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Spider Track And Field Announces Incoming Recruiting Class
July 30, 2008
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - A total of 15 women and eight men will join the University of Richmond track and field squad for the 2008-09 season, coaches Steve and Lori Taylor announced recently. The list of athletes includes three high school All-American's and multiple state champions. "We want to qualify athletes to the NCAA Championships in cross country and all of the track & field disciplines including the distance events, throws, jumps and sprints," director of track and field Lori Taylor said. "Some of these young men and women have the tools to reach the top ranks among the NCAA. Our goal in recruiting this season was to add to our distance core and fill areas where we've been lacking depth. I believe we've made progress in both areas." "We are excited about the group of men and women joining our program this fall," head men's coach and recruiting coordinator Steve Taylor said. "We attracted quality student-athletes to all areas of our program. I believe it shows the University of Richmond is well-known and respected throughout the country. These men and women realize that as part of our program they will have tremendous opportunities athletically and academically." Here's a look at the Spiders' 23, listed alphabetically: WOMEN Gisele Adanlete High School: Placed second at the 2008 WPIAL Central Championships (Class AAA) in the long jump...2008 TSTCA Champion in the long jump and eighth place in the 55m... Placed 11th at the 2008 PTFCA Indoor State Championships in the long jump...Holds personal bests of 5.24m in the long jump, 7.46 in the 55m, and 26.25 in the 200m.
Emma Berry Freshman Distance Morgantown, W.Va. (Morgantown) High School: Earned 2004, 2006 and 2007 All-State honors in cross country helping her team win AAA state team titles in 2004, 2005, 2006 and finish in the runner-up spot in 2007...Placed sixth over-all at the 2007 West Virginia State cross country championships to earn All-State honors...Also earned All-Region honors in cross country 2004, 2006 and 2007...During the 2007 outdoor track & field season earned All-State honors in the 3,200m and in 2008 helped her 4x800m relay team to a runner-up finish...Served as the captain her senior year.
Kate Billups High School: 2008 West Virginia Class A State runner-up in the pole vault...2007 State Class A State Champion in the pole vault (2.90m)... 2006 State Class A State Champion in the pole vault (2.75m)...Placed third at the 2005 Class A State Championships in the pole vault.
Andi Defonce High School: 2008 All-League honoree for the indoor track & field season in the long jump, 600m and 4x200m relay...2008 All-County selection in the 600m and placed fourth in the Intersectional Relay at the NYSPHSAA Federation Championships...2008 All-League honors in the 400IH, 4x400m relay...Also crowned 2008 Class B Champion in the 400m hurdles and earned First Team All-County in the 800m and 4x400m relay...Was a 2007 All-League honoree in the long jump and 4x400m relay along with being crowned the Class B Champion in the 400M...2007 All-League award winner indoors in the long jump and 4x200m relay and Most Improved Athlete Award for the team...Served as team captain for the 2008 indoor and outdoor seasons...Earned varsity letters in cross country (2003-2007), indoor track & field (2002-2008) and outdoor track & field (2003-2008)...Selected as Harrison's 2008 Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year...Holds personal best marks in the 800m (2:16.72), 600m (1:38.3), 600y (1:30.6), 400m (58.7), 400 hurdles (1:08.20) and long jump (4.98m).
Geneen Dore High School: Placed second at the 2008 N.Y. State Indoor Track & Field Championships in the triple jump (11.35m) and eighth in the 55m dash (7.27)... 2008 Section III Division I Outdoor Track & Field Champion in the 100m and triple jump...Placed seventh at the 2008 State Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the triple jump...Holds personal best marks of 11.35m in the triple jump, 12.20 in the 100m, 7.27 in the 55m, and 5.01m in the long jump.
Johanna Gehlbach High School: 2008, 2007 and 2006 Division I Outdoor Track & Field State shot put champion... Set new state record in the shot put at the 2007 state championships with a throw of 12.27m...2008 Division I State Championships runner-up in the discus and javelin...2008 and 2007 Indoor shot put champion setting a state record at both...Team captain senior year and MVP her sophomore, junior and senior years... Placed third at the 2008 New England Indoor Track & Field Championships in the shot put...As a freshman placed second at the D1 State Championships in the shot put...Holds personal bests of 12.27m in the shot put, 33.65m in the javelin, 32.35m in the discus and 9.27m in the 20-pound weight.
Nellie Henigin High School: 2008 PIAA State Outdoor Track & Field Championship class AA medalist in the shot put (third) and discus (seventh)...Qualified for the 2008 Nike Indoor National Championships in the shot put...2008 TSTCA Champion in the shot put (12.52m)...2008 and 2007 PIAA District 6 Champion in the shot put...2008 PIAA District 6 runner-up in the discus... 2007 PIAA State Outdoor Track & Field Championship class AA medalist in the shot put (sixth)...Threw a personal best mark of 13.03m in the shot put at the 2007 Indiana (Pa.) Invitational...Named to the All-Gazette Track & Field Team in 2006, 2007 and 2008...Selected the Rotary Club Track & Field MVP in 2006 and 2007...Earned varsity letters in track & field, basketball and volleyball for three years in a row.
Beth Kelly High School: Earned First Team All-Catholic League in cross country in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007...Repeated that feat for indoor track & field earning First Team All-Catholic League in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008...During outdoor track & field earned First Team All-Catholic League in 2005, 2006 and 2007. Selected as the team MVP for cross country in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 and track in 2006...Earned letters in four varsity sports each of her four years of high school (cross country, indoor track & field, outdoor track & field and field hockey). Holds personal best marks of 5:05.7 in the 1,600m set at the 2007 Shippensburg Invitational and 11:10.68 in the 3,200m set at the 2005 Upper Darby Invitational.
Kate Kershner High School: 2008 Delaware State Champion in the 4x800m relay four year in a row (2008, 2007, 2006 and 2005)...Member of the 2008 State record-setting 4x800m relay (9:12.33)...Member of the school record setting 4x400m relay (3:54.05)...First to win four straight 1,600m titles at the county outdoor championships...Won the 1,600m at the indoor and outdoor State Championships and the Meet of Champions three years in a row...Helped her team to the Nike Team National Cross Country Championships in 2006 and 2007 which were held in Portland, Ore....At the 2006 Nike Indoor National Championships earned All-America honors in the 4x1,600m and 4x800m relays...Selected to the 2005 All-America team for her performance in the Mile at the Nike Indoor National Championships and the Nike Outdoor National Championships...Three-time (2007, 2006 and 2005) First Team All-State in cross countryWas Second Team All-State in 2004...Back injury her senior year kept her from running indoor track, so she swam instead...Earned varsity letters in cross country, indoor track, outdoor track and swimming...Served as captain of her cross country and outdoor track & field teams as a senior...Holds personal best marks of 4:55 in the 1,600m and 2:13 in the 80m..
Meaghan McGovern High School: Placed third overall at the 2008 Nike Outdoor Nationals in the hammer throw to earn All-America honors...Placed 14th at the 2008 Nike Indoor National Championships in the weight throw...Holds personal bests of 49.77m in the hammer and 13.72m in the weight throw...Earned All-State, All-Class and All-Division honors in 2008 in the hammer and 20-pound weight... Served as captain of her outdoor team as a senior.
Megan Molnar High School: Team captain for the indoor and outdoor track & field seasons her senior year...Selected to receive the 2008 Jack Lukis Athletic Award and the 2008 New Jersey Scholar-Athlete Award...Earned varsity letters in outdoor track & field, indoor track & field, cross country, soccer and tennis...Holds personal bests of 12.8 in the 100m and 26.8 in the 200m.
Carter Norbo High School: 2008 All-Region in the 3,200m for the indoor and outdoor track & field seasons...2008 and 2007 All-Region in the 1,600m during indoor track...2008 District Champion outdoors in the 3,200m and runner-up in the 1,600m...2006 and 2007 District runner-up in cross country...2008 and 2007 District runner-up in the 3,200m and 1,600m races for indoor track...2006 and 2007 District Champion as part of the outdoor 4x800m relay...2006 District runner-up in the 3,200m for the outdoor season...2006 Regional runner-up in the 4x800m relay for the indoor season...Earned First Team All-District in soccer as a junior and senior and Second Team as a sophomore....Earned 2005 All-District honors in the 1,600m and 3,200m for indoor track and 3,200m outdoor track...Earned varsity letters in cross country, indoor track, outdoor track, soccer and lacrosse...Holds personal bests of 5:20 in the 1,600m and 11:31 in the 3,200m.
Alex Oszustowicz High School: 2008 Mid-Penn Champion in the 100 hurdles...2008 and 2007 PIAA State Medalist in the Class AA 4x100m relay... PIAA Class AA State Qualifier in 2008 (Javelin and 4x100m relay), 2007 (4x100m relay) and 2006 (Long Jump and 4x100m relay)... PIAA District III Outdoor Track & Field Qualifier in 2008 (eight events), 2007 (seven events), 2006 (five events) and 2005 (three events)...2007 PIAA District 3 Championship Team MVP...2007 PIAA District 3 Champion in the 4x100m relay...Holds personal bests of 37.57m in the javelin, 15.69 in the 100 hurdles, 5.04m in the long jump and 10.90m in the triple jump.
Monique Scott High School: Earned 2008 All-State honors in outdoor track & field in the 4x800m...Earned 2008 All-Region and All-District honors in outdoor track & field in the 800m, 4x400m and 4x800m relays...2008 Regional Champion in the 4x400m relay for outdoor track & field...2008 District Champion in the 800m run...Selected the 2008 team MVP...2007 district champion and regional runner-up in the 800m...2007 All-District, All-Regional and All-Area in the 800m...Holds personal bests of 2:18.42 in the 800m and 1:00.65 in the 400m...Served as team captain of her cross country team her senior year.
Katrina Spratford High School: Placed 10th at the 2008 N.J. Outdoor Track & Field Meet of Champions in the 3,200m with a time of 10:51.38...Won the 5,000m (18:08.39) in lapping the field at the Rowan University Invitational... Placed 16th in the 5,000m at the 2008 Nike Outdoor National Championships...Placed third in the two-mile at the 71st Eastern States Indoor Track & Field Championships held at the New York City Armory...Placed eighth at the 2007 State Cross Country Meet of Champions with a time of 18:42.0 at Holmdel Park...Earned Group III Star Ledger All-State honors in cross country in 2007 (First Team), 2006 (First Team), 2005 (Second Team) and 2004 (Second Team)...Helped her team qualify for the 2007 Nike Team Nationals in cross country...Selected the 2008 West Jersey XC Runner of the Year and the 2007 Hunterdon Warren Scholar Athlete of the Year.
Daniel Cannata High School: Specialized in the 400m...Set a personal best of 50.11 in the event as a junior...Also holds personal best mark of 22.9 in the 200m.
Devin Cassels High School: Placed eighth at the 2008 PIAA Class AA State Championships for outdoor track & field in the pole vault with a leap of 4.27m...Placed second at the 2008 PIAA District 4 Class AA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the pole vault (4.12m)...Selected 2008 PIAA District 4 Male Athlete of the Year...Earned varsity letters in track & field (four years), football (three years) and basketball (three years)...Served as team captain for the football as a junior and senior and basketball as a senior...Earned 2007 All-CSC Honorable Mention in football (quarterback)... Earned 2008 All-CSC Second Team in basketball.
Brian Cohen High School: Earned varsity letters in four sports cross country, indoor track, outdoor track and wrestling...Served as captain of his XC team as a senior leading them to third-place at the D2 State Championships...Set personal best of 10:11 in the 3,200m at the 2008 North Attleboro Invitational...Also ran 4:45 for 1,600m and 2:03.5 in the 800m at the Reggie Lewis Center during the 2008 indoor track & field season.
Nick DeChello High School: Set the school record for the javelin with a throw of 46.37m...Ranked No. 3 in the NEPTSA conference...Earned letters in three sports football, basketball and track & field.
Levi Grandt High School: One of the most decorated runners in state history...Placed eighth at the 2008 Nike Outdoor National Championships in the 5,000m (15:11.10)...2007 and 2006 W.Va. State, Regional and Conference Champion in class "A-AA" cross country... Ran 15:26 for 5K to earn All-South Cross Country honors at the 2007 Foot Locker South Regional Championships to place 20th...Won the class "A" 3,200m run (9:22.26) and the 1,600m (4:26.71) run at the 2008 State Championships...Set a school record in the 1,600m of 4:25.20 at 2008 University Invitational...Earned 2008 All-Region honors in winning the 3,200m, 1,600m, 800m and for leading his 4x400m relay team to second place...2007 regional champion in the 3,200m run...2005 and 2006 All-State, All-Region and All-Conference honoree in cross country....2006 All-State honors in the 3,200m (first), 4x800m (first), 1,600m (second) and 800m (third)...2006 All-Region honors in the 3,200m (first), 4x800m (first), 1,600m (first) and 800m (second)... 2005 All-State honors in the 4x800m (first, state record), 3,200m (third), 1,600m (fourth)...2005 All-Region honors in the 4x800m (first), 3,200m (third), 1,600m (third)...2004 All-Region and All-Conference honoree in cross country.
Tim Smith High School: Ran 9:16.41 for 3,200m at the 2008 Southern Track Classic in Richmond...Earned 2008 All-America honors in the 5,000m run at the Nike Indoor Nationals in Landover, Md. placing sixth in 15:29.71...Set an indoor best of 9:20.24 for 3,200m at the 2008 Mid Atlantic Track Clash in Richmond... Ran 15:28 for 5K to earn All-South Cross Country honors at the 2007 Foot Locker South Regional Championships to place 22nd...State Champion in the 3,200m run at 2008 VHSL State AA Championship meet in Lynchburg, Va...Earned All-State honors in the 1,600m at the 2006, 2007 and 2008 VHSL Class AA Indoor Championships... Indoor All-State honors in the 3,200m at the 2007 and 2008 championships...Earned All-State honors in the 3,200m at the 2008 Class AA VHSL Outdoor Track & Field Championships...Set a personal best of 4:17.68 in the 1,600m at the 2008 VMI Invitational...Earned All-State honors in Cross Country at the 2007 and 2006 VHSL State AA Championship in The Plains, Va by placing seventh and 11th respectively...Earned 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 All District, All Region in Cross Country, Indoor Track & Field, and Outdoor Track & Field.
Stephen Rachman High School: Won his league and district titles and was a PIAA State Championship Finalist in the 400m in 2007 and 2008...First Team All-League honors for outdoor track & field in 2007 and 2008...Competed on his indoor track & field team as a senior to earn 2008 All-Main Line honors....Earned 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 All-Main Line honors for outdoor track & field...Earned team MVP honors as a senior for the indoor and outdoor track & field teams...Ran personal best of 22.7 in the 200m and 11.0 in the 100m as a senior...At the 2007 PIAA State Championships for outdoor track & field ran 49.7 in the 400m...Ran 2:00 in the 800m at the 2007 West Chester District Classic...Earned varsity letters in five sports while in high school (indoor track & field, outdoor track & field, cross country, soccer and basketball).
Sean Steller High School: Ran 4:25 for the 1,600m at the 2008 PTFCA Indoor State Championships to place seventh...Set a personal best of 9:33.22 in the 3,200m at the 2007 Henderson Invitational...At the Lehigh XC Invitational ran 15:42.00 for 5K...Served as team captain as a senior for the cross country, indoor track & field and outdoor track & field teams...Team class MVP as a freshman, junior and senior...Earned four varsity letters in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track while at Unionville High. |
 
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