ST. PAUL, Minn. – Concordia-St. Paul track and field coach Sam Johnson and cross country head coach Jonathan Breitbarth have announced the additions of five student-athletes for the 2016-17 academic year during the fall signing period. The class includes three athletes that will be competing in track and field and two that will be competing in both track and field as well as cross country.
 
"We are excited to continue building the future of Golden Bear track & field and cross country with the announcement of these commitments," said head coach Sam Johnson. "Each of the athletes will fill a need on our roster next fall and should be able to contribute to the team's success right away. We will look to add to this group of talented athletes as we recruit through the spring season."
 
The early signing class includes five freshman, three women and a pair of men, spanning several different events.

*Tasha Bennett (Mid Distance, 5-2, Fr., New Prague, Minn. / New Prague HS)
New Prague High School: Lettered six times, four in track and field and two in cross country for the Trojans … was named captain of the track and field team … twice named All-Wright County Conference in cross country and once in track and field … was a state qualifier … helped the 4x800m relay team break the school record … also involved in German Club.
 
Personal: Born on October 23, 1997 … daughter of Steve and Tery Bennett … has a sister, Nina, and a brother, Nick … plans to major in Sport Psychology at Concordia … plans on attending graduate school upon graduation.
 
 
Lily Duffy (Pole Vault, 5-3, Fr., Hayward, Wis. / Hayward HS)
Hayward High School: Lettered in track and field and basketball for the Hurricanes … set the school record by clearing a height of 10' … has a PR of 10'3 … helped her basketball team advance to the State Tournament.
 
Personal: Born on January 18, 1998 … daughter of Brian and Holly Duffy … has an older brother, Alec, and an older sister, Claudia … plans to major in Psychology at Concordia … her great uncle, Ken Yackel, played football, hockey and baseball at the University of Minnesota before playing on the 1952 US Olympic Hockey Team … she also has an uncle who played hockey at Michigan Tech and a cousin who plays for the Colorado Avalanche.
 
 
Hannah Gustafson (Throws, 6-0, Fr., West St. Paul, Minn. / South St. Paul HS)
South St. Paul HS: Had 10 athletic letters, five in track and field, three in volleyball and two in basketball … named All-Metro East Conference and conference champion three times in discus and twice in shot put while also picking up an honorable mention once in shot put and once in basketball … named track and volleyball captain … named Field Athlete of the Year at the school … holds the conference record in both shot put and discus with distances of 40'1.25 and 114' … helped the track team to a conference title and two section championships … also lettered in Student Council three times, Band twice, Pep Band, Marching Band, Choir, SADD, Diversity Leadership, WEB and National Honor Society.
 
Personal: Born on December 4, 1997 … daughter of Jon and Chris Gustafson … has three brothers, Jake, Levi and Titus, as well as two sisters, Alex and Clare … plans to major in Life Science Secondary Education at Concordia … plans to become a high school biology teacher … her father, Jon Gustafson played football at University of Northwestern-St. Paul and her sister, Alex Peterson, plays volleyball at University of Northwestern-St. Paul.
 
 
Andrew Leck (Mid Distance/Sprints, 6-3, Fr., Chaska, Minn. / Chaska HS)
Chaska High School: Lettered eight times, four in track and field and four in soccer for the Hawks … named All-West Metro Conference in the 4x200m relay and All-Conference honorable mention in soccer … team captain for soccer … helped the 4x400m team to a section title in 2014 and the 4x200m relay to a conference title and second in the section in 2015 … competed in True Team State in four years in a row … helped the soccer team to a third place finish at state.
 
Personal: Born on March 5, 1998 … son of Brian and Trisha Leck … has an older brother, Collin, and a younger sister Ayiana … plans to major in Criminal Justice and minor in Computer Science at Concordia … plans to work in criminology … his grandfather, James Deane, competed in track and field and cross country at St. Thomas.
 
 
*Cole Oslin (Mid/Long Distance, 6-3, Fr., Mora, Minn. / Mora HS)
Mora High School: Lettered five times, three in cross country, one in track and field and one in academics for the Mustangs … named All-Granite Ridge Conference his junior and senior years in cross country as well as honorable mention in track and field as a junior … was named team captain and earned All-State honors as a senior … helped his team to a second place finish in the small school national championships … earned the Mustang Leadership and Student Athlete Award as a senior … holds the school record in the 2 mile run and helped the 4x800m relay team to a school record … helped the team win the conference title her junior and senior years as well as section titles three years in a row.
 
Personal: Born on April 24, 1998 … son of Gary and Kim Oslin … has nine brothers, Brad, Jeff, Josh, Jason, Aaron, Bryce, Blake, Chase and Reece, and two sisters, Brooke and Peyton … plans to major in History and minor in Political Science at Concordia … his brother, Josh, played college baseball at the University of Minnesota and was drafted by the Kansas City Royals … his brothers, Aaron and Bryce player college baseball at Mesabi Range CTC and his brother, Jeff, played basketball at Rainy River CC.
 
* denotes athletes competing in cross country