Photo by: Rob Goldberg
Track And Field Adds Eight To 2017-18 Roster
June 08, 2017 | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field, Track & Field
GREENVILLE, N.C. – A total of eight student-athletes have signed national letters of intent or grant-in-aid agreements to attend East Carolina University and compete for the track and field and cross country programs beginning in the fall of 2017, according to an announcement Thursday by head coach Curt Kraft.
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The group consists of five women and three men.
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"We are extremely excited about both our men's and women's recruiting classes," Kraft said. "Not only have we added some great quality athletes, but also great depth on both sides of the programs. One of the most gratifying parts of both of these classes is the fact they are not only great athletes but outstanding students as well."
Bakri Abushouk, Distance, Cary, N.C., NC State
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The group consists of five women and three men.
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"We are extremely excited about both our men's and women's recruiting classes," Kraft said. "Not only have we added some great quality athletes, but also great depth on both sides of the programs. One of the most gratifying parts of both of these classes is the fact they are not only great athletes but outstanding students as well."
Bakri Abushouk, Distance, Cary, N.C., NC State
- Was one of four NC State athletes to earn All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors en route to the Wolfpack's second-place finish at the 2015 ACC Championships.
- Finished 23rd at the 2015 NCAA Southeast Regional to earn all-regional honors.
- Closed out the 2015 season at the NCAA Cross Country Championships, finishing second on the team and 71st overall.
- Holds the NC State program record in the 2,000-meter steeplechase.
- North Carolina Gatorade Runner of the Year for 2012-13 after winning the cross country state title.
Sarah Hamon, Distance, Cary, N.C., UNCW
- Will join the program after competing three seasons for the cross country team at UNCW.
- Finished as the top runner for the Seahawks in the final three meets of the 2016 campaign, including the Colonial Athletic Association Championships and NCAA Southeast Regional.
- Took 43rd overall at the 2015 CAA Championships as a sophomore, crossing the line in a time of 22:48 in the 6K.
- Led Cary High School to the state championship in 2012.
Sommer Knight, Pole Vault, St. George, S.C., Woodland High School
- Set the South Carolina high school state record in the pole vault, clearing 13 feet at the SCHSL AA State Championship back in May.
- Helped Woodland High School win the South Carolina AA state title.
- Competed as the first-ever pole vaulter in school history.
Deric Martinez, Distance, El Paso, Texas, South Plains CC
- Placed 47th at the 2016 National Junior College Athletic Association Championships with a time of 26:41.24 in the 8K, helping South Plains CC to a third-place national finish.
- Ran a time of 25:35.27 in the 8K at the NJCAA Region V Championships as South Plains claimed the regional title with a perfect score.
- Part of a South Plains cross country squad ranked as high as No. 3 in the nation in 2016.
Hunter Roberts, Hurdles, Greensboro, N.C., Wake Forest
- Joins the program as a graduate student after spending her undergrad at Wake Forest University.
- Took first place in the 100-meter hurdles at the 2017 Tennessee Open.
- Earned all-conference honors all four years of her prep career at Southwest Guilford High School.
- North Carolina 4A 55m hurdles indoor champion her senior season (2012-13).
Matthew Russell, Distance, Cary, N.C., Cary High School
- Ran a personal record of 16:24.8 in the 5K at the 2016 NCHSAA 4A Mideast Regional, taking 24th place.
- Captured 13th place at the 2016 conference championships, helping Cary to a fourth-place finish.
- Placed 12th in the 3200m at the 2017 NCHSAA 4A Mideast Regional.
Brooke Stith, Sprints/Jumps, Norfolk, Va., Maury High School
- Produced a pair of personal records to win the long jump (18' 11.5) and triple jump (41' 7.25) state titles at the VHSL Group 5A State Championships.
- Captured the 2017 indoor state championship in the triple jump
- Took seventh place in the triple jump at the 2017 New Balance Nationals
Jada Terrell, Hurdles/Jumps, Chesapeake, Va., Western Branch High School
- Originally committed to the University of Illinois before signing with East Carolina.
- Won the 100-meter hurdles state title at the 2017 VHSL Group 6A State Championships while helping the school to its fourth-consecutive outdoor state crown.
- Captured the state championship in the 55-meter hurdles and long jump at the 2017 VHSL Group 6A Indoor State Championships.
- Owns five individual state titles and has been a part of three national relay championships and two national records.
- Ran the second leg on the Western Branch national champion shuttle hurdle relay team which ranked No. 2 on the all-time United States High School list.
"It's extremely important to me as the head coach that these young people not only excel on the athletic field but even more importantly excel in the classroom," Kraft added. "We feel like as a staff, the student-athletes that we have signed have addressed a lot of the areas in which we needed help. With the addition of this new group of kids, along with the foundation that we have already set, great things are in the future of both of our programs. As you can imagine, we are extremely excited about the 2017-18 athletic and academic year."
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