May 21, 2009

USF Track and Field head coach Helen Lehman-Winters announced the signing of 10 future Dons to National Letters of Intent Thursday. Joining San Francisco in 2009-2010 will be Eva Krchova (Brno, Czech Republic), Hayley Niles (Rancha Santa Margarita), Alice Baker (Oakland), Heather Zytkewicz (Oceanside), Chloe Trelevan (Seattle, Wash.), Sophie Curl (Bellingham, Wash.), Chris Haworth (Sacramento), Adrian Rafiee (San Diego), Jordan Baker (Spokane, Wash.) and Paul Achee (San Diego).

"We are excited to welcome such a talented incoming class to USF," commented Lehman-Winters. "This group of young men and women are serious students and highly motivated athletes. Therefore, we feel they are a perfect fit for our program."

Krchova will come to the Hilltop from Brno, Czech Republic. In 2008, Krchova was the Czech Republic and European Junior Cup Champion in the 1500, while the season before, 2007, she was the Czech Republic Junior Champion in the 3000 steeplechase. She boasts personal bests, all of which were set in 2008, of 2:11.83 (800), 4:31.24 (1500), 9:51.71 (3000), and 10:54.22 (3000sc).

Niles joins the Dons from Rancha Santa Margarita, where she competed for head coach Dennis Kelly at Trabuco Hills High. Niles has ran personal bests of 11:06 and 5:15 this track season. During the fall, Niles placed 31st in the Division I California State Cross Country Championships with a time of 18:36.

Baker will wear the Green and Gold after a high school career at St. Mary's High, where she competed for prep coach Denis Mohun. The native of Oakland posted a strong senior campaign, trimming 44 seconds off her personal best, for a new best mark of 11:06.67. Baker also has a personal best time of 5:15.88 in the 1600 and was a member of the 2008 Division IV North Coast Section Cross Country Championship team in the fall.

Zytkewicz arrives at San Francisco from Oceanside, where she competed for head coach Tom Lux at Rancho Buena Vista High. Zytkewicz has personal bests of 11:00.46 (3200) and 5:09.02 (1600). She also finished 36th in the Division I California State Cross Country Championships this past fall with a time of 18:42. In 2007, Zytkewicz posted a 18:11 time at the 2007 Stanford Invitational.

A native of Seattle, Wash., Trelevan completed her prep career at Curtis High for head coach Ben Mangrum. A rising star in the State of Washington, Trelevan ran personal-bests of 11:00 (3200) and 5:15 (1600) this spring, while also placed sixth at the 4A Washington State Championships in the fall of 2008.

Curl is a native of Bellingham, Wash., where she competed at Squalicum High for head coach Tim Irvin. Currently, Curl holds the third fastest time in Washington in the 1600 with a time of 5:04.69. She also boasts personal bests of 58.74 (500), and 2:15 in the 800. In 2008, Curl placed eighth at the 2008 2A Washington State Cross Country Championships.

Haworth will make the move to the Hilltop from Sacramento, where he competed for John F. Kennedy High school and head coach Tim Miller. Haworth was the first athlete in JFK history to qualify and compete at the California State Championships, last fall, where he finished 17th with a personal-best time of 15:34. During the spring, the talented San Juaquin Section runner owns personal bests of 4:24.59 (1600) and 9:37.46.

Rafiee joins the Dons from San Diego, where he competed for Andrew Myette and USF alum Tom Sweet. Rafiee was the CIF San Diego Division I Cross Country Champion in the fall of 2008 and advanced on to finish in the top-25 of the California State Championships. Rafiee boasts prep-bests of 4:24.1 (1600) and 9:24.2 (3200).

Baker, a native of Spokane, Wash., attends Mead HS, competing for head coach Steve Kiesel. Baker helped to lead Mead to the 2008 4A Washington State Cross Country Championship, finishing 12th individually, while also placing 36th at the Footlocker Western Regional in the fall. Baker owns personal track bests of 4:26 (1600) and 9:30.32 (3200).

Rounding the signees for the Dons is Achee, who hails from Patrick Henry High in San Diego. Under the guidance of Phil Grooms, Achee placed 24th in the Division I California State Championships with a time of 15:38. This spring, he has posted personal bests of 4:24.17 (1600) and 9:24.36 (3200).