Director of Cross Country/Track and Field Brent Chumbley announced Thursday the addition of 13 student-athletes for their 2017-18 signing class that includes a national record-holder and several nationally-ranked athletes and state champions.
“This could arguably be one of the most talented recruiting classes in the history of the women’s track and field program,” Chumbley said. “We are not just adding quantity, but the overall quality of the class is exciting across all events.”
Here are the newcomers:
Amelia Reynolds, Cardiff Track Club, Wales
PRs: 60m: 7.78, 200m: 24.04, 300m: 38.78, 400m: 56.35
2017 U20 Welsh Indoor Champion in the 200m & 400m
U20 London Games Champion in the 400m
U20 Welsh Indoor Record Holder in the 200m
2017 Runner-up at the U20 British Championships in the 200m
2016 Welsh Senior Outdoor champion in the 400m
Welsh 300m record holder in the 300m
Assistant track and field coach Shelli Sayers on Reynolds:
“Amelia is a game changer for our program. She is already running times that will compete for the podium in the Big South in multiple events. She has been racing on a big stage for a while and will have no problem transitioning to collegiate track and field in the U.S. She is going to be fun to coach and watch compete in the Big South and on a national level.”
Karryngton Harrison, Friendly High School, MD
PRs: 55H: 8.13, 100H: 14.70
First year high hurdler for Coach Gunther at Friendly High School
Maryland State Champion in the 55H, upsetting 3-time defending champion in the event
2017 New Balance National qualifier in the Elite 60H
Ranked #19 in the country in the 55H after the state championships
Voted by Maryland Milestat as one of the best break out performers in 2017
Sayers on Harrison:
“I am thrilled to add Karryngton to our team and hurdle crew. She is new to the event and already running national caliber times, ranked as high as #7 in the country this season in the 55H. She has only run two 100H races in her career so far, but her father, Freddie Harrison, was an All-American hurdler at Virginia Tech, so she knows great hurdling. She is a young, dynamic, and an aggressive hurdler with a very bright future in the event. She has intangibles for a hurdler every coach dreams of mentoring.”
Madison Anderson, Midlothian High School
PRs: 300m: 40.80, 400m: 57.31, 500m: 1:18.64, Triple Jump: 39’1 ½ ”
Ranked #6 overall in the state of Virginia in the triple jump
2017 4A Indoor State Runner-Up in the triple jump with a new personal best
2016 4A Outdoor State Runner-up in the 400m with a new personal best
Holds Midlothian’s school records in the triple jump, 400m, and 300m
Indoor and Outdoor New Balance National Qualifier in the triple jump, 4x400m, and Sprint Med relays
Sayers on Anderson:
“Madison’s decision to come to Radford was huge for our program. She is yet another game-changer in multiple events. I fully expect her to score right away in the jumps, the long sprints, and in the relays. I am impressed with her ability to be at her best in big meets. She is more than ready to compete at the next level.”
Madeline Tilley, Brookville High School
PRs: 300: 42.58, 400m: 58.72, 500m: 1:17.75
2017 New Balance Indoor Emerging Elite National qualifier in the 400m
Brookeville’s school record holder in the 400m and 500m
Ranked 19th overall in the state across all divisions in the 500m
2016 VHSL 3A State Runner-up in the 400m with a new personal best
Sayers on Tilley:
“I am so excited Maddie will be wearing red next year. It was fun to watch her improve all through the 2017 indoor season setting PR after PR and qualifying for her first high school national championship meet. She is a very talented and aggressive runner and brings a lot to the table for our team.”
Alaina Pagliaro, South County High School
PRs: 55H: 8.45, 100H: 14.68, 300H: 45.33
Set 55H PR in the finals of the highly competitive VHSL 6A State Championships
Set a new 100H early in the 2017 season in both hurdle events
2016 6A Conference 7 Champion in the 55H
2016 6A Conference 7 Champion in the 300H
Sayers on Pagliaro:
“I am really looking forward to coaching Alaina in the hurdles. She has yet to reach her potential in both hurdle events and has a bright future as a Highlander. She is going to add depth to our talented hurdle crew. This training group is going to be outstanding and she is going to play a big role in it.”
Alexus Preston, William Fleming High School
PRs: Long Jump: 18’3″, Triple Jump” 37’1″
VHSL 4A State Champion in the long jump
All-State performer in the triple jump, and the 55m and 100m dashes
School Record holder in the long jump
New Balance National Qualifier
Sayers on Preston:
“Alexus is an outstanding young lady and will make an immediate impact on our team in the jumps and sprints, and potentially both relays. She is very versatile and competitive; two qualities we value on our team. Our jumps crew is going to be really thrilling to watch next year, and I am excited Alexus will be among them.”
Laney Owen, Atlee High School
PRs: 800m: 2:19.47, 1000m: 3:05, 5k: 19:24
Finished 9th at the 2016 5A Outdoor State Championships in the 800m
Finished 6th overall at the 2017 5A Indoor State in the 1k setting a new PR
Anchored Atlee’s 4x800m relay team to a 5th place finish and 18 second PR at the 2017 Indoor State Championships
Atlee School Record holder in the 500m dash
Cross Country head coach Eric Thatcher on Owen:
“Laney is a gifted prospect currently focusing on the mid-distance events. It is easy to project continued development at the collegiate level as I expect her to bring tremendous personal motivation and enthusiasm to our team environment.”
Ryan Paine, Osborne Park High School
PRs: 300m: 42.74, 400m: 57.26, 500m: 1:19.45
6A North Region 400m runner-up as a junior
6A State Qualifier in the 400m dash
All-State performer on the 4x100m and 4x400m relays
DODSS Champion while competing in Europe
Sayers on Paine:
“Ryan adds depth to our strong long sprint team. She spent 2 years of her running career in Europe, so she was under the radar in the state. She will push to be one of the best on the team and on the relays. I am really looking forward to watching her become one of the fastest long sprinters in the conference.”
Taylor Tinsley, Stafford High School
PRs: High Jump: 5’6″
2017 New Balance Indoor National Qualifier in the high jump
2017 Indoor 5A North Regional Champion in the high jump
2016 Outdoor 5A North Regional Champion in the high jump
Sayers on Tinsley:
“I was very excited when Taylor decided to become a Highlander. Taylor is a very talented athlete who will surprise many jumpers in the Big South. She has a very high ceiling in the event so it will be fun to see just how good she is going to be over the next four years.”
Annsley Eckert, Patriot Pacers, Forest
PRs: 5k: 19:13, 3k: 10:51, 1500m: 4:52
Ran #2 in cross country on the very talented Patriot Pacers team
2017 Footlocker Southeast Regional Qualifier
Thatcher on Eckert:
“Annsley is ready to come in with the mindset to outwork opponents. The consistency of her training and gradual progression throughout high school are traits that make successful collegiate runners. She will have high expectations for herself academically and athletically and will maintain focus on continued development.”
Karah Foster, Nansemond River
National Champion as a member of the Sprint Medley Relay Team
4x200m State Champion
Three time Indoor 4A and 5A State Team Champions
Three time Outdoor 4A and 5A State Team Champions
Sayers on Foster:
“Karah comes from one of the most talented track and field teams in the country led by Coach Justin Byron. She is going to bring a valuable level of experience to our team, especially on the relays. She knows what it takes to be successful and will added some depth to our sprint/relay pool.”
Also joining the program:
Naomi Brindley from South Lakes High School: Brindley will add needed depth to the cross country and distance squads.
Thatcher on Brindley: “Naomi brings mature qualities that will help her succeed as a collegiate student-athlete. She understands the work she will need to put into consistently seeing progression in her training to make an impact in our program.
Ellie Look from Salem High School: Look is a talented duel sport athlete for the Spartans and is very young in the sport of track and field. She will compete in the long sprints and relays.
— Courtesy of Radford Athletics
