Left to right: Olivia Findlay, Alex Harmer, Ava Steinhebel, and Megan Zahnow.

Women's Track & Field 12/29/2023 11:54:00 AM Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

Women's Track & Field Inks Four For 2025

Findlay, Harmer, Steinhebel and Zahnow to become Warriors this fall.

DETROIT -- Wayne State University head track & field, and cross country coach Grant Lofdahl has signed four high school student-athletes to National Letters of Intent to join the Warrior track and field program in the fall of 2024.

Coming to Motown are jumper Olivia Findlay (Marlette, Mich.), sprinter/hurdler Alex Harmer (Woodstock, Ont. / Huron Park S.S.), jumper Ava Steinhebel (Dearborn, Mich. / Edsel Ford), and hurdler Megan Zahnow (Vicksburg, Mich.).

Associate head coach Nate Miller, who will coach each of these four recruits, commented on each of the signees below.

Olivia Findlay, 5-9, Jumps, Marlette, Mich. / Marlette
High School: Will be a 2024 graduate of Marlette High School ... will be a four-year track letterwinner for the Raiders and coach Cathy Storm ... participated in three events as a freshman at the MHSAA Division 4 state track meet ... placed second in the long jump (17-0.5) and third in the high jump (5-04) as well as running anchor on the 4x200m relay ... finished second in the high jump in 2022 (5-3) and fifth in the long jump (16-01) ... won the state title in the high jump (5-4) and placed sixth in the long jump (16-05.5) as a junior at the state meet ... also competed in the 100m hurdles ... has personal-best marks of 5-6 in the high jump and 17-02.5 in the long jump, both at the 2023 Blue Water Meet of Champions ... also competed in volleyball and basketball for MHS ... earned Academic All-State recognition in all three sports ... served as a team captain in all three sports.

Personal: Full name -- Olivia E. Findlay ... born on June 1, 2006, in Marlette, Mich. ... daughter of Foster and Melissa Findlay ... has three sisters, Emily, Alexandra and Charlotte ... Emily competed in track for Oakland University, setting school records in the javelin and heptathlon ... plans to major in Nursing.

Coach Miller on Olivia Findlay: "We were very concise about who we recruited for this class. It's always exciting to recruit a great talent like Olivia, but it's also great when we find recruits who will fit so well with our team and Wayne State. It was clear when speaking with Olivia and her family that this would be a great fit. Olivia was someone we are delighted to add to the squad as not only a state champion in the high jump, but also a tremendous competitor, great student, and fierce competitor. Coach (Izabelle) Peterson and I are very much looking forward to coaching her in the future."

Alex Harmer, 5-6, Sprints/Hurdles, Woodstock, Ont. / Huron Park S.S.
High School: Will be a 2024 graduate of Huron Park Secondary School ... ran a personal-best 12.93 for 100m in June of 2022 at the NXTCHAMP Invitational held at the Track and Field Centre in Toronto ... the previous month ran a 26.92 for 200m at the OFSAA West Region championships held at Sandwich S.S. ... was the 2023 Silver Medalist in three eventsat the Athletics Ontario meet - 400m dash (1:00.99), 100m hurdles (15.42) and the 400m hurdles (1:04.61) ... posted a time of 15.11 for 100m hurdles in August of 2023.

Personal: Full name -- Alexandra G. Harmer ... born on March 1, 2006, in Woodstock, Ont. ... daughter of Chad Harmer and Jenny Moore ... has two younger sister, Emily and Sydney ... plans to major in Nursing.

Coach Miller on Harmer: "We again checked off all the boxes when we recruited Alex as she will add great depth to our hurdles squad. On top of being a long and short hurdler, we knew she was coming from a supportive family. She is a great student, and was very eager to learn and improve. Alex is a very welcomed addition to our team and we look forward to seeing her hard work for us in the future."

Ava Steinhebel, 5-10, Jumps, Dearborn, Mich. / Edsel Ford
High School: Will be a 2024 graduate of Dearborn Edsel Ford High School ... will be a four-year track letterwinner for the Thunderbirds ... finished third in the long jump at the 2021 Downriver League Championships with a season-best mark of 15-3.5 ... participated in four events at the 2022 DRL championship meet placing second in the long jump (15-9), fifth in the high jump (4-6), eighth in the 400m (1:07.95) and fifth in the 4x400m relay ... won the high jump (5-2) at the 2023 DRL championship meet, while finishing third in the long jump with a career-best mark of 16-4.75 ... set a personal-best in the high jump of 5-5 at the 2023 Metro Classic at Woodhaven H.S. ... also competed in volleyball and basketball for DEFHS ... served as a team captain in all three sports ... selected team MVP in both volleyball and basketball ... received academic honor recognition.

Personal: Full name -- Ava Steinhebel ... born on October 10, 2006, in Livonia ... daughter of Michael and Julie Steinhebel ... has an older brother, Joshua ... plans to major in Exercise Science ... last name is pronounced Styne-uh-bull.

Coach Miller on Ava Steinhebel: "Coach Peterson and I knew that Ava was a tremendous athlete and I was able to see that first hand during one of her volleyball matches in her senior year. Throughout the recruiting process we were able to connect with Ava and her family well and it became clear this would be a great place for her. We were very excited to add her to the squad as we thought she was a great student and very direct about her goals and what she wanted from a team and a university. I'm always thrilled to bring someone to Wayne State from the downriver area of Detroit as that is where I grew up as well."

Megan Zahnow, 5-6, Hurdles, Vicksburg, Mich. / Vicksburg
High School: Will be a 2024 graduate of Vicksburg High School ... will be a four-year letterwinner in track for the Bulldogs and coaches Lucas Wolthuis and Chuck Zahnow ... school record holder in both the 100m and 300m hurdles ... ran the leadoff leg on both the 4x100m relay and 4x200m relay at the 2021 MHSAA Division 2 state track meet ... placed fourth in both the 100m hurdles and 300m hurdle events at the 2021 MHSAA Regional meet ... participated in both hurdle events at the 2022 MHSAA state meet ... was the state runner-up in the 100m hurdles in 2023 with a personal-best time of 15.23 ... also competed in the 300m hurdles and 4x400m relay at the state meet as a junior ... participated three years in cross country for VHS ... served as a team captain in both track and cross country ... is a member of the National Honor Society ... is a three-time Academic All-State honoree.

Personal: Full name -- Megan E. Zahnow ... born on November 11, 2005, in Vicksburg, Mich. ... daughter of Chuck and Erin Zahnow ... has two sisters, Lauren and Kendra ... plans to major in Exercise and Sport Science, with a minor in Spanish ... last name is pronounced ZAH-no.

Coach Miller on Megan Zahnow: "I want to reiterate again that we were very concise about who we recruited to our team for this incoming class. What we liked about Megan from the beginning was the same concise attention from her and her family during the recruiting process. After her first visit, I was confident that Megan would be a great addition to our team. Adding more depth and talent to the hurdles squad, but just like our other recruits we see a great eagerness from Megan to improve and help our team get to a higher level. Coach Peterson and I are very much looking forward to Megan joining the squad."

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