LAKEWOOD, NJ- Georgian Court University Cross Country Head Coach Kerwin Lanz and Track & Field Head Coach Brett Harvey are proud to welcome 18 new Lions for the 2010-2011 school year.
Headlining the class is New Jersey State 400m hurdle champion Cassandra Lenkowski (Clearview Regional). Lenkowski won the state title with a time of 1:01.85, the 20th fastest time in the entire nation for 2010. She also scorched a 57.30 400m, helping earn her a 1st Team All-State selection.
Also providing sprint fire power are two transfer students and a six freshman.
Shakeya Ladson-Singleton and Danica Giddens join the team after transferring from Cabrini College.
Ladson-Singleton has personal bests of 12.34 in the 100m, 24.94 at 200m and 58.30 at 400m. She was a Division III National Qualifier in the 200m at Cabrini and was the ECAC 100m and 200m champion.
Giddens has personal bests of 12.31 at 100m and 25.70 at 200m. As a freshman at Cabrini, she captured 1st place at two meets in the 55m dash and recorded a personal best time of 7.36.
Also expected to produce mightily in the sprints for the Lions are incoming freshman Susan Lora (Bunnell, CT), Jasimen Little (Gateway Regional, NJ), Marra Young (West Deptford, NJ), Jayme Anderson (North Burlington, NJ), Keioki Hewitt (Middletown, NY) and Nasheen Duffus (Bloomfield, CT).
Lora joins the Lions with personal bests of 7.42 for 55m, 12.70 for 100m and 26.98 for 200m. She placed 5th in the Connecticut State Outdoor Championships and 2nd in the State Indoor meet.
Little had a standout year for Gateway Regional, running times of 7.50 at 55m, 12.6s in the 100m,26.5s at 200m, 61 at 400m and 16'3 3/4 in long jump. She was a two-time 1st Team All Conference selection.
Young qualified for the New Jersey Meet of Champions in the 200m and brings in personal bests of 12.78 at 100m, 25.77 at 200m and 59.30 at 400m. She finished 6th in the 200m state championships.
Anderson brings in solid credentials with personal bests of 13.19 at 100m, 27.38 at 200m and 1:01.13 at 400m.
Hewitt, a standout sprinter in New York, brings GCU times of 12.84 at 100m, 26.54 at 200m and 1:01.40 at 400m.
Duffus, a member of a dominant Bloomfield, CT team, has personal bests of 13.18 at 100m and 27.11 at 200m.
Long distance runner Katelynn Colgain (John Carroll, MD) is expected to make an instant impact on the team as her personal bests of 5:22 and 11:29 should make her an immediate threat in both the conference and region. Colgain holds the IAAM Conference record for the 3200m and, in 2010,was the conference runner up in the 1600m while finishing fourth in the conference cross country championship.
Monmouth transfer Lauren Rome should also make an immediate impact on the Lions distance program as her personal bests of 5:11 for 1600 and 11:21 for 3200m should put her towards the front of the pack.
Also expecting to have a presence in the distance events are Lenkowski and Isalin Howard (East Orange, NJ). Howard brings the Lions a solid 800m threat with her best of 2:24.81 and good wheels with a 1:01.67 400m.
Thrower Britney Smith (Woodbury, NJ) will add depth to theGCU throwers with personal bests of 98’10 in the javelin and 88’7 in the discus.
Ciera Phillips (Winslow Township, NJ) is expected to help the Lions immediately in the 100m hurdles and Triple Jump events. Her bests of 15.44 in the hurdles and 34-5 in the triple jump should provide an instant impact.
Also looking to walk on to the Lions' team will be Angela Olivadoti, Elizabeth Alexander, Kathleen Schworn and Christina Mitchell as well as sophomores Niya Taylor, Generra Randall and Ciera Bradley.
The Lions harriers will open their cross country season September 4th at Thompson Park in Lincroft, NJ at the Monmouth Opener.
The Track and Field will open its season December 4th at the Ursinus Winter Invitational.
