Dean Ellenwood is a future Vandal, in the best possible way.
The longtime Langley Mustangs track and field standout has accepted a scholarship to the University of Idaho, where he will compete with the Vandals.
The Langley Secondary School Grade 12 athlete has had an outstanding high school and club career, medalling multiple times at the B.C. high school championships and Canadian national youth track and field championships in the 400m and 800m.
Ellenwood was part of the Canadian team that competed at the 2015 World Youth Athletics Championships in Cali, Colombia. There, he was a member of the Canadian mixed 4 x 400-metre relay team that captured a bronze medal.
He ended the 2015 track season as Canada’s No. 2-ranked youth 800m runner (1:51.78) and No. 4-ranked youth (16-17 year old) 400m sprinter (48.85 seconds).
Ellenwood said he chose Idaho because he “loved the energy of the team, and the determination of its coaches Tim and Cathleen Cawley and Travis Floeck .
“I really feel like we can build a competitive program at Idaho which I can’t wait to be a part of,” Ellenwood said. “Academic wise, Idaho has all the programs I’d like to explore and an atmosphere that can help me achieve my goals.”
Floeck, who is the university’s assistant coach of distance and cross country described Ellenwood as a “triple threat student-athlete we want in our program at Idaho,” and one of the best middle distance prospects in North America.
“We are absolutely thrilled Dean is joining the Vandal family,” Floeck added. “I couldn’t be more excited at the opportunity to coach Dean and help guide him at the next level.”
Ellenwood had other options including Kansas State, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Oklahoma State, Columbia, Idaho State, Texas Arlington, the University of British Columbia, and Simon Fraser University before choosing Idaho.
