Cross Country Teams Add Talent and Depth for 2011

After outstanding recruiting efforts by the coaching staff, the 2011 men's and women's cross country teams will be adding depth and considerable talent to the squad for competition next fall.

Joining sophomore co-captains Billy Colbert and Robbie Capps on the men's side are four freshmen from Georgia high schools. They are: David Whitson of Gainesville High School, Allen Griner of Creekview High School, Caleb Connell of Peachtree Ridge High School and Alan Luvianos of Meadowcreek High School. Each recruit brings top speed as well as experience to the team. Returning lettermen Phillip Belcher and Mohammed Abdullah also welcome newcomer junior Michael Kasmarik, a stalwart OU lacrosse athlete, to his inaugural season as a harrier.

The women's team, co-captained by sophomores Tirzah Brown and Khadija Nisar, will also add four freshmen, two from Georgia and two from distant states. Georgians Lindsey Glenn of Frederica Academy and Danielle Williams of Arlington Christian School in Atlanta will arrive for fall practice. Joining them will be Kati Galli of Gill Saint Bernards in Hackettstown, New Jersey and Candice Mendes of West Plano High School in Plano, Texas.  In addition, upperclassmen Donyale Greenwell and sophomore Lauren Williams, who will split her time with golf and cross country, will join returning letterwinners Sherry Blystone and Ify Akiti to form the 2011 women's team.

Coach Bob Unger is pleased to announce that 2010's men's captain Walter "Ellis" Jones '10, who has been accepted to the Masters Program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Mercer University, will serve as volunteer assistant coach for both squads in 2011.