CHARLESTON, S.C. - College of Charleston head cross country and track & field coach Amy Seago announced the addition of three men and seven women to her teams next year.
The incoming class comes from eight different states and will add depth across the board. Two have won state championships and several have competed in the some of the biggest stages across the country.
"I think this is probably the most diverse class that we've had in terms of events that they compete in," Seago said. "I feel like we are becoming more balanced with each class and this year is a prime example."
Kaitlin McWhorter joins the Cougars from Basking Ridge, N.J. The Ridge High School senior has qualified three times for the New Jersey Meet of Champions, most recently in the 400 meters in 2009. Additionally, she has competed at the Nike Indoor and Outdoor Nationals two straight years. The school recorderholder in the 100 meters, McWhorter claimed four gold medals at the Somerset County Championships last year (100-meter, 200-meter, 1600-meter relay and long jump).
"McWhorter will be a welcome addition to our relays," Seago said. "She will give us more depth in the sprints and also looks to be a fierce competitor in the multi-events down the road."
Seago will gain a pair of athletes from New York in twin sisters Alice and Dana Walsh. Both athletes qualified for the Millrose Games as part of the 4x400-meter relay and Dana placed eighth in the 800 meters at the National Scholastic Indoor Championships. She also finished 25th at the 2009 Nike Outdoor Nationals. The girls are currently seniors at Convent of the Sacred Heart in New York, New York.
"Dana is the distance runner and Alice is the sprinter," Seago said. "Dana shows a great potential to score high in the 800 meters in the Southern Conference. Alice should develop into a good hurdler and potentially run a leg on our relay team."
Greater Atlanta Christian's Claire Goodson will join current freshman Chelsea Taylor (Seneca, S.C./Seneca) in representing Charleston in the pole vault. Goodson is the 2009 Georgia State Champion with a height of 10'7½". She also placed second in the U.S. Track & Field Georgia Association Championships as well as the U.S. Track & Field Region III Championships.
"Goodson comes to us with a solid vaulting background already," Seago said. "She will make an immediate impact and be a great training partner for Taylor."
Christa Horrocks will round out the sprinters joining the Cougars in 2010-2011. A native of Media, Pa., she participated in the 4x400 meter relays at the Penn Relays. Her personal record time of 59.80 came as she represented Penncrest High School at the Central League Championships.
Danielle Hobbs and Elle Brewer will compete on both the cross country and track & field teams for Coach Seago. Hobbs is a North Carolina state champion in the 4x800 meter relay and was named the SPC Conference Cross Country Runner of the Year twice and Track Athlete of the Year once. Brewer comes from Knoxville, Tenn. where she was an all-state cross country runner.
Jeff Crain highlights a class of three men who will run cross country for the Cougars next year. Crain is a Parkview senior from Lilburn, Ga. who finished 29th at the 5A Georgia State Cross Country Championships and participated in the Nike Regional Championships.
"Jeff has the potential to be one of our top five runners in cross country," Seago said.
Tyler Tesch will travel the shortest distance to College of Charleston next year. The Mauldin, S.C. native placed 21st in the 4A state championship in 2009. Hailing from Richmond, Va., Ian Trebour will round out the signing class. Trebour is a two-year team captain who placed 30th in the Division I VISAA State Championships and was part of a team that finished fourth.
The largest signing class in Seago's tenure at CofC will join a team of 18 veterans in 2010-11.
