Send Your Signings Updates
National Signing Day for cross country and track is February 2nd. This time marks the first day that an athlete can sign a national letter of intent to their college destination. Athletes have until August 1st to announce their choice.
Flrunners.com wants to know where you’re headed! Send us your news and photos of your announcement and we will share it with the running community. Email
TGrasley@milesplit.com.
Recruiting Buzz
* Eduardo Garcia, of Mandarin High School will stay in state and run for the University of Florida. He joins Boone’s JL Hines and Phil Duncan, Charlotte’s Tyler Cardillo, and Creekside’s Jimmy Clark as future Gator distance runners. Garcia placed 3rd at the 2010 Cross Country State Finals and 5th in the mile at the 4A State Finals. He was also considering FSU, UNF, and Belmont but says it came down to academics and athletics. "I have so much to look forward to with being a Gator! I look forward to training and studying hard in order to become the best student athlete that I can be. I look forward to running with guys that are on an elite level of running and being coached to take my running to the next level."
* According to Tynia Gaither’s coach Eric Pinellas, the Osceola star will head north of the Sunshine State and run for the Georgia Bulldogs. Gaither is a four time state champion with personal bests of 11.58 in the 100 meters and 23.58 in the 200.
*Wekiva's Niaja Griffin has also signed with the University of Georgia, but not for track. Griffin, who was 4th in the 100 and 7th in the triple jump last year will play softball for the Bulldogs. She has not ruled track completely out of the equation and has spoken with both coaches about the possibility of doing both. Her personal best include 10.77 in the 100m. 38'3 in the triple jump, and 18'3.5 for the long jump.
* Chase Sutton of Seminole High School in St. Petersburg has signed with Virginia Military Insitute. Sutton's personal bests include 4:16 in the 1600m and 15:23 in the 5k.
* Former Santaluces star Joshua Gracia has signed with Oklahoma. Gracia took the JUCO route for two years before heading to Norman. He says he chose OU because of his comfort level their and their success with JUCO transfers. He says he is excited for the future. " I am looking forward to running with all the guys, having faster people to run with is very exciting. I'll be challenged daily in practice which will only benefit me in the future."
* Seven-time state champion Octavious Freeman announced she will be signing with the University of Central Florida. The Lake Wales senior who has run blistering times of 11.11 (wind aided) in the 100 and 23.19 (wind aided) in the 200 stated previously she, "wants to go to a school where she can start her own legacy." Freeman also noted if she breaks the national record in the 100m she could turn pro. It will be interesting to see how the next few months unfold.
* John I. Leonard senior Ryan Pickering chooses the University of Oregon over Florida State. The two time state champion admits it was the camraderie he felt with his future Ducks teammates that sold him on the program. He will join Gatorade National Cross Country Runner of the Year Lucas Verzbicas (IL) in Eugene next year.
* Rebecca Chandler of Bolles will run for the Vanderbilt Commodores. Chandler, was named the Jacksonville Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year by the Florida Times Union. Last year, she finished 4th in the 2A Cross Country State Championships and placed 3rd in the mile at the state track meet last year with a personal best of 5:02.
* South Fork pole vaulter Mallory Johnson will stay in state and head to the University of South Florida. Johnson, the 2010 3A State Champion will announce her decision on February 4th.
* Grace VanDeGrift of Durant High School signs with the University of Florida. VanDegrift's personal bests are 5:03.49 in the1600 meters and 11:22.68 in the 3200.
* Vero Beach's Emily Ahrens signs with Edinboro University. Ahrens finished 3rd in the 4A State Cross Country Championships in a time of 18:24. Following, that she competed in the Foot Locker Southeast Regional where she recorded a personal best of 18:18. Ahrens was also selected to the All-State team.
* Paige Lawton, from The Master's Academy, signed a National Letter of Intent with Florida Atlantic University as a member of their Cross Country and Track team for Fall 2011.
* Zach Scott of Tampa Jesuit signed an NLI today during the Jesuit signing ceremony. The distance runner decided to stay local, committing to the University of Tampa.
* Dedric Dukes of Miami Washington signed with the University of Florida on Wednesday. Though he missed last track season, he is one of the most talented sprinters in the state, especially at 200 and 400 meters. He will likely pull double duty at UF, as he is also a top football recruit.
FULL FLORIDA SIGNINGS LIST...