Loretto, PA - The Saint Francis women's track & field and cross country programs will add a nine-member recruiting class for the 2012-13 season, it was announced Monday. Of the new commitments, five are Keystone State products while the rest hail from New York (2), New Jersey (1) and Maryland (1).
“We're very excited about this signing class,” said assistant coach Tamara Burns, who has been overseeing the program's day-to-day operations since April. “The size and talent level of our class will allow us to add depth in several events and, with the leadership of the upperclassman, we know these women will make an immediate impact.”
Mykael Dixon (Baltimore, MD/Milford Mills)
Dixon finished as the runner-up in the 55-meter dash at the Maryland State Indoor Championships. At the New Balance Indoor National Championships, she finished fourth in the 200-meter dash with the second-fastest time in Maryland (25.09). Dixon is currently ranked in the top 10 in Maryland in both the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes, posting times of 12.12 and 25.09.
Jordan Collins (Bayport, NY/Bluepoint)
Collins is currently ranked as the number-one discus thrower in the state of New York. Also excelling in shot put, Collins currently has the ninth best throw in the state with 39 feet, 10 inches. The Bayport, N.Y. native placed fourth at the indoor state meet in the shot with a throw of 40 feet, eight inches. Her personal records include a shot-put throw of 40 feet, eight inches, a discus throw of 136 feet, seven inches, and a weight throw of 42 feet, one inch.
Gifty Amankwah (Newark, NJ/Newark Tech)
Amankwah joins the Red Flash after a successful high school career as a hurdler. Recently, she won the 100-meter hurdles at the New Jersey State Championships. She was a finalist at the indoor championships in the 55-meter hurdles and the 55-meter dash. Her personal records include a time of 8.24 in the 55-meter hurdle, a time of 12.49 in the 100-meter dash, and a time of 25.77 in the 200-meter dash.
Alexis Barrau (Bay Shore, NY/Bay Shore)
Barrau arrives at Saint Francis as an experienced jumper. She placed eighth in the triple jump at the New Balance Outdoor National Championships. A native of Bay Shore, NY, Barrau has personal records of 17 feet, 10 inches, in the long jump, and 38 feet, one inch, in the triple jump.
Ivona Mikulic (Camp Hill, PA/Camp Hill)
Mikulic joins the Red Flash as a thrower after a decorated high school career in which she was a three-time letter winner in basketball and a four-time letter winner in track & field. The Camp Hill, Pa., native was a two-year captain and named the 2012 District 3 champion in shot put. Her personal records include a shot-put throw of 37 feet, five inches, and a discus throw of 108 feet, four inches. She graduated from high school with distinguished honors.
Leah Skedel (East Wheatfield, PA/United)
Skedel joins the Red Flash program after a successful high school career at United. As a javelin thrower, she placed second at two District 6 meets and 11th at a PIAA meet. The East Wheatfield, Pa., native also holds Heritage Conference and Indiana County titles. Recently, she broke the school record, which she previously held, with a javelin thrown of 128 feet.
Jasmine Campbell (Beaver Falls, PA/Beaver Falls)
Campbell comes to Saint Francis as a successful jumper. She was a past qualifier for the Pennsylvania State Championship. She will look to make her mark in the conference in the long and triple jumps. Her personal records are 17 feet, eight inches, in the long jump, and 36 feet, 9 inches, in the triple jump.
Katee Gresko (Clymer, PA/Penns Manor)
Gresko joins the Red Flash as a distance runner for 2012. She attended Penns Manor high school in Clymer, Pa., where she specialized in running the 5000 meters. Gresko competed in various tournaments during her senior season, including the Forest Hills Invitational, the PIAA District 6 Championships and the PIAA State Cross Country Championships.
Megan Gould (Sidman, PA/Forest Hills)
Gould joins the Red Flash as a sprinter for the 2012 season. During her career at Forest Hills Gould competed in soccer, basketball, softball and track. She was named the school's MVP sprinter last season for a girl's track and field squad that won the Laurel Highlands Conference championship and the District 6 AA title. As a team captain in 2011, she tied the school record of 12.6 for the 100-meter dash.