MOREHEAD, Ky. – The Morehead State men’s and women’s cross country/track and field teams have added seven student-athletes who will join the program in 2013-14. Five women and two men have inked National Letters of Intent to join Head Coach Brent Ericksen’s squads.
Mackenzie Butler (Newark, Ohio), Hannah Bailey (Beavercreek, Ohio), Alyssa Shifflett (Shepherdsville, Ky.) and sisters Haley and Hannah Mullins (LaGrange, Ky.) will join the women’s team. The men’s newcomers are Jeremy Ruppert (Franklin, Ohio) and Jordan Whitehair (St. Mary’s, W. Va.).
“Although we aren’t done recruiting, we are pleased with these additions,” Ericksen said. "We expect to add a few more, including some walk-ons who we are also pleased to have in the program."
Butler was named All-Ohio in 2012 when she ran a personal-best 18:40.27 at the state championship meet and finished 10th. The Licking Valley High School product also earned The Advocate’s 2012 Female Cross Country Athlete of the Year award. On the track, she placed sixth at the Ohio state meet in the mile and ran a personal-best 5:07.
Bailey, from Beavercreek High School, owns a personal-best 18:47 in the 5K. She placed as high as 27th at the 2011 Ohio Division I Cross Country Championship.
Shifflett prepped at Bullitt Central High School and boasts a personal-best of 19:39 in the 5K. She won the Metro Meet of Champions and the Mid-Kentucky Conference titles as a senior in 2012.
The Mullins sisters were standouts at Oldham County High School. Haley ran the fifth fastest time among Kentucky seniors in 2012 in the 5K (19:22), while Hannah clocked the 12th fastest time (19:42) in the state among the senior class.
Ruppert, a three-time Ohio state meet participant from Franklin High School, claimed eight titles during the 2012 cross country season. His 5K personal-best of 15:46 came at the 2012 Southwestern Buckeye League Championship. He also claimed eight titles during the 2012 track season.
Whitehair ran for St. Mary’s High School and finished eighth at the 2012 West Virginia 5K State Championship, where he clocked a personal-best. In track, he finished second at the state championship meet in the 1,600-meter run.
Ericksen is in his second year leading the MSU cross country and track and field programs. In 2011-12, six women and four men set school track and field records. In two years leading the distance program, 14 student-athletes have placed their names on the school’s all-time performance list for 5K, 6K, 8K and 10K.