THIBODAUX – Looking to progress the program after turning in the most successful season in school history, head coach Scott Williamson announced the addition of ten new additions to the Nicholls State University track and field and cross country teams by unveiling his 2010-11 recruiting class on Tuesday.
The latest batch of Colonel recruits includes: eight high schoolers, one junior college transfers, one four-year transfer, two Canadians, two Floridians, one Texan and five Louisiana natives.
“With this recruiting class, we addressed some specific needs but we also addressed some 'wants' as well,” Williamson said. “A big goal of ours is to have a really strong cross country program. We're bringing in three girls that will be extremely helpful there. Some of them have the potential to come in and be some of the top distance runners in the conference. We lost a lot of hurdlers last year, and we're bringing in two more who have the chance to be among the best in the conference there. Our goal is to build a really strong sprint relay team and some of the girls we brought in will really help us there. With Leslie Bourgeois graduating last year, this year, we're also bringing in two javelin throwers who will help us continue to be one of the best javelin programs in the conference.”
Williamson adds three new members to the distance/cross country crews after the 2009 edition of Nicholls women's cross country turned in one of the most successful seasons in school history. The 2009 Colonels turned in their best ever finish at the Southland Conference meet (sixth), their first ever All-Southland Conference cross country honoree (Lauren Jones), their highest ever U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association South Central Region rankings (No. 11) and a 12th place finish at the 2009 South Central Regional Championship meet (the first such meet in school history).
Distance runner Emily Charlesworth comes to Thibodaux all the way from Quathiaski Cove, British Columbia, Canada. Charlesworth established herself as one of the top distance runners in her province, turning in a runner-up performance at the British Columbia Under-19 Championships this spring.
Jaclyn White joins the Colonel distance crew after turning in a stellar high school career at Springstead High School in Weeki Wachi, Fla. White projects to be a cross country runner and 800 m specialist on the track for the Colonels.
Closer to home, Baton Rouge native Sarah Pressley comes to Thibodaux after coming on strong late in her senior year at Archbishop Runnels High School. Pressley boasts a second place time of 11:46 in the 3200 at the state championships as a senior.
“I expect Emily can come in and be one of the top girls in the conference,” Williamson said. “She has personal records that have chances at winning titles in track and field, and she should be a contender in cross country as well. The other girls, Sarah and Jackie, come from really good high school programs. They are going to help us out a lot. They'll give us some extra depth that we didn't necessarily have in previous years.”
In the power running events, four new additions will look to help the Colonels continue to build their sprint, hurdle and relay squads.
Jalyssa Mullins joins the Colonels from Coffeyville (Kansas) Community College where she was coached by former Colonel track standout Lanation McCray. Mullins, a Texas City, Texas native, turned in strong performances in both the sprints and hurdles during her JUCO career. Among Mullins personal bests are times of 7.72 in the indoor 60 M dash, 8.86 in the indoor 60 M hurdles and 14.43 in the outdoor 100 M hurdles; all times that would have ranked in the top-10 in the Southland last season.
Katrina Bettard transfers in from Bethel College in McKenzie, Tenn. Bettard will have two years of eligibility remaining after turning in impressive freshman and sophomore seasons at the NAIA school. Bettard and Mullins should provide immediate help to the Colonels' sprint teams.
From up the bayou, Barlita Dirance joins the Colonels from Assumption High School in Napoleonville. Dirance was a state finalist in the 100, 200 and as a member of the Mustangs' 4x100 m relay team. Dirance will be joined by her Assumption teammate Chelsie Bergeron, whose state MVP honors in volleyball and state qualifying performances in multiple events make her a natural prospect for the pentathlon and heptathlon.
Meanwhile, from down the bayou, Rachel Glaxner heads to Nicholls from South Terrebone High School. Glaxner will be one of the more promising prospects among the Colonel hurdle crew after impressing in the 100 and 300 hurdles despite only recently beginning to compete in those events.
“Jalyssa should be one of the top hurdlers in the conference just based on the times she posted in junior college. The potential is definitely there for her to help us right away,” Williamson said. “We really didn't lose much in the sprint area from last year, but we've brought in some girls who should fit in as well. Katrina should fit in along with Jalyssa to help us create one of the best relay teams in the conference that should compete for a conference title. Barlita and Rachel had great high school careers, and we think that they could really grow and develop, once they get here, into really strong runners. Chelsie is a great all-around athlete. She does a lot of events and does them well, so we think she be an asset to us in the pentathlon and heptathlon.”
Meanwhile, after establishing themselves as one of the Southland Conference's premier javelin programs, the Colonels will look to offset the loss of three-time conference champ, and two-time NCAA finalist, Leslie Bourgeois by adding a pair of freshman to the ranks of the Nicholls javelin squad.
Jaimee Springer will be the Colonels' second Canadian recruit of the 2010-11 season. The Lloydminster, Alberta native recently finished in fourth place at the Canadian Provincial Championships, and her personal best mark of 139 feet ranks her as one of the top throwers north of the border.
Meanwhile, Emily Rankin comes to Nicholls after a standout career at Lasalle High School in Olla, La. Despite splitting time between Lasalle's track and softball teams during the spring, Rankin still turned in a personal best of 117 feet despite competing in a limited number of meets.
The duo adds to one of the deepest javelin crews in the Southland Conference that returns 2009 All-Southland Conference honoree Danielle Daigle, Aja Scott (who qualified for the 2010 NCAA Championship – East Prelims as a freshman) and Anna Foulds (who finished just three feet shy of a top ten finish at the 2010 Southland Conference Championships as a freshman).
“Obviously, the big loss from last year's team was Leslie,” Williamson said. “But, I'm really excited to work with these two new throwers. Mostly because they have so much upside. Emily was basically a softball player who just decided to pick up the javelin and start throwing and was pretty good at it. So, I think she has a lot of room to develop and should definitely score for us at the conference meet. Jaimee has been throwing really well, but she has some room to improve as well. She showed me some videos, and we've identified some areas where she can improve her technique, but at the same time, we've never brought in a girl who threw 139 feet coming out of high school. So, I'm very excited about this group.”
The latest Colonel recruiting class will report to campus in time for the 2010-11 cross country/track and field season.
