April 13, 2013
PULLMAN, Wash. -- A Canadian sprinter and the top hurdler in the state of Washington have signed National Letters of Intent to attend and compete for Washington State University starting in the fall of 2013, Cougar Track & Field Head Coach Rick Sloan announced Friday.
Brandon Bobb, a sprinter from Ajax, Ontario, Canada, and Daniel Zmuda, a hurdler from DuPont, Wash., will join the Cougars track and field program next year.
Bobb is a senior at St. Charles Garnier School and will graduate in June. His athletic background includes playing hockey, soccer, and basketball in addition to competing in track and field. Bobb ran the 100m in a time of 10.49 for fourth place at the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) 2012 championships after earning a bronze medal in the 100m at the 2010 meet. Last year at the New Balance Indoor National meet Bobb won a silver medal in the 60m dash. He plans to study business at WSU.
"With only two years of sprinting under his belt, Brandon Bobb has already reached great success on the track," WSU Assistant Coach Ellannee Richardson said. "Brandon has a tremendous amount of foot speed and will be an immediate contributor within our sprints program. We are very excited that he will be joining our program next year. Brandon comes from an amazing family. His humble demeanor and his appetite to learn will take him very far both athletically and academically here at Washington State. I'm really looking forward to working with Brandon next year."
"Coach Richardson has brought another Canadian down from the Great White North," Sloan said. "Brandon is a neophyte when it comes to sprinting; he was a hockey player and has only been running track a short time. It shows he has the power and leg speed as he's very good at the 60-meters and after conditioning and strengthening he will be able to carry that power through the longer distances. I think we have a diamond in the rough in Brandon Bobb."
Daniel Zmuda, a running-start student, is a senior at Steilacoom High and will obtain his high school diploma in addition to an AA degree from Pierce College this June. He has earned six varsity letters from cross country, golf and track and field. Zmuda was the 2012 state 2A champion in the 300m hurdles with a lifetime-best time of 37.87 seconds. He was tabbed the South Puget Sound League Outstanding Junior. Competing for the High Voltage Track Club of Seattle and coach Jeanine Shepherd, Zmuda won both the 110m hurdles and the 400m hurdles at the 2012 Pacific N.W. Junior Olympics Association Championships and was the runner-up in both events at the JO Regional meet. So far in the 2013 prep season, Zmuda holds the top time in the state for 110m hurdles of 14.24, and ran the top 300m hurdles time of 38.03 for fourth place at the Arcadia Invitational. He plans to major in economics at WSU.
"Daniel is on the verge of becoming the best all-around hurdler in Washington high school history," Assistant Coach Mark Macdonald said. "No hurdler in state history is in the top 10 all-time list in both the 110 hurdles and the 300 hurdles. Daniel is off to a great start this season and it looks like he could be the first ever to crack both top 10 lists. Daniel is a great student with a 3.8 GPA and is a great competitor. I am very excited to have him join the hurdle group at Washington State University."
"Daniel has done an outstanding job during this indoor season in the 60-meter hurdles," Sloan said. "He can be a 4x4 relay guy along with giving us outstanding intermediate and high hurdles. He'll have to make the adjustment to high hurdles and longer races but with Coach Mac's guidance I think he'll be an outstanding hurdler for the Cougs."
These signees join 11 previously released Cougar signees for the 2013-14 school year:
Craig "CJ" Allen, a hurdler from Allyn, Wash.
Greer Alsop, a triple jumper from New Zealand
Leanne Asper, a sprinter and 800m runner from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Danielle Darden, a sprinter from Aliso Viejo, Calif.
Liz Harper, a hurdler from Missoula, Mont.
Abu Kamara, a hurdler from Kent, Wash.
Abby Regan, a distance specialist from Coonamble, New South Wales, Australia
Cole Smith, a high jumper from Hoquiam, Wash.
Jordin Stephenson, a distance runner from Stanwood, Wash.
Josh Wallin, a quartermiler from Meridian, Idaho
John Whelan, a distance runner from Etna, Calif.
