Track and Field Adds Four to Roster
11/17/2005 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
Nov. 17, 2005
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin track and field team announced Thursday the signing of four student-athletes to national letters of intent. Prep athletes Kaitlyn Andrews, Ashley Williams, Chelsea Bradford and Patrick Wiggins all inked with SFA during the early signing period.
"I am thrilled with the quality of the young people we signed during this early signing period," SFA head coach Phil Olson said. "Our goal was to go out and sign our top-level recruits, those we have been talking with now for a very long time. For the most part, we did that. We do not have a whole lot of scholarship dollars to work with this year, so it is nice to add some top-level student-athletes to our already deep program."
Andrews, who hails from Georgetown, Ontario, is the top junior shot putter in Canada. At this summer's Pan American Junior Championships, the 16-year-old Andrews finished sixth among the top junior athletes from North, South and Central America. Andrews' personal best in the shot put is 45-9. Her best discus throw is 142-10. Andrews will throw the shot, discus and hammer for SFA. Andrews, whose parents are Bruce and Anne Andrews, also plays basketball and hockey.
"Kaitlyn is an outstanding student who is coming to SFA to study in our fine kinesiology program," said Olson, who coaches throws. "She is also a terrific athlete who is still very young with a lot of great development ahead of her. I am very excited to have the opportunity to work with her during her college career and, hopefully, post-collegiately. She will certainly enhance the quality of our throws program and our entire team."
Williams, a senior at Hightower High School in Houston, will compete in sprint and hurdle events for SFA. She has recorded personal bests of 44.15 in the 300-meter hurdles and 62.1 in the 400-meter hurdles, as well as a 54 split in the 4X400-meter relay. Williams, the daughter of Ramona and Stanley Williams, comes to SFA with a collegiate pedigree. Her older sister, Crystal, ran track at Oklahoma. Ashley plans to study communication and journalism at SFA.
"I am very excited about the depth and versatility Ashley brings to our program," SFA sprints and hurdles coach Ta' Frias said. "She is a strong runner with the potential to impact the conference as a freshman in the 400-meter hurdles and be a solid leg on the 4X400-meter relay."
Bradford will join the Ladyjack distance program after completing her senior year at Frisco High School in Frisco, Texas. As a junior, she medaled in two events in one of the toughest Class 4A track and field districts in the state - District 9-4A. She was second in the 1600 meters and third in the 800 meters. Her personal bests in those events are 5:13.30 and 2:18.4, respectively. Bradford is the daughter of Katrina and Steve Bradford and will study biology and health science at SFA.
"Chelsea is a talented young lady who could make an immediate impact in cross country and track," SFA cross country and distance coach Lou Snelling said.
Snelling also added a recruit to his men's team with Wiggins, a senior at Livingston High School in Livingston, Texas. Wiggins has already distinguished himself as one of the top prep runners in the state. He won the 2005 Class 4A state championship in the 800 meters and finished in the Top 15 at last year's 4A state cross country championships. Wiggins' personal best times include 1:55.29 in the 800 meters and 4:27 in the 1600 meters. Wiggins is the son of Owney Wiggins and plans to study education and agriculture.
"Patrick is a raw talent that, once developed, will be able to compete at the highest levels," Snelling said. "His drive and determination will be huge assets."
- SFA -
