TicketsMarch 8, 2010
CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati women's track and field team has inked seven student-athletes, six of whom hail from the state of Ohio, to national letters of intent for the 2010-11 school year, head coach Susan Seaton announced today.
"We are excited to have such a strong incoming freshman class," Seaton said. "Adding seven quality athletes to our team will help us to build our program into a BIG EAST power and catapult us onto the national scene."
Three sprinters, three throwers, and one pole vaulter comprise the seven student-athletes that will join the Bearcats next season.
CharAnna Dixon attends Bishop Hartley High School in Columbus, Ohio, where in 2008, she was a state champion in the 100m dash. In 2009, Dixon followed that up by winning a state championship in the 4x100m relay, running the lead leg en route to a record setting performance at the state championships.
Cameron Gardner heads to Clifton from Perrysburg High School in Perrysburg, Ohio, where she was an Ohio Division 1 state meet qualifier in the 100 and 200m dashes in 2009. She holds personal record times in the 100m of 11.88 and in the 200m of 24.70.
Morgan Gordon was the 2009 New Jersey state champion in the 200m dash while attending Rancocas Valley Regional High School in Mt. Holly, New Jersey. A state qualifier in the 100m, 200m, and 400m, she owns personal-best times of 24.31 in the 200m and 56.81 in the 400m.
According to Seaton, the three sprinters will make an immediate impact upon arriving at UC.
"The incoming sprint class will add more depth to our already strong sprint group," said Seaton. "All three athletes have junior year high school marks that are competitive at the BIG EAST level and we look to develop them into BIG EAST champions and national caliber athletes."
In addition to the three sprinters, UC welcomes three throwers in Mary Bridges, Amelia Carter, and Jessica Molyet.
Bridges, who will come to campus from North Olmsted High School, placed fifth in the discus throw at the Ohio state meet in 2009. Outside the track, she was also the starting goalie on the soccer team.
Carter, who also competes in power lifting, placed sixth in the shot put and the discus at the 2009 Ohio state championships representing Riverside-DeGraff High School.
Hailing from St. Joseph Central Catholic High School in Ohio, Molyet's discus mark of 147' 8" currently ranks fifth in the nation in her high school class. The two-time Ohio state qualifier in the discus placed fifth in 2008 and third in 2009. At Cincinnati, Molyet will also throw the hammer and weight.
The final piece of the 2010 recruiting class is Sarah Rasnick, who was one of the top returning vaulters in the state of Ohio this year. A three-time state meet qualifier, placing ninth, second, and sixth, respectively, Rasnick holds a personal best vault of 12' and will be able to make an immediate impact for the Bearcats.
"This class of signees is by far the most competitive we have ever signed," said Seaton. "In addition we look to add a few more impact athletes as the recruiting season continues."
The complete list of the 2010-11 signees:
Mary Bridges- North Olmsted H.S.- North Olmsted, Ohio
Amelia Carter- Riverside-DeGraff H.S.- Quincy, Ohio
CharAnna Dixon- Bishop Hartley H.S.- Columbus, Ohio
Cameron Gardner- Perrysburg H.S.- Perrysburg, Ohio
Morgan Gordon- Rancocas Valley Regional H.S.- Mt. Holly, N.J.
Jessica Molyet- St. Joseph Central Catholic H.S.- Fremont, Ohio
Sarah Rasnick- Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy- Uniontown, Ohio