Women's Track & Field Inks New Recruits
June 03, 2003 | Women's Track and Field
Among the outstanding newcomers will be Lindsay Rosales, a pole-vaulter from Washingtonville, N.Y. Rosales was the fourth ranked high school vaulter in the US this indoor season, as well as this year's champion at the legendary Penn Relays. Joining her in the vault will be Cary High School standout Kinsey Batts of Raleigh, N.C. Batts was the North Carolina 3A State Runner-up in 2003, and was the state champion in 2002.
The rebuilding of the throwing events got a tremendous start with the addition of two nationally ranked hammer throwers in Kendra Howell and Jessica Georgio. Howell comes to ECU after a stellar high school career at LaSalle Academy in Providence, Rhode Island. Georgio hails from Monroe-Woodbury High School in Central Valley, N.Y.
Garner High School standout Alesia Walters, from Knightdale, will join the team after spending a year at St. Augustine's College. Walters was the North Carolina State Shot Put Champion in 2002, and was ranked in the top 15 in the U.S. for high school throwers in 2002.
Also providing some depth to the throws is Maryland state Indoor Shot Put Champion Emily Thompson, and North Carolina state qualifier Jennifer Claybrook. Thompson is an athletic and versatile athlete from Urbana High School in Mt. Airy, Maryland. She recently was the Maryland 3A State runner-up in the shot put and discus. Claybrook is from Lee County High School in Sanford, N.C.
Adding multi-event talent to the Pirates was achieved with the addition of Sharon Heilig (Eastern Regional High School) of Voorhees, N.J. and Brie Berkowitz (York Suburban High School) of York, Penn. Both athletes will be looked at in the multi-events and 400 Hurdle event areas. While distance runner Jenna Pendergast (Jackson High School) of Jackson, N.J. will add depth in the cross country/distance events.
"We are tremendously excited about this season's recruiting class," said Munson. "The ECU Class of 2007 is by far the largest we've ever brought in, as well as the most highly touted. We currently have three athletes that rank in the top 20 nationally in their respective events, numerous state champions, and many young ladies that we believe will help lead us towards our goal of a Conference USA championship. Coach Kaiser, our assistant coach and recruiting coordinator, was instrumental in the recruitment of this year's group and he has made an immediate impact in the development of our program as a whole."
