St. Benedict at Auburndale (SBA) Track & Field team announced two female signees

St. Benedict at Auburndale (SBA) Track & Field team announced two female distance athletes committing to run Track for Tennessee schools.  Elizabeth Altizer will run at UT Knoxville and Emily LaForce will run at Bethel College.

Elizabeth Altizer signed to run Track and Cross Country at UT Knoxville.  Elizabeth has been a member of the St. Benedict Track & Field team for four years starting with hurdles and horizontal jumps during her freshman year and eventually becoming a superior middle distance runner.  She currently holds the SBA school records in the 1600M (5:08), 800M (2:18), 1500M (4:56), 4x400m (4:09), and was a key member of the 4x800 relay team member that has the second fastest time in the state this year (9:34).  In her Senior year with the Track team, she earned Captain status and lead the Girls Team to various wins throughout the season, most notably a first place finish at the CBHS Invitational and was instrumental in helping her teammates retain the Division 2 West Region Champions Title for a second year in a row.   In addition, the SBA Track team closed out Elizabeth’s season with an award in her honor – the “All Heart” award.  This award will be given next year to an athlete that exemplifies good sportsmanship and support for their teammates.  SBA Head Coach and long time Distance coach for the team, Dianna Cervetti, says Elizabeth “will be deeply missed, as a performer and a person.  UT will not only be gaining a strong and dedicated athlete, but also a person of high integrity and someone who will help the team for many years – just as she helped the SBA Track & Field team”.   Along with this year’s MVP award, Elizabeth received the SBA Athlete of the Year, Most Athletic, and the Right Choice award at St. Benedict.

Elizabeth Altizer Photo – (front from left) Mother Lisa Altizer, sister Katie, Elizabeth Altizer and father Phil Altizer; (back from left) SBA Cross Country Coach Lynn Jennings, SBA Track Coach Dianna Cervetti and SBA Principal George Valadie

Another SBA Track athlete, Emily LaForce, committed to run Track and Cross Country at Bethel College in McKenzie.  Emily came to the SBA Track team during her senior year after several years playing other spring sports.  Emily quickly became a valuable member of the Track team, with strong performances in the 800 (2:26) and 400 (1:02.64).  Those performances and her finishing kick put her on top for Rookie of the Year honors, and in the position of anchor for both the 4x800 and 4 x 400 relay teams – a task that Emily quickly embraced and excelled.  When Emily opted to run Track over other spring sports this year, Head Coach Dianna Cervetti commented:  “I know she’s talented and I know she’ll be a great performer, and I’m excited to see how well she does in the 400 and 800, unfortunately, we only have one year to see the benefits she brings to the team”.  It became quickly obvious that Emily had a passion for Track and was able to prove herself in both the 400 and 800 events.  It was Emily’s desire and strength that propelled her relay team into second place in the 1600M Relay at this year’s Region Championships and gained an automatic qualifier for State and enough points to secure the Div 2 West Region title for the second year in a row.  With Emily on the Track team for only one year, it remains to be seen what potential performances she will have when she competes at the College level.