NAMPA, Idaho - Northwest Nazarene University head cross country and track & field coach John Spatz has announced the addition of six more athletes to the Crusader cross country and track & field team as Yance Burger, Justin Webb, Jasmyn Jewett, Francesca Hale, Melissa Grammer, and Samantha Hill have each signed letters of commitment to attend NNU and compete for the Crusaders this year. 

Yance Burger, who graduated from Nampa Christian High School will join the Crusader throws squad.  Burger won the Idaho 2A District III title in the discus with a winning throw of 143'7”.  Moving on to the Idaho state meet , Burger placed 7^th in the discus and 9^th in the shot put in 2009.  His best mark in the shot put was 46-0 in 2009.  Burger finished 8^th at the state meet in the discus in 2008. Helo "Yance has a great attitude and is a very hard worker," Spatz comments.  "It will be exciting to see him progress at this level where he will be surrounded by a very good group of throwers on the men's team here at NNU. I expect  to see him make some very big strides during the next year."

Justin Webb will join the Crusaders from Weiser High School.  Primarily a middle distance runner with personal best times of 1:58.80 (800m) and 4:32.41 (1600m), he placed 5th in the 800m and 2nd in the 1600m at the 3A state meet in Idaho. He also placed 8th in the 3A cross country state meet in 2008.  "We are very excited to add Justin to our core group of young middle distance runners," Spatz added.  "He should make an immediate impact at the conference level for us."

Jasmyn Jewett from Mountain Home High school in Mountain Home, Idaho, joins the Crusader jumps program after claiming the 2009 Idaho 4A state title in the triple jump at  37'.50”.  "Jasmyn will bring a high level of experience with her to the collegiate level," Spatz commented.  "She will have the opportunity to compete at the highest levels of the GNAC conference and perhaps at the NCAA national level. Jasmyn had an excellent state meet in 2009, along with her triple jump title she placed 3^rd in the long jump at 17'1.25” and was 4^th in the high jump at 4'10”."

Francesca Hale, also from Mountain Home High School, will join the Crusader hurdle squad.  Francesca has qualified for and competed at the Idaho 4A state championship the past two year in the 300 hurdles.  In 2008 she place 13^th and in the 2009 season she finished 10^th with a best time of 49.37.  "Francesca will make a great addition to the core group of 400 hurdlers here at NNU," Spatz continued.  "Look for Francesca to make some great improvements at the collegiate level."  Hale will also split time with the basketball program as a redshirt freshman.

Melissa Grammar comes to NNU from Valdez High School in Valdez, Alaska, and joins the Crusader sprint program after a very successful career in Valdez.  "Grammer will bring a range of sprint skills to the Crusader program having run races from the 100m to 400m, and also the 4 x 400 relay," Spatz stated.  At the 2009 Alaska High School State Championships, Melissa won the title in the 100m in 12.94. She also placed 4^th in the 200, 6^th in the 400, and ran a leg on the 4 x 400 relays that finished fifth.  She also claimed district titles in both the 100 and 200 in 2009.  "Melissa will join a very strong sprint corp at NNU, look for her to have a solid impact at the GNAC championship in her first."

Samantha Hill graduated from Bothel High School in Bothel, Washintgon.  "Samantha has shown some versatility with good PR's in the middle distances, 5:31.60 (1600m) and cross country 20:05 (5k)," Spatz mentioned.  "She placed 26th at the Kingco 4A Championships this last fall and will help to add some depth to our women's squad this fall and then be able to make a run at qualifying for both the indoor and outdoor GNAC championships during the track season."