CHARLESTON, S.C. - College of Charleston cross country and track & field head coach Amy Seago announced the addition of three signees to the incoming freshman class. The newest Cougars join the 10 that signed earlier to make it Seago's largest incoming class in her seven years at CofC.
Alex Boccard and Andrew Nelson will join three other freshmen on the men's cross country team, providing depth to a squad that loses only three runners in 2010. Boccard hails from Huntington Station, N.Y. where he has served as a two-year captain on Harborfields' cross country and track & field teams. Boccard is a two-time all-league selection in addition to being named to the All-Suffolk County Cross Country Team, while helping his squad finish seventh in the Boys Class A State Championships.
"Boccard will add depth to a team that has improved greatly over the past year," Seago said. "I think he will adapt well to the 8K."
Nelson joins the Cougars from Marietta, Ga. where he competed for the Marietta High School team that finished 21st at the 5A State Cross Country Championships. He was named to the All-Cobb County Cross Country Team in 2009 after being the region champion for two straight years. Nelson currently holds the school record in the 1,600 meters with a time of 4:23.37 and finished seventh in the event at the state championships in 2010.
"Nelson exemplifies the student-athlete and chose CofC over a number of prestigious institutions," Seago said. "He finished his track season on a high note and we will be looking for him to bring that intensity here for his freshman season."
Dena O'Brien is the newest member of the Charleston women's cross country and track & field teams. A native of Pelham, Ala., she currently has the fastest times in the state of Alabama in both the mile and 1,600 meters. O'Brien placed 25th overall at the Nike Indoor Nationals in 2010 with a time of 5:04.35 in the mile. She also earned a fifth-place finish in the mile at the University of Kentucky Meet this past spring.
She has received all-state status as part of the Pelham cross country team for the past two seasons. O'Brien has also had the opportunity to work with Trent Sanderson of Team Prep USA and attended the Florida State Winter Distance Project in 2009.
"O'Brien is a phenomenal addition to the team and should vie for a top-three spot in cross country," Seago said. "She has the exact type of personality we are looking for and does all the little things needed to be successful. She has experience competing in big meets and so her transition to college racing should be a smooth one."
O'Brien joins three other freshmen runners who will compete for the cross country and the track & field teams.
