June 23, 2003

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Head track and field coach Robert Olesen announced today that 13 have signed letters of intent to compete in cross country and track and field with the Charlotte 49ers next season. The most recent group of 11 signees joins Amelia Slagle and Amber Youngvall, who signed with the Niners last fall.

"This recruiting class is the best Charlotte has seen," Olesen said. "Ultimately, the depth of the class may prove to make it even more valuable. We hosted over 50 official visits this past year and we will need to work just as hard in the future to capture more Conference USA titles."

WOMEN'S SIGNEES:
Tsehaye Dagnachew
Jacksonville, N.C. (Jacksonville High School)
Distance
Daughter of Theodros and Cornelia ... Tsehaye earned all-state honors, with runner up performances in cross country 2002 and at the state track meet in the 1600m ... Placed in the top five for three of her four years at the state cross country finals ... She won numerous all-region and all-conference honors ... Currently rated with the 12th fastest time in North Carolina's XC state meet history ... PRs: (5:07/ 1600m, 11:16/3200m, 18:22 5k).

Amelia Slagle
Davidson, N.C. (North Mecklenburg High School)
Distance
Daughter of Charlie and Nancy Slagle ... Amelia placed ninth in the Adidas Outdoor National Championships (steeplechase 2001) ... Earned all-state honors with her second-place finish at the state cross country championships in 2000 ... Named all-region seven times, and won 11 of 12 conference finals ... Rated with the 16th-fastest time in North Carolina's XC State meet history ... Graduated from North Mecklenburg ranked in the top 15 percent of her class ... PRs: (5:17/Mile, 11:31/2 mile, 18:31 5k, 7:39 2k Steeple).

Liz Smith
Springfield, Mo. (UMKC)
Distance
Daughter of Richard Smith and Katherine Pigg ... Joins our team from the University of Missouri-Kansas City ... While attending UMKC she finished 11th at the Southwest Missouri State Invitational ... In high school she finished 11th as a junior at the Missouri Class 4-A state cross country championships, earning all-state honors ... PRs: (2:17/ 800M, 4:42/ 1500m / 19:05 5k).

Paris Smith
Winston Salem, N.C. (RJ Reynolds High School)
Sprints
PRs: (100m hurdles 14.71, 300m hurdles 44.92).

Tempess Starks
Davidson, N.C. (Northwest Cabbarrus High School)
Sprints
Daughter of Marilyn Stark ... Was the 2002 AAU National Champion in the 100m ... A four-time indoor 3-A state champion in the 55m and two-time outdoor 3-A state champion in the 100m ... PRs: (100m 11.80, 200m 24.80 and TJ 38').

Carlitha Sturdivant
Charlotte, N.C. (Independence High School)
Sprints
Indoor state 4-A champion in the 500m and the 2003 4-A outdoor state champion in the 400m ... PR: (400 - 56.16).

Shareese Woods
Prince George, VA (Prince George High School)
Sprints
Daughter of Carl and Malinia Woods ... Was the Virginia state 3-A runner-up in the 400m outdoors ... PR: (400 - 55.80).

MEN'S SIGNEES:
Montray Gilchrist
Jamestown, N.C. (High Point Central High School)
Sprints
Son of Charles and Tammy Gilchrist ... Montray was the 2003 1-A outdoor state champion in the 110m Hurdles ... PR (110H 14.70).

James Hanna
Effingham, S.C. (South Florence High School)
Sprints
Son of Samuel and Minnie Hanna ... Was the South Carolina state 3-A champion in the 400m ... Finished third in the 100m ... PRs: (100m 10.59, 400m 49.16).

Andrew Manning
Traverse City, Mich. (Traverse City Central High School)
Distance
Son of Paul and Ann Manning and Phil Jones ... Finished fourth at Michigan's state cross country meet last fall ... While at Traverse City Central, Andrew earned one all-state honor, six all-region honors and five all-conference awards ... Also ranked in the top 10 percent of his class at Traverse City Central ... PRs: (4:24 Mile, 9:22 2 Mile, 15:36 5K).

Ken Simeone
Milford, Conn. (Milford High School)
Distance
Son of Paul and Karen Simeone ... Was an all-state performer four times at Milford High School ... Also earned all-region honors and multiple all-conference honors ... Won the State Class M title in cross country as a sophomore ... Ranked in the top 20 percent of his class ... PRs: (1:58 800m, 4:25 1600m, 9:33 3200m, 15:31 5K).

Quincy Smith
High Point, N.C. (High Point Central)
Sprints
Placed third at the 3-A state championship in the 100m and fourth in the 200m ... PRs: (100 10.68, 200m 21.88).

Alex Stewart
Indian Harbour, Fla. (Satellite Beach High School)
Distance
Son of Charles and Karen Stewart ... Placed third in the 3-A Florida state meet in the mile in 2002 ... Placed sixth in the 3-A state cross country meet in 2000 ... Earned numerous titles and honors in the conference and regional meets ... PRs: (1:54.2 800m, 4:16.31 1600m, 9:36.33 3200m, 15:30 5k).