June 15, 2012
CINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati women’s track and field team added nine members to its 2012 signing class, head coach Susan Seatonannounced Friday.
The class covers six states and includes four Ohio natives, bringing together some top talent and the potential for immediate impact in competition while adding depth to several event groups.
The nine-member signing class includes: sprinter Emily Cunningham (Vermillion, Ohio/Vermillion), pole vaulter Amanda Hotaling (North Baltimore, Ohio/North Baltimore), high jumper Erika Hurd (Manchester, Md./Manchester Valley), hurdler Javette Lee (Chesapeake, Va./Western Branch), pole vaulter Alyssa McBride (Bryan, Ohio/Bryan), thrower Monica Phillips (Marietta, Ga./Pope), high jumper Ashleigh Pickens (Rootstown, Ohio/Rootstown), pole vaulter Chelsea Vaughan (Manahawkin, N.J/Southern Regional) and sprinter Kenya Woodall (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville).
"I'm very excited about our strongest signing class ever," Head Coach Susan Seaton said. "Signing in-and out-of-state talent who hold Top-10 national rankings shows the progress our team has made. This class will allow us to remain a strong contender for the BIG EAST Conference title and give us an extra boost in depth, talent and ability to be a consistent Top-20 team on the national level."
2012 SIGNEE BIOS
Emily Cunningham (Vermillion, Ohio/Vermillion)
Event: Sprints
Seaton on Cunningham: “Emily Cunningham will add depth to the sprint group. She’s proven herself to be a competitor at the state championship meet and will be a good addition for our team.”
Bio: Cunningham finished in the top 4 in four events (100, 200, 4x100 relay, 4x200 relay) at the Ohio Division II State Championship … owns personal records of 24.80 in the 200 meters and 12.07 in the 100 meters … intends to major in nursing at UC.
Amanda Hotaling (North Baltimore, Ohio/North Baltimore)
Event: Pole Vault
Seaton on Hotaling: “Amanda will be another great addition to our team and add depth to our phenomenal pole vault group. She is a great big meet competitor that will contribute at the BIG EAST Conference Meet.”
Bio: Hotaling’s North Baltimore HS record mark of 12-05 ranks her in the Top-30 nationally in the 2012 class … won a pair of Ohio Division III individual titles … tallied a first or second place finish in each of her four state outdoor meets and was a four-time Midland Athletic League Champion … was a class valedictorian and plans to major in psychology.
Erika Hurd (Manchester, Md./Manchester Valley)
Event: High Jump
Seaton on Hurd: “Erika will be a great addition to our team and will be looked to, to lead the high jump group as a freshman. She will be a solid contributor at the BIG EAST Conference Meet.”
Bio: Hurd is ranked No. 11 in her class nationally with her leap of 5-8 … a three-time Maryland State Champion in the high jump as well as the Indoor State Champion in the 55 meters … plans to major in art.
Javette Lee (Chesapeake, Va./Western Branch)
Event: Hurdles
Seaton on Lee: “Javette adds enormous talent to our team in the hurdle events. We will look for her to be an immediate threat in the BIG EAST in the 400 hurdles, indoor 500 meters and the 4x400 relay.”
Bio: Lee is the 14th-fastest long hurdler in the nation (42.32) … she boasted performances her junior year of high school that would place her in Cincinnati’s Top-10 all time in five different events … intends to major in business at UC.
Alyssa McBride (Bryan, Ohio/Bryan)
Event: Pole Vault
Seaton on McBride: “Alyssa had a phenomenal senior year improving nearly an entire foot. Her 13’ 1” jump at the Ohio Division 2 state meet not only captured the title, but also the Ohio Division 2 state record.”
Bio: McBride adds star power to the talented pole vault recruiting class … her jump of 13-01, the Ohio All-Divisions State Record, ranks her No. 5 nationally in the 2012 class … captured the Ohio Division II State Championship with a new D-II state meet and Jesse Owens Stadium record in the pole vault (13-01) … plans to major in mathematics.
Monica Phillips (Marietta, Ga./Pope)
Event: Throws
Seaton on Phillips: “Monica Phillips will be a strong addition to the throwing squad at UC, adding depth in the indoor weight throw and hammer throw outdoors.”
Bio: Phillips has personal best marks of 57-11 in the indoor 20-pound weight throw and 169-0 outdoors in the hammer throw … was the 2011 USATF National Junior Olympic Championship runner-up in the hammer throw … plans to major in information technology.
Ashleigh Pickens (Rootstown, Ohio/Rootstown)
Event: Vertical Jumps
Seaton on Pickens: “Ashleigh will be a key piece to the vertical jumps group. She has proven herself to be a great competitor, both on the track and basketball court.”
Bio: Pickens has twice finished top 3 in the Ohio Division III State Championships in the high jump … she has a high jump PR of 5-08.25 which ranks her No. 10 nationally among her class and will also look to take up the triple jump … she holds the both the school record for the high jump and also the single-game basketball scoring record … will major in exploratory studies.
Chelsea Vaughan (Manahawkin, N.J/Southern Regional)
Event: Pole Vault
Seaton on Vaughan: “Chelsea will be a great addition to our nationally-ranked pole vault squad and help fill the void of graduating senior Michelle Eby. She has shown that she can handle the pressure of big meet competition and will contribute at the BIG EAST Conference Meet.”
Bio: Vaughan is yet another vaulter in the Top-30 in the nation joining the UC squad with a mark of 12-06 … was the 2012 New Jersey Indoor State Champion, 2011 New Balance Outdoor National Champion and the 2012 Indoor Eastern States Champion … intends to major in health sciences.
Kenya Woodall (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville)
Event: Sprints
Seaton on Woodall: “Kenya Woodall is a tremendously talented addition to our team. She will make an immediate impact in the sprints, focusing on the 400 meters and contributing in both relays.”
Bio: Woodall boasts an outdoor 400 meters PR of 53.40 seconds which ranks her #3 nationally in her class. Woodall led Coatesville High School to their first ever state championship team title by winning both the 400 meters and 100 meters at the Pennsylvania state meet. Woodall also claimed the indoor 400 meter state title running 55.88 seconds indoor. The Coatesville, Pa. native plans to major in neuroscience at UC.
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