HOKA NAZ Elite to Add Three Athletes
Press Release
FLAGSTAFF (AZ), -- July 28, 2015 – HOKA ONE ONE Northern Arizona Elite announced it will be adding three new athletes to its roster effective immediately. 2015 University of Texas graduates Ryan Dohner and Craig Lutz will join Scott Fauble (University of Portland) in Flagstaff next month. The three NCAA All Americans will be training with a roster that includes 1:01 half marathoner Matt Llano, 2:28 marathoner Kellyn Taylor and 2014 USA Cross Country Champion Amy Van Alstine, among others.
Lutz is coming off a year that saw him set personal bests at every event from 1,500 meters to 10,000 meters, capped off with a fourth-place finish in the 10,000 at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Lutz entered the University of Texas coming off a stellar high school career that included a trip to the World Cross Country Championships in 2011 and a Nike Cross Nationals title in 2009. In addition to his finish at this year’s NCAA Outdoor meet, Lutz’ college highlights included a third-place finish at the same event in 2013 and a 15th place finish at the NCAA Cross Country later that year. Lutz said he is very excited to be joining the HOKA NAZ Elite team.
“I will have the perfect training conditions to grow in this sport and succeed," Lutz said. "Running professionally has been a dream of mine since elementary school and now, here I am, stepping into that roll and checking another goal off of the list. ”
Ryan Dohner, Lutz’ teammate at Texas for the last four years, will join him once again in Flagstaff. Dohner’s Longhorn career was full of accolades including personal bests of 7:58.80 for 3,000 meters and 13:45.25 for 5,000 meters. He was also a standout in cross country, finishing 19th at the NCAA Championships as a junior and 11th as senior. Dohner said he is healthy and ready for a big year.
“I had a couple of setbacks this past year and didn't get the finish to my college career that I wanted," Dohner said. "But now I get to move to Flagstaff where I believe I'll be able to show the running world what I can really do."
The third member of the new trio is Scott Fauble from the University of Portland. Fauble joins HOKA NAZ Elite after an outstanding senior campaign that included a 12th place finish at the NCAA Cross Country Championships this past fall. That finish helped lead the Pilots to their first-ever trophy at the National Meet in third place overall. Fauble then tried his hand at the longer distances, running 1:03:59 in his half marathon debut at the USATF Championships in Houston in January. He followed that up with a spring that included a trip to the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the 10,000 meters. Fauble said he has dreamed of being a professional athlete since he was five years old.
"I have worked very hard to fulfill my dreams and earn a spot in the professional running world," Fauble said. "I can't wait to continue working hard in Flagstaff for HOKA ONE ONE and NAZ Elite as I try to become one of the best long distance runners in America.”
HOKA NAZ Elite coach Ben Rosario said he’s thrilled with all three recruits.
“Craig, Ryan and Scott are a great fit for our group not only physically but also because of what they bring to the table in terms of their collective mindset,” Rosario said. “All three of them are hungry to compete at the highest level and they are totally bought in to what we are all about as a team.”
All three athletes have officially signed with HOKA NAZ Elite and will represent the team beginning with their first races this fall.
