Multiple athletes sign to DWU cross-country and track and field teams

MITCHELL, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University men's cross-country and women's track and field teams have been busy on the recruiting trail throughout the year. Head coach Jamen Helton and Zach Lurz recently signed four recruits in Wyatt Baldauf, Sami Shoultz, Elijah Burns and Jocelyn Krouse.

 Baldauf is a native of Seneca, Ill., and has made an impact on his high school cross-country team. He competed in the 3,200-meter run, the 1,600-meter run and the three-mile run.

 His best mark in the 3,200-meter run was with a time of 10:35 minutes, while his best time in the 1,600-meter run was in 4:50. Baldauf also finished his career with a personal best in the three-mile run with a time of 16:03.

 "Wyatt had a fantastic career at Seneca High School where he was able to be a multiple time state qualifier," Helton said. "He will fit in with our young cross-country roster perfectly and will really be able to step in right away and have an immediate impact."

 Shoultz was a member of the Huron High School cross-country team where she competed in the 5,000-meter run and the 800-meter run.

 In the 5,000-meter run, Shoultz finished with a time of 20:14 at the RC Hart Ranch Invite which set a personal best. She also recorded a career high in the 800-meter run in 2:22.

 "Sami is a five-time state qualifier for Huron on the cross-country course and will have an immediate impact on our women's team not only on the cross-country course but on the track as well," Helton commented. "She is going to fit in perfectly with our current roster and really be able to help take our women's team to another level."

 Burns is another addition to the men's cross-country team from Illinois as he comes from Collinsville, Ill. He was a multi-sport athlete as he competed in cross-country and basketball. In the 3,200-meter run he notched a time of 10:41 which was a personal best.

 "Elijah has seen Father McGivney's program change a lot over the past few years," Helton said. "Elijah is the programs first track state qualifier in school history, and he was a part of the first cross country state qualifying team in school history. He has made tremendous strides over the past few years and will also have the opportunity to jump in and make an immediate impact on the cross-country course."

 Krouse was recruited to DWU to compete in the high jump and long jump. She is a multi-year state qualifier for McCook Central-Montrose High School.

 "Jocelyn is a very strong addition to our 2019 recruiting class," Lurz mentioned. "Coach Taylor Bouchard is excited to be able to work with her moving into the following school years and she could be highly competitive at our GPAC meet."