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Track and Field Signs Six Student-Athletes
Newcomers to have an immediate impact
July 28, 2003

BLACKSBURG, Va. - Virginia Tech director of track and field Dave Cianelli has announced the latest additions to the 2003 recruiting class with the signing of six student-athletes set to compete in the 2003-04 season. The group will join Tech's early signing class on campus in the fall.

"This is an incredible recruiting class, both on the men's and women's side," said Cianelli. "This group will have an immediate impact at the BIG EAST Championships and lays a great foundation for the future of this program."

The incoming recruits include four state champions and Kristen Callan (Monroe, N.Y./Woodbury), the nation's top high school athlete in the weight and hammer throws.

Callan was the National Scholastic Indoor Champion and the NIKE Indoor Classic Champion in the 20-pound weight throw, her best mark of 57-1.75 ranked as the best high school performance in the nation. Outdoors, Callan was the nation's top scholastic hammer thrower with a personal best throw of 186-2, ranking her fifth on the all-time U.S. high school performance list. Callen is the daughter or Richard and Frances Callan.

Joining Callan, will be Alaskan Morgan Ekemo (Eagle River, Alaska/Chugiak), a two-time state champion in the 3,200 meters. Ekemo is also the Alaskan State cross country champion and finished ninth in the 5,000 meters at the USA Junior Championships in 2002 and 10th in the 3,000 meters. Ekemo, the daughter of Ron and Elizabeth Ekemo, was named a high school All-American at the National Scholastic Indoor Championships in 2003.

The men's recruiting class will be solidified with the addition of Idikoro Eradiri (Ashburn, Va./Broad Run), the 2003 AA outdoor state champion in the triple jump. Eradiri's personal best of 48-7.0 ranked as the best in the state for all divisions.

Giving a boost to the men's pole vaulting corps will be Syracuse transfer Adam Bingaman (New Berlinville, Pa./Boyertown Area). Bingaman was fifth at the 2003 BIG EAST outdoor championships and has a personal best of 16-1.0. He was also the 2002 Pennsylvania State champion in the event.

Rounding out the 2003 signing class is Ciera Ayangbile (Fulton, Ill./Fulton) and Keosha Sanders (Stafford, Va./Brooke Point). Ayangbile was the 2002 state runner-up in the shot put and is a tremendous all around athlete who will be a versatile performer for the already strong throws crew. She is the daughter of Ben and Sundra Ayangbile.

Sanders is a transfer from Iowa State University who redshirted the 2003 season. She competed the entire 2002 season for the Cyclones, finishing 10th in the 400-meter hurdles at the Big 12 Championships. In high school, she accounted for 28 of her team's 43 points at the 2001 indoor state championships, winning both the 55-meter hurdles and 300 meters, leading Brooke Pointe to a second place finish. She was a high school All-American and finished second at the NIKE Indoor Classic. Sanders is the daughter of Wayne and Diane Sanders.

These six outstanding athletes will be joined by Ashleigh Keats (Salina, Kan./Salina Central) and Jennifer Glodowski (Schuyler, Neb./Schuyler Central), who signed during the early signing period in November.