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Aug. 31, 2006

Virginia head track and field coach Randy Bungard announced the arrival of the Class of 2010 to the Grounds. Adding to the depth of the women’s team are nine first years while the men’s squad adds 13 newcomers. Included in the group are a number of state champions and record holders as well as student-athletes who have made an impact at the national level. “This is a large and talented group,” said Bungard. “This class will instantly add quality depth to our squads; many of them will make an impact at the conference level right away. As we work towards our goal of ACC conference championships, it is important that we attract the top prospects in the nation, and this class will help us achieve those goals.”

Women’s Team Newcomers

Megan Briggs (Palmyra HS/Palmyra, PA) was the 2005 Nike Outdoor National Champion. She received All-State honors in the javelin in 2005 and 2006. “Megan is a very versatile athlete. She was a very good basketball player in high school and she takes that athleticism to the javelin runway,” said Bungard. “Being a national champion in high school, she will be ready for the competitive level in both the ACC and NCAA.” Briggs’ PR in the javelin is 141′ 1″

Ayla Smith (John Handley HS/ Winchester, VA) was the Virginia AA State Champion in the 100 and 300 hurdles. She set the state meet record in the 300 hurdles. “Ayla was one of the best hurdlers in the state last year and one of the best ever at the Virginia AA level,” said Bungard. ” I am excited about the prospect of her, along with Moen and Forsyth, training with Erin Crawford in the long hurdles group.” PRs: 100H – 14.54; 300H – 43.

Hillary Moen (Walter Johnson HS/Rockville, MD) was the 2005 Maryland 4A West Regional Champ in the 100 and 300 hurdles. She also received All-State honors in the 300 hurdles in 2005 and 2006. PRs: 100H – 14.74; 300H – 44.78; 400H – 63.86

Rosemary Forsyth (John Burroughs HS/St. Louis, MO) received All-State honors in the 100 and 300 hurdles for 2005 and 2006. She was honored as a 2005 USATF All-American in the 4x400m relay. PRs: 100H – 15.57; 300H – 45.25

Katie Darraugh (Lake Forest HS/Lake Forest, IL) was an Illinois state finalist in the 100 and 300 hurdles, running a 14.88 and 44.74 respectively. She also has a PR in the pole vault of 11′ 6″. “Katie brings a nice well-rounded athleticism to the vault”, said Bungard. “She will work with the multis as well”.

Galyn Iloka (Rockledge HS/Rockledge, FL) earned All-State honors in the 200m dash in 2006. She was runner-up in the 200m at the 2004 Golden South Classic. “Galyn will add some depth for us in the sprints,” said Bungard. “She has good range, from the 100m to the 400m, and could be a crucial leg for us on the 4 x 400m and 4 x 400m relays. She had a hamstring injury that slowed her down a bit her senior year, but she is talented.” PRs: 100m : 12.14; 200m : 24.19; 400m : 57.75

Christie Bettle (Greensburg Central Catholic HS/Greensburg, PA) was a bronze medalist at the 2006 WPIAL Girls, Class AA Track Championships. PRs: Javelin : 125, 5″ Shot Put : 36′ 6 3/4″

Ariane Sloan (Reynoldsburg HS/Reynoldsburg, OH) came in 16th in the 2005 All-Ohio Honors Cross Country, and she was the 2004 and 2006 DI State runner-up at 800m. “I,m excited about Ariane because she has good leg speed,” said Bungard. “She is a middle distance runner who has run 57 seconds in the 400m. That kind of speed has a tremendous upside and I look forward to watching Ariane improve.” PRs: 400m – 57.6; 800m – 2:10.48; 1600m – 5:04.

Erin Klein (Lake Braddock/Burke, VA) placed 8th in the 2005 AAA Cross Country Championships, and she was the 2006 AAA Indoor State runner-up in the 3200m and 4x800m. She was also a 2006 AAA Outdoor State Champion in the 4x800m. PRs: 1600m – 5:06; 3200m – 11:06; 1000m (I) – 2:59.34. “Erin has a great upside”, said Bungard. “She is someone who can really take off at this level. She has great range.”

Jen Hovland (Robinson Secondary/Burke, VA) earned All-State honors in the indoor mile, outdoor 800M and the 4X800 in 2006. PR’s: 800m – 2:15.07; 1600m – 5:10.96

Samantha Stafford (Western Albermarle/Charlottesville, VA) placed fourth in the 2005 AA Cross Country Championships and fifth in the 2006 AA Outdoor 3200m Championship. PR’s: 3200m – 11:12.70; 5K XC – 18:28

Stephanie Garcia (Broad Run/Ashburn, VA) placed sixth in the 2005 AA Cross Country Championships and fourth in the 2006 AA Outdoor 3200m Championship. PR’s: 1600m – 5:09.52; 3200 – 11:16.21

Men’s Team Newcomers

Steve Finley (Palatine HS/Palatine, IL) was the 2005 Illinois cross country state champio and was a Footlocker finalist in 2005 as well. PRs: 800m : 1:53.41; 1600m : 4:11; 3200m : 9:02

Alex Bowman (Hermitage HS/Richmond, VA) placed 6th in 2005 All-State Cross Country. He also was the 2006 Indoor AAA Virginia state champion in the 1000m and 1600m and the 2006 Outdoor AAA Virginia state champion in the 800m. “Alex Bowman and Steve Finley were both very good milers in high school and will be able to step in and help us right away,” said Bungard. “They both have good speed and that is what you want in your middle distance guys.” PRs: 800m : 1:53.77; 1600m : 4:10.83

William “Trey” Miller (RJ Reynolds HS/Winston-Salem, NC) placed 10th at the 2005 State Cross Country Championships. He has a PR in the 5000m at 14:48.

Graham Tribble (Ben Lippen School/Columbia, SC) was the South Carolina Independent School Association record holder in the 800m, 1600m, 3200m, and the 5k for cross country. He is also a four-time state champion at the 1600m and 3200m. “Miller and Tribble are going to give us a very deep group of talented distance runners. They were accomplished runners in high school and look to continue that at UVA,” said Bungard. He has a PR in the 3000m at 8:39.3.

Aaron Klansek was a two-time Virginia Independent Schools state high jump champion in 2004 and 2005. He has a PR in the high jump of 6′ 7″.

Arthur Gennari was the Massachusetts state meet high jump champion in both 2005 and 2006. “We brought in kids that will fill in some holes we have had in the program,” said head coach Randy Bungard. “Gennari and Klansek are two good high jumpers that are both in a position to score for us right away”. PRs: High Jump – 6′ 8 1/2″ Long Jump : 21′ 6 1/4″

Eddy Nicolas (West Hempstead HS/West Hempstead, NY) PRs: 200m : 22.53; 400m : 49.50; 300m(I) : 35.15 “Eddy was one of the better sprinters in New York last year. He will be able to step in and run anything from the 100m to the 400m”.

Brian Lee (Huguenot HS/Richmond, VA) received All-State honors in the 400m at the Virginia AAA Outdoor State Championships, and he was a bronze medalist in the 500m at the Virginia Indoor AAA State Championships. PRs: 400m : 49.58; 200m : 22.76. ” Brian was one of the better 400m in the state last year. I’m excited that he chose to stay in the state of Virginia. He will help us right away”

Brandon Carter (Wheeler HS/Marietta, GA) PRs: 100m : 10.82; 200m : 22.20; 400m : 49.75. “Brandon, like Nicholas, has very good range. He will be able to help us on both relays and from the 100m to the 400m”

Kendall Cones (Westfield HS/Centreville, VA) is a transfer from Virginia Tech who received All-State honors in the 500m his senior year in high school. “An area in which we were very thin last year was the men’s sprints. The addition of Nicholas, Lee, Carter, and Cones is a breath of fresh air,” said Bungard. “With Kellen returning for the outdoor season, I am excited about the prospect of putting a competitive 4x400m relay on the track next year.” PRs: 400m : 49.94; 800m : 1:58.63; 500m (I) : 1:06.15

Eric Pickle (Bearden HS/Knoxville, TN) was the Tennessee AAA state champion in the shot and discus. “Eric Pickle is a very solid thrower who will add more depth in an event area that coach Lane continues to beef up for our team,” said Bungard. PRs: Shot Put : 58′ 9 1/2″ Discus : 173′ 4″

Kyle Galle (Bishop Hendricken HS/Warwick, RI) PRs: Hammer Throw – 172, 11″ Weight Throw – 54′ 8 1/2″

Kyle Mullane (Cumberland HS/Cumberland, RI) is a transfer from the Naval Academy. PRs: Hammer Throw : 169′ 7″ Weight Throw (I) : 51′ 6 1/2″ “Galle and Mullane are going to give us a couple of legitimate weight and hammer throwers. The addition of these two give our throws group a very nice core”, said Bungard

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