Nov. 29, 2006
Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina head track & field coach Danny Williamson today announced the signing of three student-athletes for the 2007-08 year. Kassie McKie (Stevens HS/Rapid City, S.D.), Janet Carothers (Harding Univ. HS/Charlotte, N.C.), and Beth Crater (North Davidson HS/Winston-Salem, N.C.) have all signed National Letters of Intent to compete for the WCU women's track & field team next season.
"I am very excited about these three individuals that will join our women's team next season. We feel that we have landed not only three quality athletes, but three outstanding individuals that will be great representatives for Western Carolina University," said Williamson. "Western Carolina has had a strong tradition in the women's pole vault and with the addition of Kassie (McKie) and Beth (Crater), we will again move back into the upper echelon of the Southern Conference in that event. Also, Janet (Carothers) will be a great compliment to our strong sprinting corps and I feel she will have an immediate impact on our program."
Kassie McKie
Pole Vault
Rapid City, S.D. (Stevens HS)
McKie owns a personal best vault of 11'0" to date in her prep career ... Her high school has captured three-consecutive state team championships ... She is an Honor Roll student that plans on majoring in International Business ... McKie comes to WCU following in the footsteps of former Catamount pole vaulter, Laura Tieszen, who also hailed from Rapid City, S.D. ... Tieszen, who graduated from WCU magna cum laude in 2005, was one Western's all-time greats in track & field, earning three SoCon Indoor and Outdoor pole vault championships.
Janet Carothers
Sprints
Charlotte, NC. (Harding Univ. High)
Entering her senior year, Carothers had run personal best times of 24.90 in the 200-meter and 55.98 in the 400-meter dashes ... Has helped her high school garner two indoor state championships and a pair of outdoor state titles ... She follows several other Harding High student-athletes to WCU, joining Asia Davis, Sherrell Froneberger, Christian Bethune and former hurdler, Lawrence Briscoe.
Beth Crater
Pole Vault
Winston-Salem, N.C. (North Davidson HS)
Having only vaulted for one and a half years, Crater has made tremendous progress clearing a personal best height of 10-feet in the girls' pole vault ... Crater will offer depth and quality to the women's pole vault squad ... Was voted the MVP for her high school track & field team for the field events both as a sophomore and junior ... She also has experience in the hurdles and throwing events and could be a possibility in the multi-event.
Western Carolina opens its 2006-07 indoor season this weekend when it visits Boone, N.C., for the Appalachian Invitational to be held in the Holmes Center on Saturday, Dec. 2. In addition, the Catamounts and Bulldogs of UNC Asheville will go head-to-head as a part of the Parkway Series at this weekend's indoor opener with a point being awarded to the men's and to the women's squad with the highest overall team finish.
|
|
 |
