ASU signs fresh crop

of cross-country, track talent

Appalachian State’s cross country and track and field programs have received commitments from 18 student-athletes to compete for the Mountaineers beginning in the fall of 2009, ASU’s head cross country coach Mike Curcio and director of track and field and cross country John Weaver announced Tuesday afternoon.

The following student-athletes will suit up for the Mountaineers as freshmen when classes resume in August. Both the men and women will kick off the 2009 cross country season at the Covered Bridge Open in Boone, on Sept. 4.

Seth Anderson - (Pfafftown, N.C./Reagan) - Placed third at regional meet in 800 meter run - Fifth at state championships in 800 meter run PR’s: 5000 meter - 17:19, 800 meter- 1:58, 400 meter- 51
Nick Carter - (Raleigh, N.C./Enloe) - PR’s: 5000 meter - 16:11, 3200 meter - 9:42, 1600 meter - 4:26, 800 meter- 1:56.1, 400 meter - 51.7

Connor Chesser - (Alpharetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity) - State and regional champion in the mile and a half - PR’s: 5000 meter -16:34, 1600 meter- 4:28, 800 meter - 1:56 400 meter- 50.89

James Howard-Smith - (Charlottesville, Va./W.Albemarle) -Two-time All-American in distance medley relay, first place in 2008, fourth place in 2009 - Regional outdoor mile champion as a senior - Placed third at Foot-Locker cross country sophomore race (2006) PR’s: 5000 meter - 15:54, 1600 meter - 4:20.79, 800 meter - 1:57.94

Michael Lilley - (Hagerstown, Md./Williamsport) - Placed third in state cross country meet - Won state titles in 4x800 relay and 3200 meter run (indoor)- Placed first in 3200 meter run and second in 1600 meter at state outdoor championships - Indoor state champion in the 1600 meter run - PR’s: 5000 meter - 15:53, 3200 meter - 9:44, 1600 meter - 4:26, 800 meter - 2:01, 400 meter - 54

Eric Peffer - (Greensboro, N.C./NW Guilford) - Finished fourth at Midwest regional meet, and 10th at state 4A cross country championship - Placed fourth in 3200 meter run at outdoor regional meet - PR’s: 5000 meter - 16:00, 3200 meter - 9:44, 1600 meter - 4:36, 800 meter- 1:59

Will Raby - (Charlotte, N.C./McCallie Schoo)l - 3x all-state nominee in cross country -Twice named to Best of Preps cross country team by Chattanooga Times-Free Press - Placed third in 3200 meter run at 2008 and 2009 Tennessee outdoor state championships - PR’s: 3200 meter - 9:28, 1600 meter - 4:26

Richard Burk Staub - (Raleigh N.C./Broughton) - Member of two-time 4A cross country state championship team at Broughton - Placed fifth at state indoor meet in the 3200 meter run - Competed at the Nike Indoor Nationals in the 5000 meter run - PR’s: 5000 meter - 15:27, 3200 meter - 9:44, 3000 meter - 9:08, 1600 meter - 4:28

Alex Taylor - (Charlotte, N.C./Providence) - 2009 State Champion in 1000 meters (indoor) - Placed second in 1600 meters at 2008 N.C. outdoor championships - Won back-to-back regional titles in both 800 and 1600 meters. (2008, 2009) - 2008 Regional Champion in 5000 meter run - PR’s: 5000 meter - 16:01, 3200 meter - 9:46, 1600 meter - 4:18.4, 800 meter - 1:56, 400 meter - 50.4

Charles Wofford - (Wilmington, N.C./Hoggard) - Finished second in 2008 cross country regional meet - Sixth in 2008 N.C. 4A cross country state championship - Runner-up in 3200 meter run at 2009 regional meet - PR’s: 5000 meter - 15:49, 3200 meter - 9:42, 1600 meter - 4:29, 800 meter - 1:59, 400 meter - 0.56

Kaitlyn Cagle - (Orlando, Fla/Dr. Phillips) - PR’s: 3200 meter - 12:13, 1600 meter - 5:33, 800 meter - 2:28
Brittany Caudle - (Middletown, Md./Middletown) - Member of 2009 1A state indoor championship squad - Placed first in the 1600, 800, and 500 meter runs at state indoor meet - Member of state champion 4x800 meter relay team - PR’s: 3200m - 11:13.87, 1600m - 5:04.72, 1500m - 4:43.70, 800m - 2:16.85

Trinity Foreman - (Blacksburg, Va./Blacksburg) - Captured ninth place in 2008 state cross country championship - Placed fifth in both 1600 and 1000 meter runs at state indoor championship - Took home first place in the 1600 meter run at the 2009 Volunteer Classic - Member of state champion 4x800 relay team - PR’s: 5000m - 18:57, 3200m - 11:27.62, 1600m - 5:09.70, 800m - 2:18

Amanda Hamilton - (Cary, N.C./Apex) - Member of fifth place 4x800 meter relay team at 2009 Mideast 4A regional meet - Placed 11th in 1600 meter run at regional championship -PR’s: 5000m - 19:45, 3200m - 11:53, 800m - 2:33.1

Cara Richardson - (Perryville, Md./Perryville) - Two-time regional champion in cross country (2005, 2006) - Posted top-five finishes at three consecutive state cross country championships (2006-2008) - Captured state title as a freshman in the 3200 meter run (2006) - Placed second at 2007 state meet in 3200 meter run- PR’s: 5000m - 18:46, 3200m - 11:38, 1600m - 5:19, 800m - 2:29

Lindsay Wetzel - (Raleigh, N.C./Enloe) - Named all-conference in both cross country and track as a senior - Member of 4x800 meter relay team that placed sixth at 2009 regional meet - Finished 10th in the mile run at regional meet (2009) - PR’s: 5000m - 19:33, 3200m - 11:49, 1600m - 5:22, 800m - 2:25

Sarah Williamson - (Charlotte, N.C./Ardrey Kell) - Named all-conference in cross country as a senior - Placed 18th at cross country regional meet - Notched an eighth place finish in 3200 meter run at regional meet - PR’s: 5000m - 19:53, 3200m - 12:08, 1600m - 5:34, 800m - 2:33, 400m - 1:10

Jenna Williamson - (Charlotte, N.C./Ardrey Kell) - PR’s: 5000m - 20:30, 3200m - 12:20, 1600m - 5:40, 400m - 1:07