Story Created:
Feb 19, 2010 at 5:03 PM PST
Story Updated:
Feb 19, 2010 at 5:03 PM PST
Seven distance runners comprise the bulk of an 11-athlete signing class of the UCLA women’s track and field program.
Coach Jeanette Bolden, which also includes two jumpers, is made up of Kimberly Conner, Nicole Hood, Natasha Kolbo, Meghan Marvin, Amber Murakami, Alexandria Oliver, Paisley Pettway, Tamara Purpura, Melissa Skiba, Ida Storm and Sierra Vega.
“We are extremely excited about this year’s signing class,” Bolden. “All of these women will help give our team a lot of depth and we are excited to welcome them to UCLA.”
Storm is a thrower from Sweden who posted a top hammer mark in 2009 of 199-11. She is the Swedish Junior record holder in the event and, if an American, would be the top returning high school hammer thrower in the U.S.
“Ida is a gifted athlete with a huge level of potential,” throws coach Mike Maynard said. “Her physical attributes (6-2 1/2), along with her exceptional athleticism make her likely to become a dominant force in the NCAA hammer throw in the future.”
Conner is a Dana Hills High School standout who specializes in the heptathlon. In 2009, Conner had top marks of 17-6 in the long jump, 5-4 in the high jump and 14.79 in the 100 hurdles. Conner is also an honors student.
Hood is a distance runner from Walnut Creek. She has a prep best of 4:56 in the 1600.
“Nicole brings speed, toughness and a lot of untapped potential to our squad, distance coach Forest Braden said. “Her work ethic and talent will develop her into a very good collegiate runner.”
Marvin is a distance runner from Clovis. In 2009, she had a top outdoor 3200 time of 10:56.2 and was a Footlocker finalist.
“Meghan has been good for a long time and has beaten some of the best girls in the country,” Braden said. “She is a big meet racer and comes into UCLA with many accolades. She will help us get to the top and stay there.”
Murakami, a distance runner from Saugus, is set to join her sister Shannon, a junior at UCLA, in the fall. She currently ranks ninth in the U.S. in the prep indoor 2-mile (11:15.98).
“Amber was a scoring member of four cross country team titles with Saugos,” Braden said.
Pettway is a distance runner from Long Beach Millikan. She is the top California senior heading into the 2010 outdoor season in the 800.
Skiba is a distance star from Oak Park High. Last outdoor season, she had a top 1600 time of 5:00.65 and is the top senior in the 3200m (10:31.26). The senior won the 2008 CIF-Southern Section Division III cross country and 2009 Division III 3,200-meter run titles.
“Melissa is a huge addition to the team,” Braden said. “She is a franchise type athlete who will make an immediate impact on the cross country team and on the track.”
Purpura is a middle distance runner from San Francisco (Lowell High). Last season, she had a top 800 time of 2:10.75 (4th-best as a junior in the state). Vega (Foothill High, Santa Ana) was 13th at the 2009 Footlocker Cross Country West Championships (18:46). She had top times of 5:11.14 in the 1600 and 10:50.22 in the 3200.
“I am very excited about the entire recruiting class,” Braden said. “These young women are many of the best in California and, thus in the country, and will make us nationally competitive for a long time to come.”
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