CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. --- Chattanooga Head Coach Bill Gautier announced the signing of six outstanding additions to the men’s and women’s cross country and track teams for the 2009-10 season.
Heading up the class is Heather Stuive, one of Canada’s top distance runners. Stuive, from Eden High School in St. Catherine’s, Ontario, placed third in the Ontario Cross Country Championships last fall with a time of 18:02 in the 5000-kilometer. As a junior she was 12thoverall. She holds personal best times of 10:29 in the 3000-meter and 4:52 in the 1500-meter event.
Amanda Sumner, the Connecticut 1600- and 1000-meter state champion also signed this week with Gautier and the Running Mocs. She is an All-State and All-Conference performer in cross country and track and the Indoor state champion clocking a time of 5:07 in the 1600m and 2:59 in the 1000m. She posts personal best times of 2:20 in the 800m and 18:55 in the 5K.
“Heather and Amanda put together a great combination of distance and speed for this program,” Gautier said. “The both know how to excel at the top level.”
Joining them will be the BrentwoodHigh School distance duo of Mary Cumbee and Kathryn Stuart. The Brentwood,Tenn., natives are All-State and All-Region performers in track.
Rounding out the group of signees is Morgan Buchanan, a member of the Science Hill High School Tennessee State Championship team in Johnson City. Buchanan is an All-State and All-Region performer in cross country and helped lead her team to the state title last fall.
“We are excited about having Marry, Kathryn and Morgan join our program.” Gautier said. “These ladies come from a tradition of success and are well known athletically and academically in the state.”
These additions continue the tradition of excellence in the class room as well for the Mocs, who have maintained All American Academic Team status over the last 15 years. The signees bring an average GPA of 3.76 and a 27 ACT.
“They are not only great athletes, but exceptional in the classroom as well” Gautier said.
First to sign for the men’s team is ColliervilleHigh School’s distance standout, Kyle McLarty. McLarty is an AllState and All Region performer in Cross Country and Track, and holds personal bests of 4:26 in the 1600 meter, 9:28 in the 3200 meter, and 1:57 in the 800 meter. Gautier looks for McLarty to follow the last two Tennessee prep signees Chris Berry and Josh Vasquez as SoCon Freshman Runners of the Year.
“Kyle’s attitude and priorities fit right in with the team.He is driven academically and athletically to excel,” Gautier said.