May 26, 2006
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Nine senior high school standouts round out the Wake Forest women's track and field recruiting class for the 2006-07 academic year, head coach Annie Bennett announced today.
The talented group of incoming freshmen include four sprinters and five middle- and long-distance runners, the latter of which are expected to compete for the Demon Deacon cross country team as well as in track and field.
"We are excited about this class of newcomers," Bennett said. "Combined with the athletes we have returning, this class gives us great depth in the sprints, middle- and long-distance events."
The incoming group of sprinters includes Carolina Vaughn (Atlanta, Ga.), Alexandra Gove (Denver, Colo.), Nicole Castronuova (Jackson, N.J.) and Jessica Watkins (Durham, N.C.). Vaughn is a two-time Georgia state champion in the 100-meter hurdles. Gove won the Colorado state 5A championship in the 100- and 300-meter hurdles and was a Junior Olympic qualifier in the 400-meter hurdles. Castronuova, a former elite level swimmer and a newcomer to track and field, has great potential after earning first team all-county, All-Shore and All-State this spring. Watkins brings a wealth of experience in the relays and was a member of the state 4A champion Hillside High School 4x100 and 4x200 teams.
The incoming sprinters join rising sophomores Melissa Council and Michelle Duffey to give the Deacons strength in the sprints.
The middle- and long-distance newcomers include Whitney Curry (Greenville, La.), Mary Alice Howard (New York, N.Y.), Kelly Polisin (Summit, N.J.), Kimberly Vos (Edmonton, Canada) and Jenna Redfearn (Boynton Beach, Fla.).
Curry won the Louisiana state prep title in the 1600m and 3200m and she earned the state indoor title in both the 800m and 1600m. Howard was a multiple year participant in the New York state high school championship and was a first team All-State selection in the spring. Polisin, a relative newcomer to track and a standout prep soccer player, won her conference championship twice and earned all-league honors. Vos won the Indoor Edmonton Provisional in the 800-meters and she was the city cross country champion. Redfearn was a multiple-time state qualifier in the 800-meters and she led her high school team to the state championship in 2003.
Wake Forest, perennially strong in the distance events, will have outstanding depth in 2006-07. The newcomers join a veteran group of returnees that includes junior Michelle Sikes, sophomores Caitlin Chrisman and Merry Placer, and freshmen Nicole Schappert and Allie Kieffer.
Wake Forest finished third in the 12-team ACC last fall in cross country.
