Track And Field Announces 2011 Signees
July 28, 2011 | Track & Field
July 28, 2011
GREENVILLE, N.C. - Brandon Dunford, Kyle Hefkin, Tevin Richardson, Dylan Spadaccini, Erin McGuirk, Kayla Padgett, Kaylee Redon and Krista Vincent have signed national letters-of-intent while Quinton Harley and Sunni Massop have completed grant-in-aid agreements to compete for and attend East Carolina University beginning in the fall, according to an announcement from head coach Curt Kraft.
The group consists of eight incoming freshmen and two transfer athletes - one of which earned All-America status at the NCAA Division II level last season.
Brandon Dunford, Freshman, Distance, Hopewell HS, Huntersville, N.C.
Dunford posted a pair of top-three finishes at the North Carolina 4A state meets in 2011, taking second in the 800-meter run at the outdoor competition after recording a third-place result in the indoor 1000-meter run. His personal-best times in the events are 1:54.68 and 2:35.85 respectively.
Kraft on Dunford: "Brandon is a diamond in the rough and his profile was enhanced by earning state runner-up honors in the 800. He is fairly new to the sport, but has a ton of ability, a great work ethic and a big heart."
Kyle Hefkin, Freshman, Throws, State College Area HS, State College, Pa.
Hefkin enjoyed a decorated prep career, highlighted by a seventh-place finish in the javelin at the prestigious Penn Relays. After taking second place at the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association District 6 3A meet as a junior, he returned to capture the title this season. His personal-best throw stands at 210 feet and seven inches.
Kraft on Hefkin: "Kyle proved to be one of the top high school javelin throwers in the nation and we are very excited to have him. With only two years of experience in the event, his potential is through the roof. He should jump right in and contribute at the conference and NCAA levels."
Quinton Harley, Junior, Hurdles, Lake Erie College, Rochester, N.Y.
Harley joins the Pirates after two seasons at Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio, earning 2011 NCAA Division II All-America status in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles and the 4x400 relay. He captured seventh in the 400IH at the 2011 Penn Relays while also ranking as high as fifth in the event at the Division II level. Harley boasts personal-best times of 51.77 in the 400IH and 48.47 in the 400m.
Kraft on Harley: "We look for Quinton to be an immediate factor in the 400IH. He will be able to immediately challenge for the conference title as well as a spot in NCAA regionals. His 400m speed will help bring the men's 4x400 relay team back to the All-America tradition it has enjoyed in the past."
Tevin Richardson, Freshman, Distance, Nash Central HS, Nashville, N.C.
A perennial top-four finisher at the prep state level, Richardson will add depth to the Pirate middle distance corps. He captured the 2011 NC 3A regional title in the 800m while placing third in the same event at the state outdoor meet and fourth in the 1000m against the 1A/2A/3A indoor state field. Richardson also claimed second at the 2010 NC 3A cross country regional race.
Kraft on Richardson: "Tevin is a runner who possesses a great blend of speed and endurance. He was high school teammates with current Pirate Dillon Hawley and had a coach that really prepares athletes well to complete at the collegiate level. Tevin should make a quick transition to our program."
Dylan Spadaccini, Freshman, Multi Events, Matawan HS, Matawan, N.J.
Spaddacini earned a plethora of accolades this season, including pole vault championships in the New Jersey Group 2 and 3, North Shore Conference and Monmouth County meets. He then finished third at the New Jersey Meet of Champions. Spadaccini also excels in the 110 and 400-meter hurdles, sporting personal-best times of 15.98 and 56.01 respectively.
Kraft on Spadaccini: "Dylan is a good all-around athlete. Pole vault is his specialty, but he is the kind of kid that will jump in and do whatever it takes to win any event. That is exactly what he did for his high school program. Combine that versatility with his passion for the sport and you have the makings of a highly-competitive decathlete."
Sunni Massop, Senior, Throws, University of Wisconsin, Athens, Wisc.
After most recently competing for the University of Wisconsin, Massop carries her talents to Greenville and should immediately boost the ECU throws contingent. She took eighth place at the 2010 Big Ten Outdoor Championships in the javelin while capturing eighth in the discus at the highly-competitive Texas Relays. Massop should also prove an asset in the classroom, having twice earned selection to the Big Ten All-Academic Team.
Kraft on Massop: "Sunni will pursue her master's degree at East Carolina beginning in the fall. She comes to us as a discus specialist but will branch out and try some new events. As a former team captain at Wisconsin, she will be an instant leader for the throws group."
Erin McGuirk, Freshman, Distance, Northern Guilford High School, Greensboro, N.C.
Proving effective in many events at the prep level, McGuirk looks to continue her success at ECU as a member of both the cross country and track and field squads. She finished fourth overall at the 2010 NC 3A cross country meet after a third-place result at the regional race. As a result, McGuirk earned an invitation to compete at the Footlocker South Regional. This season, she captured the Mid-State 3A Conference title in the 1600 and 3200-meter events while taking second in the 800m and sixth in the 3200m at the outdoor state meet.
Kraft on McGuirk: "Erin is a tough runner and she is excited to bring her talents to the Pirate Nation. She possesses an energetic personality that will bring a lot of enthusiasm to the team. I expect her to challenge for a top-seven spot on our cross country team."
Kayla Padgett, Freshman, Throws, West Brunswick HS, Shallotte, N.C.
Padgett boasts solid credentials in throws events, as evidenced by her recent performance at the NC 3A outdoor state meet. She not only captured the state title in the discus but also set a new meet record in the process. Padgett then proceeded to add a state championship in the shot put to her resume. She will look to improve on personal-best marks of 133 feet and 11 inches in the discus and 42 feet and seven inches in the shot put.
Kraft on Padgett: "Kayla was a relatively unknown thrower in North Carolina until the outdoor state meet. She has succeeded mostly through pure athleticism to this point so we will focus a great deal on technique with her this coming season."
Kaylee Redon, Freshman, Throws, Howard HS, Warren, Ohio
Redon is a speedy and shifty athlete that brings a mark of 40 feet and 11.5 inches in the shot put to ECU. She claimed the Ohio All-American Conference title in the event this season while also providing leadership to her squad as a long jumper.
Kraft on Redon: "Kaylee is a very versatile athlete. Not only was she the top shot put performer on her high school team, but she also ended up as the squad's number one long jumper. To excel at both events is very rare in track and field. She is gifted and owns an endless amount of natural speed which will take her far."
Krista Vincent, Freshman, Throws, Somersworth HS, Somersworth, N.H.
The Pirates' recent success in the javelin looks to continue as Vincent joins the program. She was named the New Hampshire Gatorade Girl's Track and Field Athlete-of-the-Year and has claimed three-straight state titles in the event. Vincent won the javelin throw at the all-state Meet of Champions and the New England Interscholastic Outdoor Track & Field Championship this spring. Her season-best throw of 140 feet and eight inches ranked as the nation's No. 39 distance among prep competitors at one point this year. Additionally, Vincent proved victorious at the Class I state meet in 2009 and 2010 while placing 11th at the Nike Outdoor Nationals in 2010.
Kraft on Vincent: "Krista is a proven champion. She has a very `whippy' arm, which is a great asset for a javelin thrower. She has the ability to contribute right away at the conference and NCAA levels and complement our already successful javelin corps."
