MOBILE, Ala. ? University of South Alabama cross country and track and field head coach Paul Brueske announced the addition of 18 student-athletes Monday who signed grant-in-aid papers to compete for USA in the 2009-10 season.
“Our goal is to recruit and produce a well-rounded team that will be able to compete for the Sun Belt Conference championships,” Brueske said. “We are excited about the quality of this recruiting class. Our coaching staff has worked very hard to bring in quality student-athletes to the University of South Alabama.”
Men’s Team
Zach Brantley ? Cross Country and Distance ? Northern Nash High School (Elm City, N.C.)
Brantley ran 15:32 in the 5K at the Nike Outdoor Nationals as a junior. He has a personal best of 15:44 in the 5K in cross country. Brantley tends to perform well at big competitions.
Eric Frawley ? Pole Vault and Sprints ? Midlothian High School (Midlothian, Texas)
Frawley ranked as high as fifth in the nation in the pole vault. He has a personal best of 5.00m/16-05.00 in the pole vault.
Vince Frawley ? Pole Vault and Sprints ? Midlothian High School (Midlothian, Texas)
Frawley was the 2009 Class 4A Texas state champion in the pole vault. He ranked as high as second in the nation in the pole vault during his senior season. Frawley has a personal best of 5.15m/16-11.00 in the pole vault.
Will Henley ? Pole Vault ? Vestavia Hills High School (Vestavia Hills, Ala.)
Henley won back-to-back AHSAA Class 6A State Championships in 2008 and 2009. He finished his senior season as the top pole vaulter in Alabama, and has a personal best of 4.72m/15-06.00.
Jarrod Kedzior - Throws - St. Ignatius High School (Cleveland, Ohio)
Kedzior should develop into a competitive shot put and hammer thrower for the Jags. He has a personal-best throw of 16.89m/55-05.00 in the shot put, and set a personal record of 39.47m/129-06 in the hammer throw during his senior season.
Ashton Krause ? Vertical Jumps/Decathlon ? St. Paul’s High School (Mobile, Ala.)
Krause was an all-state performer in the decathlon, high jump and 110m hurdles. His personal bests include 1.98m/6-06 in the high jump and 14.90 seconds in the 110m hurdles.
Scott Lasiter ? Cross Country and Distance ? Franklin Central High School (Franklin, Ind.)
Lasiter was named to the Class 5A all-state first team in cross country his senior season by the Indiana Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches Association. He ran 4:16.00 in the 1,600-meter run, and 9:17.00 in the 3,200m as a senior. He ranked as high as seventh in the nation in the indoor 3,000m (8:44.00). Lasiter placed second in the Midwest XC Meet of Champs, and was 14th at the Foot Locker Midwest.
Jeff Long ? Throws ? Waterloo High School (Mogadore, Ohio)
Long received all-state honors in the shot put as a junior. His personal bests include 51.96m/170-06 in the discus, and 16.66m/54-08 in the shot put.
Matt Miller ? Cross Country and Distance ? LaPorte High School (LaPorte, Ind.)
Miller earned First Team All-State honors in cross country as a senior. He ran the 1,600m in 4:23.00, and consistently ran 9:18.00 in the 3,200m. Miller consistently runs in the 15-minute range on tough cross country courses.
Jordan Mitchell ? Cross Country and Middle Distance ? Transfer from Indiana Tech
Mitchell is a former state champion in the 4x800m relay, and received all-state honors in the 1,600m. He was also named all-state in cross country. Mitchell qualified for the NAIA National Meet while at Indiana Tech. He has personal bests of 1:53 in the 800m, 3:57 in the 1,500m and 25:18 in the 8K.
Alex Shields ? Cross Country and Distance ? Fishers High School (Fishers, Ind.)
Shields earned First Team All-State honors in cross country as a senior, despite competing with a stress fracture. He entered his senior season as the top returner in the 3,200m for the Indiana Outdoor State Meet. Shields’ personal bests include a 4:17 in the 1,600m and 9:20 in the 3,200m, both as a junior.
Women’s Team
Janae Jones ? Sprints ? Murphy High School (Mobile, Ala.)
Jones’ personal bests include 12.21 seconds in the 100m, and 25.20 seconds in the 200m. Jones is a raw talent who will add depth in the sprints and relays.
Noelle Jones ? Combined Events ? Pine Forest High School (Pensacola, Fla.)
A strong, multi-event athlete for PFHS, Jones has high jumped 1.67m/5-06, long jumped over 17 feet and threw the discus over 118 feet as a junior.
Tori Lawson ? Cross Country and Distance ? Ocala Vanguard HS (Ocala, Fla.)
Lawson won the Class 3A 3,200m state championship as a senior with a personal-best time of 11:02.32. She has received multiple all-state honors, and is a three-time state runner-up in cross country.
Shayna McCarver ? Hurdles and Horizontal Jumps ? Scottsboro High School (Scottsboro, Ala.)
McCarver was the 2009 Class 5A state champion in the triple jump, and earned all-state in the long jump, triple jump and 300m hurdles. She jumped 5.58m/18-04.00, and 11.81m/38-09 in the triple jump.
Faith Sanders ? Cross Country and Distance ? Spring High School (Spring, Texas)
Sanders recorded personal bests in the 3,200m (11:00) and 1,600m (5:09) as a junior, and should make an immediate impact in the Sun Belt Conference.
Shannon Stever ? Pole Vault ? LaCrescent High School (LaCrescent, Minn.)
Stever was the 2009 Minnesota state champion in the pole vault, and also earned all-state honors. She vaulted 3.50m/11-06.00 as a junior, despite adverse weather conditions.
Shakeria Williams ? Sprints and Jumps ? Foley High School. (Foley, Ala.)
Williams is a talented, multi-sport athlete whose personal bests include 5.35m/17-07 in the long jump, and 12.27 seconds in the 100m.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
