SFA Track and Field Inks 14 Athletes
5/17/2002 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
May 17, 2002
NACOGDOCHES - The Stephen F. Austin men's and women's track and field team's signed 14 athletes to National Letters of Intent announced SFA head coach Phil Olson Friday. That brings the SFA signing class to 18.
"I am very pleased with the quality and depth of our signing class," said Olson. "a balanced program is something that is important t us and this class reflects that philosophy. Not only that, they are all quality individuals with strong home upbringings."
Kenneth McKinley is one of the best shot put-discus combination throwers in the state of Texas. The Yoakum, Texas product was the 3A state runner-up in the shot put and has thrown a personal record of 60-9. He also has a personal best of 175 in the discus. Olson expects McKinley to develop into an outstanding all-around thrower in all four disciplines.
Blake Crow comes to SFA from Atlanta High School. Crow was a 6-10 high jumper at Atlanta and finished sixth at the 3A state meet. Bo Simpson (Trent, Texas) makes his way to SFA as the 1A state champ in the long jump. Simpson also was a regional qualifier in four events. He has recorded personal bests of 23-8.75 in the long jump, 6-4 in the high jump, 49-8 in the shot put and 10.92 in the 100m. Simpson will be counted on in the multi events at SFA.
The Lumberjacks added Nick Asprodites (New Orleans, La.), Zane Cannon (Tyler, Texas), Cody Clark (Merit, Texas), Marc Farris (Goliad, Texas), Rodney Joseph (Decatur, Texas) and Arkansas-Little Rock transfer Mike Thompson (British Columbia, Canada) to its distance and middle distance squads. Asprodites has been a Louisiana state champ in the 1,600 meters and and placed seventh in the state meet in cross country. He has recorded personal bests of 9:46.49 in the 3,200m, 4:22.83 in the 1,600m and 1:57.26 in the 800m.
Cannon is expected to contribute in the middle distances. He qualified for the 5A regional meet in both the 800m and the 1,600m. He has recorded times of 1:57.10 (800m) and 4:27 (1,600m).
Clark comes to SFA as the 1A state runner-up in the 1,600m and cross country to early-SFA signee Julian Acuna. In his first season in track, Clark recorded a third-place state finish in the 3,200m. Clark has run a 4:39 in the 1,600m and a 9:57 in the 3,200m.
Farris is a late developer the 'Jacks believe will blossom into a strong runner at the college level. Farris finished third in the 1,600m at 3A state meet and has recorded a best of 4:22.97 in the event and a best of 9:44.24 in the 3,200m.
Joseph is the 3A runner-up in the 3,200 meters and finished third at the 3A state cross country meet. Has recorded times of 4:28 in the mile and 9:32 in the two-mile run.
Thompson is expected to make an immediate impact on the SFA distance squads. Thompson was UALR's high-point athlete at the 2000 Sun Belt Championships and has run 9:15 in the steeplechase and 3:58 in the 1,500m.
The Ladyjacks added five athletes to their roster, including two throwers, two high-jumpers and a pole vaulter/javelin thrower. Amber Arambidie (La Vernia, Texas) comes to Nacogdoches, having jumped 5-7 at the high school level. She was a 2001 and 2002 state qualifier and finished sixth at the 3A state championships this past season.
Crystal Chang (Decatur, Texas) is the Ladyjacks other high-jump signee. Chang is a versatile athlete who has cleared 5-8 at the high school level, as well as winning the 3A state title in the 800m. Chang will be counted on in the multi events at SFA.
Cookie Lonergan (Stephenville, Texas) will strengthen an already strong Ladyjacks throwers squad. She comes to SFA as the 4A state runner-up in the discus. She has recorded a throw of 149-0 in the discus and is also a 4A state champion powerlifter. Lonergan joins her sister, Katie, who is a Ladyjack hurdler.
Jackie Schulte (Dickinson, Texas) rounds out a solid throwers signing class for SFA. Schulte was the 2001 state runner-up in the shot put. Despite battling through an injury-plagued senior season, Schulte managed to return from ankle surgery to compete at the 3-4A regional meet. She has a personal best of 44-8.
Kasie Query (Lake Charles, La.) is a versatile athlete who is expected to compete in the pole vault and the javelin for the Ladyjacks. Query has cleared 10-6 in the pole vault while throwing the javelin 142 feet. Query won the 2001 Louisiana state title in the pole vault.
These athletes join Julian Acuna, Chance Edwards, Teneal Manley and Anna Westhoff who signed in December.
-SFA-
