Arizona State track & field signs three to National Letters of Intent

February 06, 2008

TEMPE, Ariz. - <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/c-track/mtt/kraft_greg00.html">Greg Kraft</a>, Director of Track & Field at Arizona State University, and his coaching staff have signed three high school seniors to National Letters of Intent to continue their education and athletic careers with the Sun Devils, the program announced Wednesday. All three sprinters will join the program in time for the 2009 season and includes the addition of Allante Battle (Phoenix/Desert Vista HS) to the men's team and Devan Coon (Leesport, Pa./Schuylkill Valley HS) and Kayla Sanchez (Carson City, Nev./Carson HS) to the women's roster.<separator></separator>Battle has excelled for Desert Vista High School (Phoenix) where he has won four state titles with the track and field team while also excelling on the football field as well. During his junior year, Battle played a large role in helping the Thunder to both state and national acclaim on the track as he won individual state 5A crowns in the 100m dash (10.64), 200m dash (21.33) and 400m dash (47.17) with personal best times in each. Battle also anchored the champion 4x400m relay team which ran 3:15.50, the second-fastest time in Arizona high school history. DVHS also captured the state team title before also being named the 2007 Nike Web National Champions. Battle, who is a second generation Sun Devil, following in the foot steps of his mother, the former Anna Van (ASU All-American in the long jump and triple jump), and his father, Greg (starting linebacker at ASU), was selected as the 2007 Arizona Republic Track Athlete of the Year as a junior.<separator></separator>"Allante is a very gifted young man from a great family that is a staple of our community," <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/c-track/mtt/winston_terry00.html">T… Winston</a>, ASU assistant coach for men's sprints/hurdles/relays, said. "He is a class act and is a great fit for our program. He will add depth to a very talented group of sprinters here and we look forward to having him compete for the maroon and gold next year."<separator></separator>Coon is a four-time all-state performer for Schuylkill Valley High School (Leesport, Pa.) and will return for her senior year as the defending state champion at 400m, which she won in a state-record time of 55.46, just three weeks after running her first competitive open 400m. An all-state honoree in the 200m dash (2005-07) and 400m dash (2007), Coon also holds the PIAA District 3-AA and Burks County record in the 200m dash at 24.41. A qualifier for the Junior Olympic meet each of the past four years, Coon placed among the Top 6 in a pair of events at the 2007 USATF Youth Outdoor Nationals as she placed fourth in the 400m dash, in which she lowered her personal best time to 55.17, and sixth in the 200m dash.<separator></separator>"Within minutes of meeting Devan on her official visit, I could feel the passion and excitement she will bring to our program," <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/c-track/mtt/mcdaniel_kenny00.html">… McDaniel</a>, ASU assistant coach for women's sprints/hurdles/relays, said. "With her abilities, I believe Devan can become a strong member on our 4x400m relay team as well as adding a great deal of depth to the individual sprint events."<separator></separator>Sanchez is a nine-time Nevada 4A state champion at Carson High School (Carson City, Nev.), sweeping the state titles in the 100m dash, 200m dash and 300m hurdles during her time at CHS. The state record holder in the 300m hurdles (42.34), Sanchez' mark also ranks as the fourth-fastest among returning athletes in the nation this year. The 2005 and 2006 Nevada Athlete of the Year, Sanchez also holds regional records in a of pair events as she owns the top times in the 300m hurdles and the 100m dash (11.92). The defending regional champion in all three events, she placed second in the state long jump last year, missing out on her 10th career crown by one inch. A versatile athlete, Sanchez also plays soccer for CHS.<separator></separator>"I am very pleased to have added both of these young women to our program as part of my first recruiting class at Arizona State," McDaniel said. "I was intrigued by the versatility and overall speed Kayla possessed. She is a dynamic athlete who will add depth to our group as both a sprinter and hurdler."<separator></separator> <separator></separator><hr /> 2008 Sun Devil Track & Field National Letter of Intent Signees Allante Battle - Sprints - Desert Vista HS (Phoenix) Two-sport standout for Desert Vista... helped the track and field team to both the Arizona 5A-I state championship and the 2007 Nike Web National championship in 2007... clocked personal best times of 10.64 in the 100m dash, 21.33 in the 200m dash and 47.17 in the 400m dash at the 2007 state championship meet to win all three events... also anchored the 4x400m relay to victory (3:15.50) with the second-fastest time in Arizona high school history... holds the school record in all three individual sprints and is a member of the record relay squads in both the 4x100m and 4x400m events... selected as the 2007 Arizona Republic Track Athlete of the Year... on the gridiron, helped DVHS to the state title game as a senior, playing on both sides of the ball... tallied 2,771 all-purpose yardage in his prep career... averaged a staggering 26.4 yards per reception, hauling in 924 yards on only 35 career catches... record a career-high 195 yards receiving on only four catches in the first game of his junior year... totaled 1,130 yards rushing on 133 career carries... scored 22 total touchdowns, including 14 on the ground and eight through the air... added 68 tackles as a defensive back along with two interceptions... is a second-generation Sun Devil as both his parents wore the maroon and gold... mother Anna (Van) was an All-American in the long jump and triple jump for ASU and also qualified for the Olympic Trials... father Greg was a linebacker for the Sun Devil football team in the 1980s. Personal Bests: 10.64 (100m), 21.33 (200m), 47.17 (400m)<separator></separator>Devan Coon - Sprints - Schuylkill Valley HS (Leesport, Pa.) Defending state champion and state record holder in the 400m dash for Schuylkill Valley HS... set the mark at 55.46 just three weeks after running her first 400m dash... also holds the PIAA District 3-AA and Burks County records in the 200m dash (21.41)... earned all-state honors in the 400m dash in 2007... all-state selection in the 200m dash three times (2005, 2006, 2007)... qualified for each of the last four Junior Olympic meets... placed among the Top 6 in a pair of events at the 2007 USATF Youth Outdoor Nationals... finished fourth in the 400m dash and sixth in the 200m dash. Personal Bests: 24.41 (200m), 55.17 (400m)<separator></separator>Kayla Sanchez - Sprints/Hurdles - Carson HS (Carson City, Nev.) Nine-time state champion for Carson HS... has swept the 100m dash, 200m dash and 300m hurdles each of the past three years... nearly won her 10th title as a junior, taking second in the long jump by one inch... won the 300m hurdles at the state meet in 42.34, setting the state record... her hurdle time is the fourth-best in the nation among returning athletes in 2008... holds the regional record in the 300m hurdles and the 100m dash (11.92)... selected as the Nevada Athlete of the Year in 2005 and 2006... also is a member of the CHS soccer team. Personal Bests: 11.92 (100m), 24.28 (200m), 42.34 (300mH)