Minnesota Athletics
GOPHERS ANNOUNCE CROSS COUNTRY / TRACK & FIELD RECRUITING CLASS
5/1/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
Dyer comes to the Gophers after winning the Minnesota Class AA state individual cross country title last fall, while leading her Moorhead High School team to an 11th-place finish. Dyer posted a time of 14:13.1 over the 4,000-meter course to better her next competitor by nearly 19 seconds and come within four seconds of the state meet course record held by Carrie Tollefson. She showed drastic improvement her senior season, going from a state ranking of 45th as a junior to state champion as a senior.
Dyer extends her talent to the track where she will likely compete in three events at next week's Minnesota State Meet. She looks to defend her title in the 2-mile run and is currently ranked second in the state in that event. Dyer is also ranked second in the mile and fourth in the 800-meter run.
"We are thrilled to have Lisa joining us," said Wilson. "She will make a significant and immediate impact on our program."
Magee is another dual sport athlete joining the Gophers. She helped her Bloomington Jefferson High School team to the Minnesota Class AA state cross country title in 1999 and ran as an individual in 2000, placing 26th. She competed at the state cross country meet in each year of her high school career. On the track, Magee's specialty is the 800, where she is currently ranked eighth in the state. As a junior, she placed fourth at state in the event.
"Kim will add depth to our distance squad," said Wilson. "She has the ability to be a factor in our success."
Steele, a standout hurdler from Eden Prairie High School, will join the Gopher track and field team. Steele looks to win her third consecutive 300-meter hurdles title at the upcoming state meet. She currently owns the state's fastest time in the event this season, with a clocking of 44.58 seconds. Steele is also ranked fourth in the 100-meter hurdles.
"Melissa brings great range to the long sprint and hurdle events," said Wilson.
Hoffert has competed in several cross country and track state meets during her career at Lewiston-Altura High School. She placed fifth in the 2000 Minnesota Class A cross country meet and is currently ranked fifth in the state in the mile run.
"Paula has a lot of potential," said Wilson. "We think she will be a diamond in the rough."
Wilson also announced the names of nine cross country/track runners who have committed to attend Minnesota as recruited non-scholarship athletes: Annie Wells of Maple Grove, Minn. (Maple Grove H.S.); Jackie Kubik of Bettendorf, Iowa (Pleasant Valley H.S.); Zo Nagell of Plymouth, Minn. (Armstrong H.S.); Sarah Hesser of Minneapolis (South H.S.); Andrea Neuharth of Britton, S.D. (Britton H.S.); Allison Brabec of Willow River, Minn. (Willow River H.S.); Ashley Gerjets of St. Cloud, Minn. (St. Cloud Tech H.S.); Chelsea Light of Minnetonka, Minn. (Minnetonka) and Jessie Syfko of Hudson, Wis. (Hudson).
"Overall this is one of the best recruiting classes we've had from top to bottom," said Wilson. "We think this class is filled with talent that will blossom at the collegiate level."
Players Mentioned
