New Lee University cross country coach Don Jayroe has wasted no time in rounding up local runners to help form his first squad. Walker Valley's Kristin Cretton has become his first official signee.
"It is great to be able to sign homegrown talent," said coach Jayroe. "This is the type of athlete you want to sign. It helps give us something to build on. With the type of ladies we are signing and with those we have returning, I feel like we are capable of competing against the best in the conference next fall."
The daughter of former Lee Viking basketball standout Paul Cretton, Kristin played soccer and ran track and cross country for Walker Valley. She was a two-time cross country all-region athlete and was a member of the 4X8 state championship relay team in the 10th grade and was named to the all-region team.
A four-year honor roll student and selected to the National Honor Society at Walker Valley, she has been a member of the Circle of Champions for four years and also a four-year member of the Beta Club.
"I want to maintain my academic excellence at Lee," said the new signee. "Individually, I want to make it to the national meet and also help my team qualify. I want to be a productive member of the team for four years."
Kristin said she has always wanted to go to college at Lee and running cross country and having excellent grade makes that possible. "It is a Christian school, close to home, and both my parents (Paul and Sandra) attended Lee."