Track And Field And Cross Country Add 17 For 2020-21 Campaign

GREENVILLE, N.C. – Director of Men's and Women's Track and Field Curt Kraft, along with head cross country coach Josey Weaver, will officially welcome 17 newcomers to campus this fall to attend East Carolina University and compete for the Pirates.

The group includes seven men and 10 women.

Terence Booth, Jr., Hurdles, Rocky Mount, N.C. (Northern Nash High School)
55H -7.74
110H – 14.84

2019 NCHSAA 1A Outdoor State Champion (110m Hurdles)

Coach Cheek on Booth: "Terence is a well-rounded athlete. The sport he has the most experience in is basketball. He is a late bloomer in track and field, but he possesses a lot of the innate abilities that (we feel) serve as excellent makeup to become an accomplished hurdler. He has length, natural timing, great flexibility and aggression. We've had success with young hurdlers in our program and we're excited to see just how far Terence can go. We anticipate that he will become a key contributor to our team in this event as well as the sprint relays."

Logan Carroll, Throws – Simpsonville, S.C. (Mauldin High School)

Two-Time State Champion (Shot and Discus)

Coach Price on Carroll: "Logan comes from Maudlin High School in S.C. He is the South Carolina state meet shot put and discus champion. Originally signed with University of South Carolina, but detoured to Barton Community College in Great Bend, Kan. Logan took a few steps backwards to switch from glide to rotational technique under the guidance of renowned throws coach Dave Schenek at Barton. Logan's commitment to building a solid technical base with a 6'7", 275-pound frame is going to propel him to a highly competitive level and become an immediate impact for the Pirates."

Colin McCauley, Distance, Herndon, Va. (Herndon High School)
1,600m – 4:22.36
3,200m – 9:28.29
5K (Cross Country) – 15:42

2020 VHSAA 6A Indoor All-State Honors (3200m)
2019 VHSAA 6A Cross Country All-State Honors (5K)

Coach Weaver on McAuley: "Colin is someone who we expect to compete and push his teammates every day to reach the next level. I am excited to get the opportunity to coach Colin over the next four to five years. He will benefit greatly from having a team of solid runners around him."

Conner O'Shea, Distance, Richmond, Ky. (Madison Central High School)
Mile – 4:19.57
3200m – 9:26.08
5K (Cross Country) – 15:16

2019 Footlocker South All-Region Team Honors
2019 KHSAA Cross Country 3A State Champion

Coach Weaver on O'Shea: "I believe Conner has the ability to step in and make an impact on this team as a freshman. Conner has had a great senior year and is coming off a state title in cross country while posting some impressive times. We hated to see his senior track season taken away, but we are excited to welcome this young gun to ECU!"

Garrett Schultz, Distance, Midlothian, Va. (Cosby High School)
3,200m – 9:39.53
5K (Cross Country) – 15:40

Coach Weaver on Schultz: "Garrett is coming in with a lot of potential. He has been set up for his best years of running ahead of him. Garrett will enjoy having a group of guys to work with each day on our quest to the top of the American Athletic Conference. I am very excited to watch Garrett grow into a great runner over the next four to five years."

Starrett Vesper, Pole Vault, North Wales, Pa. (North Penn High School)
Indoor: 15-6
Outdoor: 14-0

2020 2^nd Place PIAA Indoor State Championships
2020 2^nd Team All-State
2019 5^th PIAA District 1 Championships
2019 S.O.L. First Team All-League
2019 1^st Place at S.O.L. Continental Conference Championships

Coach Berkowitz on Vespar: "Starrett is not only a very talented pole vaulter, but he is also an exceptional state champion soccer player. Starrett is an extremely athletic individual with a tireless work ethic, positive attitude and is the epitome of a well-rounded and diligent student-athlete. We are so excited to welcome Starrett to the Pirate Family!"

Nate Williams, Jumps, Greensboro, N.C. (Northern Guilford High School)
TJ – 44'11.5"
200m – 22.68
400m – 50.42

2020 NCHSAA 3A Indoor Runner-Up (Triple Jump)

Coach Artis on Williams: "Nate enters ECU as the 2020 North Carolina 3A state indoor runner-up in the triple jump with a personal record of 44'11. Williams leaves high school ranked eighth in the state list of senior triple jumpers. With personal-best times of 22.68 in the 200m and 50.42 in the 400m, he brings in a wide variety of in which to specialize."

Emily Baba, Mid-Distance, Ijamsville, Md. (Oakdale High School)
400m – 1:00.74
800m – 2:20.08
1,600m – 5:18.74

2019 MPSSAA Outdoor All-State Honors (800m)
2018 MPSSAA Outdoor All-State Honors (1600m)

Coach Weaver on Baba: "Emily will come into a very young and competitive women's team. I expect her to jump in headfirst and learn from our more experienced girls throughout this year. Emily has a lot of untapped potential and I see her becoming a big part of this squad."

Rileigh Cardin, Pole Vault, Carlisle, Pa. (Carlisle High School)
Indoor: 12-0
Outdoor: 11-6

2019 All-Sentinel Track and Field Team
2019 Most Improved Athlete
2019 Fourth Place at Districts

Coach Berkowitz on Cardin: "Rileigh is an extremely athletic young lady who has shown huge improvements in the event of pole vault after just picking up the event nearly a year ago. She is a tireless worker who is always striving to improve. We cannot wait to see what the future holds for her and we are so excited to welcome her to Pirate Nation!"

L'Nya Carpenter, Jumps, Chesterfield, Va. (Lloyd C. Bird High School)
TJ – 39'5.75"
LJ – 18'2"
500m – 1:16.23
800m – 2:20.21

2020 VHSL 5A Two-Time All-State Honors (Triple Jump)
2020 VHSL 5A All-State Honors (500m)

Coach Artis on Carpenter: "L'Nya enters ECU as a two-time Virginia 5A third-place finisher in the triple jump and 2020 Virginia 5A indoor third-place finisher in the 500m. With personal records of 18'2 in the long jump, 39'5 in the triple jump, 15.77 in the 100-meter hurdles, 41.06 in the 300m, 1:16.23 in the 500m and 2:20.21 in the 800m, Carpenter showcases outstanding range and versatility in the sprint events."

Allysa Combs, Distance, Severna Park, Md.
1,600m – 5:15.30
3,200m – 11:41.00
5K (XC) – 19:00.60

2019 MPSSAA 4A Cross Country All-State Honors (Three Mile)
2019 MPSSAA 4A Indoor All-State Honors (1600)
2018 MPSSAA 4A Cross Country All-State Honors (Three Mile)

Coach Weaver on Combs: "Allysa will be added to a strong distance team. She has certain qualities that you look for in a distance runner - toughness and grit! I am excited to watch Allysa mix it up with our ladies and develop herself throughout the upcoming year."

Nyah Gore, Sprints, Evans, Ga. (Greenbrier High School)
100m – 12.11
200m – 24.62
400m – 57.17 (indoor)

2019 GHSA 6A Outdoor Runner-up (100m)

Coach Cheek on Gore: "Nyah is a versatile sprinter. Her experience in each of the sprint disciplines gives us flexibility in our team sprint pursuits. Though her primary events in high school were geared toward the shorter distances, we will not pigeonhole her into one category. Nyah will contribute in all the sprint events. She is a patient stalker and it is that quality that we appreciate the most. We are looking forward to adding power to her patience. Nyah is a wonderful addition to our young sprints and relays group."

Maddie Hatfield, Distance, Dallas, Texas (Greenhill High School)
1,600m – 5:16
3,200m – 11:33
5K (XC) – 17:30

2019 SPC Cross Country Champion (5K)
2019 SPC Outdoor All-State Honors (1600)
2018 SPC Cross Country Runner Up (5K)

Coach Weaver on Hatfield: "Maddie comes to us off a great cross-country season and what would have been a great track season. I am excited to watch this youngster come in and work. I truly believe Maddie already bleeds Purple and Gold. The AAC will not want to deal with this Pirate for 4-5 years!"

Madelyn Hayes, Distance, Jacksonville, N.C. (White Oak High School)
1600m - 5:40
5K (Cross Country) - 19:14

Coach Weaver on Hayes: "We are excited to add Madelyn, who grew up watching the Pirates, to our program. I believe she will develop into a very good distance runner here at ECU. I would not be surprised to see her become a very big part of our team down the road. She is ready to embrace the challenge."

Brianna Krug, Sprints and Hurdles, Burke, Va. (Lake Braddock Secondary High School)
500m – 1:18.28
800m – 2:24.61

2020 VHSL 6A Regional Runner-Up (500m)

Coach Cheek on Krug: "One of our joys as a coaching staff is to find athletes that have flown under the radar. In our discussions with Brianna, we found out that she was a competitive swimmer, soccer player and long sprinter. We believe that these underlying strengths can be served well within our long hurdle program. Brianna is tough enough for the challenge. She has a strong cast to learn under for her first year. Hopefully, she can become a major contributor in the long hurdles. She definitely has the tools to do so."

Molly Stecker, Jumps, Hudson, Ohio (Hudson High School)
High Jump – 5'9"

2019 OHSAA Outdoor State Runner-Up (5'8")
Holds School Record in the High Jump (5'9")

Coach Kraft on Stecker: "Molly is coming in with a tremendous amount of potential. She has all the athletic tools to become an outstanding collegiate jumper over the next four years. I really believe that Molly has the potential to be on the podium in her freshman year of college. One of the many strengths that Molly has is the ability to use her power and getting off the ground. We are looking forward to Molly becoming a difference maker on our team for the coming years."

Hayley Whoolery, Distance, Willow Spring, N.C. (West Johnston High School)
1,600m – 5:02.12
3,200m – 10:46.74
5K (XC) – 17:34

2019 NCHSAA 3A Cross Country All-State Honors (5K)
2019 NCHSAA 3A Outdoor State Champion (1600m)
2019 NCHSAA 3A Outdoor State Runner-Up (3200m)
2019 NCHSAA 3A Indoor State Runner-Up (3200m)

Coach Weaver on Whoolery: Hayley will be joining a group of ladies to train with for the first time. This is impressive considering how well she has run in the past. I can't wait till she gets to train with her new teammates. I see a very bright future ahead of this Pirate and I can't wait to get started!"

Track And Field And Cross Country Add 17 For 2020-21 Campaign

Players Mentioned

Emily Baba

Rileigh Cardin

L'Nya Carpenter

Allysa Combs

Nyah Gore

Maddie Hatfield

Madelyn Hayes

Brianna Krug

Colin McCauley

Conner O'Shea

Garrett Schultz

Molly Stecker

Hayley Whoolery

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