HAMMOND - Southeastern Louisiana University track and field coach Sean Brady announced the signing of 15 athletes - including the nephew of former head coach and current Southeastern Hall of Fame member Andy Thiel - for the 2007-08 campaign.
Southeastern, which posted its best-ever finish at the Southland Conference Outdoor Championships this spring with a third-place showing, added nine men and six women to the 2007-08 roster.
Signing on the men's side were sprinters Jacob Hadley (Metairie, La.), Jordan Redd (Opelousas, La.), Jerel Butler (New Orleans, La.), Shannon Grover (Reserve, La.) and Alex Collins (Rosenberg, Texas), pole vaulters Matthew Thiel (Covington, La.) and Stephen Durel (Baton Rouge, La.), triple jumper Michael Rheams (Walker, La.) and junior college thrower Kyle Francis (British Virgin Islands).
Inking with the Lady Lions were sprinters Jelessa Jett (New Orleans, La.), Josalynn Burns (Geismar, La.) and Darielle Sanders (LaPlace, La.), and distance runners Everlyne Montonyei (Eldoret, Kenya) and Dorcus Kipkiai (Eldoret, Kenya). The Lady Lions also added distance runner Ernestine Carodine (Philadelphia, Pa.), who transferred from Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
"This recruiting class projects to be a very strong group for us," Brady said. "The addition of some mature junior college and quality high school athletes should really help strengthen our men's and women's sprint hurdle and women's distance groups.
"Additionally, this group is probably the best group of students we have recruited. Their overall GPA's and test scores are quite impressive. I believe the men we have added will put us in contention for the Southland Conference outdoor title in 2008 and the distance runners we added on the women's side should move us up numerous spots in cross country.
Hadley, who prepped at Grace King High School and set the state record in the 300-meter hurdles (38.5), captured the state championship in the event at the Class 5A state meet. Redd helped Westminster Christian to a fifth-place finish at the Class 1A state meet while playing a key role in the school's 4x200-meter relay team. Butler finished third overall in the 400 meters for New Orleans' Karr High School at the Class 3A state meet while Collins ran a personal-best 39.41 in the 300-meter hurdles at Lamar Consolidated (Texas) High School.
Thiel, a St. Paul's standout and son of former Lion trackster Terry Thiel, cleared a personal-best 14-6 last spring and was an All-Academic, All-Metro and All-District selection. Durel, who finished third in the pole vault at the state indoor and outdoor meets, was a two-time district champion and was the 2007 regional champion at Catholic High School.
Rheams, who competed at the 2005 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, finished second in the triple jump at the 2006 Class 5A state meet. Francis, who helped Central Arizona College to two junior college national championships, captured the discus title and was second in the shot put at the British Virgin Islands National Championships.
Jett, who graduated from New Orleans' Xavier Prep School, was part of the school's 4x100-meter relay team that captured district and regional championships. Burns, a former Dutchtown High product, helped the Griffins to state championships in the 4x100-meter relay team and indoor 4x200-meter squad while Sanders claimed district titles in the triple jump and 200-meter dash at East St. John High School.
Montonyei, who helped Central Arizona to a pair of JUCO National Championships, ran a personal-best 4:52.75 in the 1,500-meters while Kipkiai attended Moi University, but did not compete in track.
Southeastern officially opens its cross country season on Friday when it competes in the Tulane Invitational at 5 p.m.
Southeastern, which posted its best-ever finish at the Southland Conference Outdoor Championships this spring with a third-place showing, added nine men and six women to the 2007-08 roster.
Signing on the men's side were sprinters Jacob Hadley (Metairie, La.), Jordan Redd (Opelousas, La.), Jerel Butler (New Orleans, La.), Shannon Grover (Reserve, La.) and Alex Collins (Rosenberg, Texas), pole vaulters Matthew Thiel (Covington, La.) and Stephen Durel (Baton Rouge, La.), triple jumper Michael Rheams (Walker, La.) and junior college thrower Kyle Francis (British Virgin Islands).
Inking with the Lady Lions were sprinters Jelessa Jett (New Orleans, La.), Josalynn Burns (Geismar, La.) and Darielle Sanders (LaPlace, La.), and distance runners Everlyne Montonyei (Eldoret, Kenya) and Dorcus Kipkiai (Eldoret, Kenya). The Lady Lions also added distance runner Ernestine Carodine (Philadelphia, Pa.), who transferred from Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
"This recruiting class projects to be a very strong group for us," Brady said. "The addition of some mature junior college and quality high school athletes should really help strengthen our men's and women's sprint hurdle and women's distance groups.
"Additionally, this group is probably the best group of students we have recruited. Their overall GPA's and test scores are quite impressive. I believe the men we have added will put us in contention for the Southland Conference outdoor title in 2008 and the distance runners we added on the women's side should move us up numerous spots in cross country.
Hadley, who prepped at Grace King High School and set the state record in the 300-meter hurdles (38.5), captured the state championship in the event at the Class 5A state meet. Redd helped Westminster Christian to a fifth-place finish at the Class 1A state meet while playing a key role in the school's 4x200-meter relay team. Butler finished third overall in the 400 meters for New Orleans' Karr High School at the Class 3A state meet while Collins ran a personal-best 39.41 in the 300-meter hurdles at Lamar Consolidated (Texas) High School.
Thiel, a St. Paul's standout and son of former Lion trackster Terry Thiel, cleared a personal-best 14-6 last spring and was an All-Academic, All-Metro and All-District selection. Durel, who finished third in the pole vault at the state indoor and outdoor meets, was a two-time district champion and was the 2007 regional champion at Catholic High School.
Rheams, who competed at the 2005 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, finished second in the triple jump at the 2006 Class 5A state meet. Francis, who helped Central Arizona College to two junior college national championships, captured the discus title and was second in the shot put at the British Virgin Islands National Championships.
Jett, who graduated from New Orleans' Xavier Prep School, was part of the school's 4x100-meter relay team that captured district and regional championships. Burns, a former Dutchtown High product, helped the Griffins to state championships in the 4x100-meter relay team and indoor 4x200-meter squad while Sanders claimed district titles in the triple jump and 200-meter dash at East St. John High School.
Montonyei, who helped Central Arizona to a pair of JUCO National Championships, ran a personal-best 4:52.75 in the 1,500-meters while Kipkiai attended Moi University, but did not compete in track.
Southeastern officially opens its cross country season on Friday when it competes in the Tulane Invitational at 5 p.m.