SFA Track & Field Adds Three
11/27/2006 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
Nov. 27, 2006
NACOGDOCHES - The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjack track and field team added three distance runners to its program announced SFA head coach Phil Olson Friday afternoon. Meredith Blocker (Mineola, Texas), Marie Flores (Rosharon, Texas) and Dennis Yeats (Terrell, Texas) have announced their intentions to continue their education at SFA.
"I'm very pleased with the early signing class," said Olson. "Coach Snelling did a wonderful job recruiting not only talented athletes, but classy individuals. They have all shown that they can compete well in cross country at the district, region and state level and we are looking forward to what they will do in the upcoming track and field season."
Blocker has had an impact at Mineola High School since her freshman season. She has qualified for the state track meet every season and also recorded an 11:50 at the cross country state championships as a junior, which was her personal best at the state meet. Blocker recorded an 11:31 in 3,200 meters and a 5:29 in the 1,600 meters as a freshman. She improved those times as a sophomore recording an 11:28 in the 3,200 and a 5:15 in the 1,600. Blocker has placed as high as 3rd at the state championships in both events. She also recorded a fifth-place finish at the 3A State Cross Country Championships during her junior season, crossing the line with a time of 11:50. Blocker has recorded six top-five state championship performances heading into her senior season.
Flores will join the Ladyjacks' roster after a very successful senior cross country season at Alvin High School. She finished ninth at the Region III 5A Cross Country Championships, clocking a time of 11:25.54. Flores closed out her junior season finishing second in the 1,600 meters (5:15.71) at the District 24-5A meet.
Yeats has been a constant among the top 10 at the 4A State Championship for Forney High School over the past three seasons. He recorded a 10th-place finish during his rookie season crossing the line with a time of 15:53. Yeats has followed that up with consecutive eighth-place finishes, including a meet-best 15:47 this past season.
"With the focus of this years early signing period being distance athletes from Texas, the theme would be talent and desire. Marie, Meredith and Dennis all have the necessary amount of ability to be successful collegiate athletes. What sets them apart from most other high school runners is their desire to succeed. Both of those qualities will allow them to potentially make an immediate impact at Stephen F. Austin."
-SFA-
