NAMPA, Idaho – Northwest Nazarene University head track & field coach John Spatz has announced the first six student-athletes in his 2010 recruiting class.  Signing letters of commitment to attend NNU and compete for the Crusaders this fall are Alex Leatherman, Cody Henderson, Andrew Curtis, Stephen Larlee, Danielle Forest, and Greyson Kilgore.

Alex Leatherman will join the Crusader family from Castle Park, Colorado where he will graduate from Castle View High School.  “Alex is an all round athlete having participated in numerous sports during his high school career,” Coach Spatz comments.  “His primary event is the pole vault and at the state championships in 2010 Alex finished eighth with a height of 13'6”.  In 2009 Alex finished sixth at the state meet and his best mark in 2010 is 14-0.”

In addition to his accomplishments on the track, Alex earned all-conference honors on the football field and was awarded the Saber Cat Award as the top wrestler in 2009-2010 at Castle View High.

Cody Henderson comes to NNU from Green River, Wyoming and will graduate from Green River High School this spring.  “Cody has had an outstanding senior year at Green River,” Spatz adds.  “During the 2010 indoor season his team captured the state title in the 4 x 400 relay, his sprint medley relay team finished sixth at the Idaho Simplot Games, and Cody served as a team captain.”

During his outdoor season this spring, Henderson finished fourth in the 100-meters, fifth in the 200-meters, ran a leg on the third place 4 x 400 relay and a leg on the fourth place 4 x 100 relay teams at the Wyoming State High School Championships. Cody holds the GRHS school records on the indoor track at both the 55-meter (6.76) and 60-meter (7.47) distances.

Andrew Curtis joins the Crusader program from Tigard, Oregon where he will graduate from Westside Christian High School.  “Andrew is one of the all-time bests to come out of Oregon's Class 3A this year,” Spatz comments.  “Andrew has won six state titles during his career at Westside Christian.”

In 2009 Andrew won state titles in the 110-Hurdles, 300-Hurdles, 200-meters and the 4 x 100 relay, while his 4 x 100 relay teams have won the last three-straight state championships beginning in 2008.  Over the last three seasons they have notched 29 wins while running the 4 x 100 relay.

Stephen Larlee, from Maupin Oregon and South Wasco County High School, comes to NNU as the 2010 Oregon 1A State Athlete-of-the-Meet.  “Stephen has had an unbelievable senior campaign,” Spatz adds.  “At his district meet Stephen won the 400-meters in 51.58, the 300-Hurdles in 41.07, the long Jump at 21'3”, and the triple jump in 45'2.25” in leading his team to their district team title.”

Larlee won the state triple jump title in 2009 and at the Oregon State 1A High School Championships this spring he swept the triple jump and the long jump titles, finished second in the 300-Hurdles, and third in the 400-meters. His 34 points in the state championships earned him the Athlete-of-the-Meet honors, while his 2010 triple jump best of 46-10.75 ranks him second in all of Oregon's high school divisions.

Danielle Forest will graduate from Kuna High School in Kuna, Idaho and will join the NNU track family after she turned her attention to track full time during the 2010 season.  “A standout in both soccer and track, Danielle shows promise as a college athlete,” Spatz commented.  “Danielle finished fifth at the Idaho 4A District III Championships in the 400-meters (1:03.25) and also ran legs on the 4 x 200 relay that was third and the 4 x 400 relay that was also third.”

“Danielle's great attitude and work ethic should see her make a solid contribution in her freshman campaign,” Spatz continued.

Greyson Kilgore also joins the Crusaders from Kuna High School, having been a team leader on the Kuna High team for the past four years.  “Greyson been an active member of FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) during his time at Kuna High School,” Spatz commented.  “Running injured the last part of the season, Greyson fell slightly short of his personal goals for the year, but he was still able to finish out the season by running the 800m at the district championships in a time of 2:10.51.”