Photo by: Tab Brockman
Track & Field Adds 11 to 2012-13 Roster
2/9/2012 2:30:00 PM | Women's Track and Field
Murray State women's track & field head coach Jenny Severns has announced the addition of 11 student-athletes to the 2012-13 roster.
“I am really excited about this recruiting class,” commented Severns. “People are really starting to see what Murray State Cross Country and Track & Field is all about and it is paying off in recruiting. The team has worked hard and made such great improvements in the past year and that has allowed us to sign some great recruits. I am really proud of everyone.”
2012-13 Signees
Abigail Ashbee-Simmonds, Fr., Middle Distance, East Grinstead, England
Kiara Austin, Fr., Sprints/Jumps, Fort Knox, Ky.
Kennedy Berkley, Fr., Sprints/Jumps, Alexandria, Ky.
Emma Gilmore, Fr., Middle Distance, Southampton, England
Alicyn Hester, Fr., Distance, Yorkville, Ill.
Leah Krause, Fr., Distance, St. Charles, Mo.
Tiffany Mayfield, Fr., Sprints, Fort Worth, Texas
Lauren Miller, Fr., Sprints/Jumps, Benton, Ky.
Nicole Payne, Fr., Sprints, Princeton, Ky.
Jolyta Taylor, Fr., Sprints/Jumps, Dyersburg, Tenn.
Jacquelyn Thate, Fr., Distance, Downers Grove, Ill.
Abigail Ashbee-Simmonds, Fr., Middle Distance, East Grinstead, England
A seven-year member of the Crawley cross country and track & field teams…placed first in the Sussex Schools' Cross Country Championships in 2012 and 2011…finished the 2012 race in a time of 17:48….finished the Waterford Open 1,500 in a career-best time of 4:38.76…has a personal-best in the 800 of 2:17.55 in 2011…in her lone participation in a 3,000 in 2011 she ran 10:20.58 in the Brighton Open.
“I am really happy Abigail decided to be a Racer, she is an excellent cross country runner and has great mile speed,” Severns said. “She is also one of the happiest people I have ever recruited. It is going to be fun to watch her progress.”
Kiara Austin, Fr., Sprints/Jumps, Fort Knox, Ky.
A four-year member of the Fort Knox high school track & field team…has career-bests of 15.6 in the 100 hurdles, 11.32m (37'2”) in the triple jump and 5.08m (16'8”) in the long jump.
“Kiara is one of the top triple jumpers in the state, which is an area we need more depth,” said Severns. “She will also contribute in the hurdles.”
Kennedy Berkley, Fr., Sprints/Jumps, Alexandria, Ky.
A four-year member of the Campbell County track & field team…helped the Camels earn a Kentucky 3A state title in 2010, a runner-up finish in 2009 and a fourth-place finish in 2011…claimed three-straight NKAC Conference and Regional Championships…was a state-qualifier in the 100 hurdles and triple jump qualifier for the past three seasons…took fifth in the 100 hurdles and eighth in the triple jump at the state competition…also a standout on the volleyball and basketball teams…earned First Team All-State honors in volleyball as a senior and district and regional basketball all-tournament team honors for basketball…was a 2011 Northern Kentucky Sportswoman of the Year finalist.
“Kennedy does a little bit of everything, she is an athlete,” Severns said. “She will contribute in the jumps and hurdles on the track. We are really glad she decided to stay in Kentucky.”
Emma Gilmore, Fr., Middle Distance, Southampton, England
An eight-year participant for City of Portsmouth cross country and track & field teams…finished sixth at the AVIVA World Trials and UK Championships in 2011 with a time of 2:11.82 in the 800…also finished second in 2011 at the Hampshire Country meet and ninth at the English Schools meet in the 800 with a time of 2:12.82…was 14th overall and 2011 English Schools Cross Country meet and helped her team to the team gold…has personal-best times of 58.6 in the 400, 2:11.46 in the 800 and 4:43.12 in the 1,500.
“Emma brings in great speed and amazing range,” commented Severns. “She is a top cross country runner and also very successful in the 800 on the track. She will help take our cross country and middle distance groups to the next level.”
Alicyn Hester, Fr., Distance, Yorkville, Ill.
A four-year member of the Yorkville High School cross country and track & field team…led the team to an Illinois Cross Country 2A Championship in 2011 and they were runners-up in 2009 and 2010…finished in the top-10 individually in the cross country state meet in 2009 (5th ), 2010 (10th) and 2011 (6th)…earned the 4x800 relay title in 2009 and 2011…was a state qualifier her first three seasons with the Foxes in the 1600, 4x400 and 4x800 relays…earned state titles in2009 and 2011 in the 4x800….has personal-best times of 16:54.30 in the three-mile cross country race and 5:10.24 in the outdoor 1,600.
“Alicyn is a great runner and athlete who led her team to a state cross country title last fall,” said Severns. “She has a great attitude and knows what it takes to be successful. She is what every coach looks for when recruiting.”
Leah Krause, Fr., Distance, St. Charles, Mo.
A four-year member of the Francis Howell High School cross country and track & field teams…earned All-Metro Cross Country Second Team honors in 2010 and 2011…claimed the 2011 GAC South Cross Country Championship…the Vikings earned a third-place finish in cross country at the state meet in 2011…has career-best times in cross country of 18:59 and 5:16.46 in the mile.
“We are so happy that Leah decided to sign with Murray State,” Severns added. “You can tell that she genuinely loves to run and be a part of a team and that is what we are looking for. She is going to be a tremendous asset to our cross country team and middle distance group on the track.”
Tiffany Mayfield, Fr., Sprints, Fort Worth, Texas
A three-year member of the North Crowley High School track & field team…team earned the district title in2010 and were runners-up in 2009...has personal-best times of 24.98 in the 200 and 11.89 in the 100…also played volleyball as a prep…named to the all-district first team for volleyball.
“Tiffany is a great short sprinter, we are hoping after training with Alexis for a year she can pick up where Alexis leaves off,” commented Severns.
Lauren Miller, Fr., Sprints/Jumps, Benton, Ky.
A four-year member of the Marshall County High School track & field team…helped the Marshals to two-straight 1st Region AAA title, while individually claiming the 100 and 300 hurdles regional titles…set the Marshall County record for the 300 hurdles in 47.35…went to the Kentucky State meet for three seasons in the 300 hurdles and in the triple jump as a junior…finished in the top-10 in the state meet all three years 8th in 2009, 6th in 2010 and 8th in 2011….also played four years of varsity soccer…earned three district titles and two regional championships in soccer.
“We are glad Lauren decided to keep her talents close to home and will add depth to our hurdle/jumps group,” said Severns. “One of our goals is to attract the good local kids and Lauren is definitely someone we really wanted.”
Nicole Payne, Fr., Sprints, Princeton, Ky.
A three-year member of the Caldwell County High School track & field team…placed first in the regionals in the 400 in 2011 and second in 2010..wasalso a member of the soccer team as a prep...earned all-district and all-region honors for soccer.
“Nicole is someone we hope to develop from the 400 all the way to cross country,” added Severns. “She has great raw talent and will be a great addition to the team.”
Jolyta Taylor, Fr., Sprints/Jumps, Dyersburg, Tenn.
A four-year member of the Dyersburg High School track & field team…advanced to the Tennessee State meet in 2011 in the 4x400 relay, 400, long jump and triple jump…placed second in the long jump and third in the triple jump at the state competition…named 2011 Region 3 Female Athlete of theYear…took sixth in the long jump at the 2010 state meet after earning the sectional title…also a standout on the soccer and basketball teams as a prep…earned all-region and all-state honors in soccer and all-district honors in the basketball court.
“Jolyta will be a much needed addition to our 400 group and will add depth to our jumps group,” added Severns. “We are very excited to see what she can do.”
Jacquelyn Thate, Fr., Distance, Downers Grove, Ill.
Was a three-year member of the Downers Grove South cross country team and a one-year member of the track & field team...helped the team earn three-straight conference cross country championships and place second at regionals, first in sectionals and 12th in the Illinois State meet in2011…has a personal-best time of 18:07.02 in the 3-mile cross country race…in her lone year of track & field competition she has career-best times of 5:16.64 in the 1,600 and 11:22.40 in the 3,200.
“Jacquelyn is a born leader, she thinks through her running very rationally which is huge,” Severns commented. “She understands what it takes to be good and is willing to do that. Her talent as a distance runner and the way she approaches running will make an immediate impact on the cross country and track teams.”
“I am really excited about this recruiting class,” commented Severns. “People are really starting to see what Murray State Cross Country and Track & Field is all about and it is paying off in recruiting. The team has worked hard and made such great improvements in the past year and that has allowed us to sign some great recruits. I am really proud of everyone.”
2012-13 Signees
Abigail Ashbee-Simmonds, Fr., Middle Distance, East Grinstead, England
Kiara Austin, Fr., Sprints/Jumps, Fort Knox, Ky.
Kennedy Berkley, Fr., Sprints/Jumps, Alexandria, Ky.
Emma Gilmore, Fr., Middle Distance, Southampton, England
Alicyn Hester, Fr., Distance, Yorkville, Ill.
Leah Krause, Fr., Distance, St. Charles, Mo.
Tiffany Mayfield, Fr., Sprints, Fort Worth, Texas
Lauren Miller, Fr., Sprints/Jumps, Benton, Ky.
Nicole Payne, Fr., Sprints, Princeton, Ky.
Jolyta Taylor, Fr., Sprints/Jumps, Dyersburg, Tenn.
Jacquelyn Thate, Fr., Distance, Downers Grove, Ill.
Abigail Ashbee-Simmonds, Fr., Middle Distance, East Grinstead, England
A seven-year member of the Crawley cross country and track & field teams…placed first in the Sussex Schools' Cross Country Championships in 2012 and 2011…finished the 2012 race in a time of 17:48….finished the Waterford Open 1,500 in a career-best time of 4:38.76…has a personal-best in the 800 of 2:17.55 in 2011…in her lone participation in a 3,000 in 2011 she ran 10:20.58 in the Brighton Open.
“I am really happy Abigail decided to be a Racer, she is an excellent cross country runner and has great mile speed,” Severns said. “She is also one of the happiest people I have ever recruited. It is going to be fun to watch her progress.”
Kiara Austin, Fr., Sprints/Jumps, Fort Knox, Ky.
A four-year member of the Fort Knox high school track & field team…has career-bests of 15.6 in the 100 hurdles, 11.32m (37'2”) in the triple jump and 5.08m (16'8”) in the long jump.
“Kiara is one of the top triple jumpers in the state, which is an area we need more depth,” said Severns. “She will also contribute in the hurdles.”
Kennedy Berkley, Fr., Sprints/Jumps, Alexandria, Ky.
A four-year member of the Campbell County track & field team…helped the Camels earn a Kentucky 3A state title in 2010, a runner-up finish in 2009 and a fourth-place finish in 2011…claimed three-straight NKAC Conference and Regional Championships…was a state-qualifier in the 100 hurdles and triple jump qualifier for the past three seasons…took fifth in the 100 hurdles and eighth in the triple jump at the state competition…also a standout on the volleyball and basketball teams…earned First Team All-State honors in volleyball as a senior and district and regional basketball all-tournament team honors for basketball…was a 2011 Northern Kentucky Sportswoman of the Year finalist.
“Kennedy does a little bit of everything, she is an athlete,” Severns said. “She will contribute in the jumps and hurdles on the track. We are really glad she decided to stay in Kentucky.”
Emma Gilmore, Fr., Middle Distance, Southampton, England
An eight-year participant for City of Portsmouth cross country and track & field teams…finished sixth at the AVIVA World Trials and UK Championships in 2011 with a time of 2:11.82 in the 800…also finished second in 2011 at the Hampshire Country meet and ninth at the English Schools meet in the 800 with a time of 2:12.82…was 14th overall and 2011 English Schools Cross Country meet and helped her team to the team gold…has personal-best times of 58.6 in the 400, 2:11.46 in the 800 and 4:43.12 in the 1,500.
“Emma brings in great speed and amazing range,” commented Severns. “She is a top cross country runner and also very successful in the 800 on the track. She will help take our cross country and middle distance groups to the next level.”
Alicyn Hester, Fr., Distance, Yorkville, Ill.
A four-year member of the Yorkville High School cross country and track & field team…led the team to an Illinois Cross Country 2A Championship in 2011 and they were runners-up in 2009 and 2010…finished in the top-10 individually in the cross country state meet in 2009 (5th ), 2010 (10th) and 2011 (6th)…earned the 4x800 relay title in 2009 and 2011…was a state qualifier her first three seasons with the Foxes in the 1600, 4x400 and 4x800 relays…earned state titles in2009 and 2011 in the 4x800….has personal-best times of 16:54.30 in the three-mile cross country race and 5:10.24 in the outdoor 1,600.
“Alicyn is a great runner and athlete who led her team to a state cross country title last fall,” said Severns. “She has a great attitude and knows what it takes to be successful. She is what every coach looks for when recruiting.”
Leah Krause, Fr., Distance, St. Charles, Mo.
A four-year member of the Francis Howell High School cross country and track & field teams…earned All-Metro Cross Country Second Team honors in 2010 and 2011…claimed the 2011 GAC South Cross Country Championship…the Vikings earned a third-place finish in cross country at the state meet in 2011…has career-best times in cross country of 18:59 and 5:16.46 in the mile.
“We are so happy that Leah decided to sign with Murray State,” Severns added. “You can tell that she genuinely loves to run and be a part of a team and that is what we are looking for. She is going to be a tremendous asset to our cross country team and middle distance group on the track.”
Tiffany Mayfield, Fr., Sprints, Fort Worth, Texas
A three-year member of the North Crowley High School track & field team…team earned the district title in2010 and were runners-up in 2009...has personal-best times of 24.98 in the 200 and 11.89 in the 100…also played volleyball as a prep…named to the all-district first team for volleyball.
“Tiffany is a great short sprinter, we are hoping after training with Alexis for a year she can pick up where Alexis leaves off,” commented Severns.
Lauren Miller, Fr., Sprints/Jumps, Benton, Ky.
A four-year member of the Marshall County High School track & field team…helped the Marshals to two-straight 1st Region AAA title, while individually claiming the 100 and 300 hurdles regional titles…set the Marshall County record for the 300 hurdles in 47.35…went to the Kentucky State meet for three seasons in the 300 hurdles and in the triple jump as a junior…finished in the top-10 in the state meet all three years 8th in 2009, 6th in 2010 and 8th in 2011….also played four years of varsity soccer…earned three district titles and two regional championships in soccer.
“We are glad Lauren decided to keep her talents close to home and will add depth to our hurdle/jumps group,” said Severns. “One of our goals is to attract the good local kids and Lauren is definitely someone we really wanted.”
Nicole Payne, Fr., Sprints, Princeton, Ky.
A three-year member of the Caldwell County High School track & field team…placed first in the regionals in the 400 in 2011 and second in 2010..wasalso a member of the soccer team as a prep...earned all-district and all-region honors for soccer.
“Nicole is someone we hope to develop from the 400 all the way to cross country,” added Severns. “She has great raw talent and will be a great addition to the team.”
Jolyta Taylor, Fr., Sprints/Jumps, Dyersburg, Tenn.
A four-year member of the Dyersburg High School track & field team…advanced to the Tennessee State meet in 2011 in the 4x400 relay, 400, long jump and triple jump…placed second in the long jump and third in the triple jump at the state competition…named 2011 Region 3 Female Athlete of theYear…took sixth in the long jump at the 2010 state meet after earning the sectional title…also a standout on the soccer and basketball teams as a prep…earned all-region and all-state honors in soccer and all-district honors in the basketball court.
“Jolyta will be a much needed addition to our 400 group and will add depth to our jumps group,” added Severns. “We are very excited to see what she can do.”
Jacquelyn Thate, Fr., Distance, Downers Grove, Ill.
Was a three-year member of the Downers Grove South cross country team and a one-year member of the track & field team...helped the team earn three-straight conference cross country championships and place second at regionals, first in sectionals and 12th in the Illinois State meet in2011…has a personal-best time of 18:07.02 in the 3-mile cross country race…in her lone year of track & field competition she has career-best times of 5:16.64 in the 1,600 and 11:22.40 in the 3,200.
“Jacquelyn is a born leader, she thinks through her running very rationally which is huge,” Severns commented. “She understands what it takes to be good and is willing to do that. Her talent as a distance runner and the way she approaches running will make an immediate impact on the cross country and track teams.”
