CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga signed four distance runners for the 2007-08 season Head Coach Bill Gautier announced. Meredith White of Grayson High School in Grayson, Ga., Matt Baltimore of Bradley Central High School in Cleveland, Tenn., Chris Berry of Blackman High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., and Stuart Chandler of Knoxville West High School in Knoxville, Tenn., signed letters-of-intent last week.
White, a two-time all-state performer in cross country and track and a three-time All-Gwinnett County performer in cross country, drew the attention of the Chattanooga track program in her junior season. She won the 1600 meters at the region level then placed second in the event at the Georgia State track meet. She was named All-Gwinnett County in both her junior and senior years and is the Gwinnett County champion in the 3200 meters. A Gwinnett County Runner of the Week, she holds the school record in the 1600 and is a member of the school record holding 4x800 meters relay team.
“I enjoyed the recruiting process with Meredith,” Gautier said. “Her work ethic and strong personality make her a good fit for this program.”
White joins Kristen Holloway (GPS), Lauren Anderson (Greeneville HS), Tara Gietema (Germantown) and Monika Groppe (Morristown West) who all signed NLI’s last fall in the early signing period. She is the daughter of Natalie and Rusty Mitchell of Grayson, Ga., and Andrew and Deena White of Knoxville.
Meredith White
Personal Bests: 1600 – 5:12; 3200 – 11:14; 5000 meters; Cross Country – 19:21
For two years, Gautier was unable to recruit for runners for his men’s track program when the athletic department elected to eliminate it. Fans rallied around the program and managed to save it, but the damage was done. Even with the reinstatement of the program, there was not a lot of interest among prospective student-athletes to take a chance. This year, however, the Mocs have proved they are here to stay and Gautier has signed a trio of runners who, he hopes, can put the program back on top of the Southern Conference. All three runners are top academic students as well as some of the top runners in the state of Tennessee. They all fit the mold of student first and runner second.
“Basically, its like starting all over,” Gautier said. “We’ve had to work hard to show that this program is back and now we have three guys who, we feel, fit our program.”
Chandler finished 24th in the Foot Locker South Nationals and was the number two Tennessee runner. He is a two-time all-state cross country runner and was the region runner-up as a junior. He is a three-time all-region runner and was named All-Metro in his junior and senior seasons. He was the Metro champ in 2005 and in February this year, Chandler finished fourth in the two mile at the UK Invitational. He is a member of the National Honors Society and the son of Jack and Elaine Chandler.
“We’re looking forward to having Stuart here in Chattanooga,” Gautier said. “He comes from one of the top programs in the state and his coach Sam Roberts, has consistently produced some of the best runners in Tennessee.”
Stuart Chandler
Personal Bests: 800 – 2:01; 1600 – 4:28; 3200 – 9:36; 5000 meters; Cross Country – 15:35
Berry brings character as well as hard work and talent to the Mocs program. After going undefeated last fall in cross country and winning the region championship, he broke his foot. Despite the injury, Berry was determined to run in the state meet.
This spring, he placed second in the 3200 meters at the prestigious Mobile Challenge and was third in the two-mile at the UK Invitational in February. He is a two-time all-state performer in cross country and was named all-state in the 3200 in both his sophomore and junior seasons. Berry was named the MVP of Rutherford County and was named All-Area Cross Country Runner of the Year. He was named all-region for three years in cross country and earned that honor in track in his sophomore and junior years. He is the son of Michael Berry and Elaine Clifton.
“Chris has the potential to be the next great runner at UTC,” Gautier said. “He exemplifies leadership and dedication and we look for him to bring that to our program.”
Chris Berry
Personal Bests: 1600 – 4:23; 3200 – 9:21; 5000 meters; Cross Country – 15:28
Baltimore is a local standout athlete who is a three-time Chattanooga Times Free Press Best of Preps athlete. In cross country, he earned all-state honors last fall and is a three-time all-region runner. He claimed the title at both the 2005 and 2006 Region championships and was runner-up in 2004. In track, Baltimore placed third in the 1600 meters and was named all-region.
He is ranked among the top 10 percent of his class academically. He is the son of Curt and Beth Baltimore.
“We’re happy that Matt chose to stay in the area,” Gautier said. “He has a lot of potential and comes from a strong program with a lot of good runners.”
Matt Baltimore
Personal Bests: 1500 – 4:06; 1600 – 4:30; 2000 meter Steeple Chase – 6:13; 5000 meters; Cross Country – 16:15
"All three of these guys know each other and they are excited to be coming here together," Gautier said.
White, a two-time all-state performer in cross country and track and a three-time All-Gwinnett County performer in cross country, drew the attention of the Chattanooga track program in her junior season. She won the 1600 meters at the region level then placed second in the event at the Georgia State track meet. She was named All-Gwinnett County in both her junior and senior years and is the Gwinnett County champion in the 3200 meters. A Gwinnett County Runner of the Week, she holds the school record in the 1600 and is a member of the school record holding 4x800 meters relay team.
“I enjoyed the recruiting process with Meredith,” Gautier said. “Her work ethic and strong personality make her a good fit for this program.”
White joins Kristen Holloway (GPS), Lauren Anderson (Greeneville HS), Tara Gietema (Germantown) and Monika Groppe (Morristown West) who all signed NLI’s last fall in the early signing period. She is the daughter of Natalie and Rusty Mitchell of Grayson, Ga., and Andrew and Deena White of Knoxville.
Meredith White
Personal Bests: 1600 – 5:12; 3200 – 11:14; 5000 meters; Cross Country – 19:21
For two years, Gautier was unable to recruit for runners for his men’s track program when the athletic department elected to eliminate it. Fans rallied around the program and managed to save it, but the damage was done. Even with the reinstatement of the program, there was not a lot of interest among prospective student-athletes to take a chance. This year, however, the Mocs have proved they are here to stay and Gautier has signed a trio of runners who, he hopes, can put the program back on top of the Southern Conference. All three runners are top academic students as well as some of the top runners in the state of Tennessee. They all fit the mold of student first and runner second.
“Basically, its like starting all over,” Gautier said. “We’ve had to work hard to show that this program is back and now we have three guys who, we feel, fit our program.”
Chandler finished 24th in the Foot Locker South Nationals and was the number two Tennessee runner. He is a two-time all-state cross country runner and was the region runner-up as a junior. He is a three-time all-region runner and was named All-Metro in his junior and senior seasons. He was the Metro champ in 2005 and in February this year, Chandler finished fourth in the two mile at the UK Invitational. He is a member of the National Honors Society and the son of Jack and Elaine Chandler.
“We’re looking forward to having Stuart here in Chattanooga,” Gautier said. “He comes from one of the top programs in the state and his coach Sam Roberts, has consistently produced some of the best runners in Tennessee.”
Stuart Chandler
Personal Bests: 800 – 2:01; 1600 – 4:28; 3200 – 9:36; 5000 meters; Cross Country – 15:35
Berry brings character as well as hard work and talent to the Mocs program. After going undefeated last fall in cross country and winning the region championship, he broke his foot. Despite the injury, Berry was determined to run in the state meet.
This spring, he placed second in the 3200 meters at the prestigious Mobile Challenge and was third in the two-mile at the UK Invitational in February. He is a two-time all-state performer in cross country and was named all-state in the 3200 in both his sophomore and junior seasons. Berry was named the MVP of Rutherford County and was named All-Area Cross Country Runner of the Year. He was named all-region for three years in cross country and earned that honor in track in his sophomore and junior years. He is the son of Michael Berry and Elaine Clifton.
“Chris has the potential to be the next great runner at UTC,” Gautier said. “He exemplifies leadership and dedication and we look for him to bring that to our program.”
Chris Berry
Personal Bests: 1600 – 4:23; 3200 – 9:21; 5000 meters; Cross Country – 15:28
Baltimore is a local standout athlete who is a three-time Chattanooga Times Free Press Best of Preps athlete. In cross country, he earned all-state honors last fall and is a three-time all-region runner. He claimed the title at both the 2005 and 2006 Region championships and was runner-up in 2004. In track, Baltimore placed third in the 1600 meters and was named all-region.
He is ranked among the top 10 percent of his class academically. He is the son of Curt and Beth Baltimore.
“We’re happy that Matt chose to stay in the area,” Gautier said. “He has a lot of potential and comes from a strong program with a lot of good runners.”
Matt Baltimore
Personal Bests: 1500 – 4:06; 1600 – 4:30; 2000 meter Steeple Chase – 6:13; 5000 meters; Cross Country – 16:15
"All three of these guys know each other and they are excited to be coming here together," Gautier said.