The University of North Florida Ospreys announced their 2011-2012 recruiting class for women's track and field. The eight member class is made up of mostly Floridians.
Full Press Release:
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Capitalizing on strong performances during the 2010-11 season, University of North Florida track and field head coach Mark VanAlstyne and his staff have put together a strong group of eight newcomers joining the Osprey women's program in the fall.
The list of newcomers is highlighted by the national letter-of-intent signings of Elle Baker, Alessandra Valdes and Savannah Bradley. UNF also received commitments from Kaili Corcoran, Alyssa Brandt, Rachel Miller, Jordan Caldwell and Emily Wynn adding to the strength and depth of the incoming class.
The UNF cross country program captured the 2010 Atlantic Sun title while finishing as the runner-up at both the A-Sun Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field championships. In addition, three Osprey women have also qualified for the upcoming NCAA Championship East Preliminary.
“The Atlantic Sun has improved tremendously in the past few years in regards to depth in cross country as well as the middle distance and distance events on the track," said VanAlstyne. "This class of newcomers is, perhaps, the deepest we've ever had and will give us the ability to compete, not only at the conference level but also for a berth in the NCAA Championships.”
Baker, a native of Melbourne, Fla., owns a time of 2:17 in the 800m and has run a 5:02 in the 1600m, while Valdes, from Miami, has posted times of 2:14 (800m) and 5:05 (1600m). The pair collected four All-State performances at the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) 4A State meet including three for Valdes (800, 1600, 4x800 relay) and one for Baker in the 1600m.
A Cocoa Beach, Fla., product, Bradley finished seventh in the 3200m of the FHSAA's 2A State meet and owns a personal best time of 5:13 in the 1600m.
Corcoran, who also hails from Melbourne, Fla., finished eighth at the FHSAA 1A State meet in the 1600m and has run a top time of 5:17 in the event. Brandt comes to UNF following a solid prep career in Bristol, Conn. Miller, a native of Winter Park, Fla., joins with Caldwell and Wynn, both products of St. Johns, Fla., to form a strong corps of 3200m specialists.