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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia’s Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Jason Vigilante has announced the commitment of 14 student-athletes that are set to join the Cavaliers’ nationally recognized men’s program for the 2010-11 year.

The highly talented class features six state champions, five All-Americans and two national champions, and will be comprised of Ozzie Bryan (Philadelphia, Pa.), David Cotton (Madison, Conn.), Tommy Devita (Ridgewood, N.J.), DreQuan Hoskey (Richmond, Va.), Patrick Farmer (Huntington, N.Y.), Christopher Foley (Chantilly, Va.), Thomas Fuson (Glen Allen, Va.), Anthony Kostelac (Charlottesville, Va.), Chris Letson (Burke, Va.), Leo McLaughlin (Washington, D.C.), Colin Mearns (Williamsburg, Va.), Drew Paisley (Virginia Beach, Va.), Aaron Shepperd (Washington, D.C.) and Patrick Todd (Highland Park, Texas).

“I am so excited for the incoming Class of 2014,” Vigilante said. “We have an incredibly talented group who I am certain will make a very positive impact for the University of Virginia.”

Ozzie Bryan is a long sprinter from West Catholic High School. Bryan finished seventh in the Pennsylvania State Championships in the 400m as a senior and third as a junior. He also claimed eighth in the 200m at states in 2010 and seventh in 2009. Bryan finished the 2010 season ranked 17th in Pennsylvania in the 400m.

David Cotton, the son of former Cavalier All-American Mike Cotton, comes to the Cavaliers from Daniel Hand High School. Cotton, an All-American in the 4xMile last spring ranked fifth in Connecticut for the mile and 14th for 3200m in 2010. He also finished sixth at the New England Championships in the mile and was a member of the 4x800m relay team that was ranked No. 3 in the state and won the Southern Connecticut Conference Championship in 2010. In addition, he was a member of the DMR team that is ranked No. 2 in Connecticut and won the Irv Black Invitational. Also a cross country runner, Cotton finished fifth at the SCC Championships.

Tommy Devita, a 6’ 8” high jumper, joins the program from Ridgewood High School. The 2010 NJ Meet of Champions indoor runner-up, Devita was ranked the No. 3 high jumper in New Jersey. He finished third at Eastern States and seventh at NSIC Indoor Nationals in 2010. He was also the NJ Group 4 Outdoor Champion in the event and finished ninth at Penn Relays.

Patrick Farmer, from Saint Anthony’s High School, will be a long sprinter for the Cavaliers. The Hispanic Games, CHSAA and New York Relays 400m champion, Farmer also claimed the NCSCHSAA 100m Championship in 2010. Ranked No. 2 in New York and 16th in the USA over 400m outdoors, Farmer was the top-ranked performer indoors in the state and was eighth nationally.

Christopher Foley is a distance runner from Chantilly High School. A 2010 indoor All-American, Foley won the VHSL AAA State Championship in the 3200m outdoors and finished fourth at nationals. A five-time all-state performer, Foley finished runner-up in the 3200m indoors in 2010 and fourth at the VHSL AAA State Cross Country meet in 2009. Foley is ranked No. 2 in Virginia in the 3200m outdoors and holds the fastest two-mile time indoors in the state this year, the fifth fastest in the nation.

Thomas Fuson hails from Deep Run, Va., and will join the Cavaliers’ throws program. A four-time VHSL AAA All-State performer in the shot put while at Deep Run, Fuson was the 2010 state runner-up indoors and was the Central Region runner-up during both the indoor and outdoor seasons. Fuson finished the year ranked No. 5 in Virginia in the shot put and No. 13 in the discus.

DreQuan Hoskey is a sprinter from Henrico High School in Richmond, Va. A 2010 indoor All-American in the 60m Hurdles, Hoskey finished fifth at the National Scholastic Indoor Championships and won the 2010 VHSL AAA State Championship in the 55m hurdles. A three-time all-state performer and eight-time All-Central Region honoree in the 110m hurdles, Hoskey was ranked No. 3 in Virginia in both the 110m hurdles and 300m hurdles in 2010. During the indoor season, he held the fastest 60m hurdles time in the state and was eighth nationally.

Anthony Kostelac, from Albemarle High School, is a three-time indoor national champion and six-time All-American. The national 800m indoor champion this year, Kostelac also owns the Virginia state record in the event (1:49.78) and is ranked sixth all-time indoors. He holds the top indoor 800m time from 2010, in addition to the top 800m time the past two years outdoors. He is ranked No. 5 in the USA in the 800m outdoors and 18th in the mile. He is also the national record holder in the 4x800m with current Cavaliers Luke Noble and Zach Vrhovac.

Chris Letson
is a transfer from UNC Wilmington. A long sprinter from Lake Braddock High School in Virginia, Letson was the CAA runner-up as a member of Wilmington’s 4x400m relay team in 2010. He also finished seventh in the 400m at the CAA Championships.

Leo McLaughlin comes to the Cavaliers from Gonzaga High School in Washington, D.C. The WCAC Champion in the 4x100m relay, McLaughlin finished third at the WCAC Championships in the 200m and sixth in the 100m. He also won the Northern Virginia Invitational in the 100m and 200m.

Colin Mearns, the brother of current Cavalier Andrew Mearns, hails from Jamestown, Va. The NSIC National Champion in the mile while competing for Jamestown High School, Mearns is a two-time All-American, three-time VHSL AA State Champion, and 12-time all-state performer. Mearns won the Nike Cross Country National SE Region Championship and the Southern Track Classic two-mile championship as a senior. He finished fifth at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals in the two-mile and was sixth at Penn Relays in the mile. Mearns is ranked No. 1 in Virginia and sixth nationally in the two-mile this year, in addition to being second in Virginia in the mile outdoors. Indoors, Mearns is ranked No. 1 in Virginia and seventh in the US in the mile, while holding the year’s fourth fastest 3200m time.

Drew Paisley, from Ocean Lakes High School, was the 2010 VHSL AAA State Champion in the 1600m. A seven-time all-state performer, Paisley was seventh at Penn Relays in the mile and finished 15th at Footlocker South in cross country as a senior. Paisley holds the top 1600m time in Virginia, is ranked 10th in the 800m and 11th in the 3200m outdoors. He is also ranked No. 3 in the state this year in the indoor 3200m and is fourth in the mile.

Aaron Shepperd, also from Gonzaga High School, is a three-time WCAC 110m hurdle champion. A member of the 2009 and 2010 WCAC team champions, Shepperd scored in the 110m hurdles, 300m hurdles, 4x100m relay and the triple jump at the championship. He is ranked No. 2 in the 110m hurdles and 300m hurdles in Washington, D.C., for 2010.

Patrick Todd is a transfer from the University of Texas. The Big 12 Champion in the 1000m indoors, Todd is seventh all-time at Texas in the 800m and won the 1500m at the Texas Relays. While competing for Highland Park High School, Todd was the Texas State 800m Champion as a senior and was the runner-up as a junior.

* – photos in alphabetical order

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