CLARKSVILLE
- Austin Peay State University women's track and field team has signed three
athletes for the 2012-13 season; Keana Gray, of Jacksonville, Fla., Breigh
Jones, of Memphis, and Tiffany Toler, of Winchester, Ky.
"This is a
good start to our 2012 class," head coach Doug Molnar said. "The Ohio Valley
Conference keeps getting better each year and recruiting always will be key to
our success. This is a good start toward that success."
In the three
athletes, Molnar has addressed three parts of the equation. Gray is a sprinter,
Jones is a middle-distance runner while
Toler is a distance/cross-country specialist. The Lady Govs are expected to return
a large portion of the 2012 team for next season, but are looking to add depth
across the board.
Gray prepped
at William M. Raines High School, where she ran the 100-, 200- and 400-meters,
and was a 2011 Florida High School Athletic Association District 4 200- and
400-meter champion, while also claiming the 400-meter Region 1 title. She also
has experience in the relays, winning the FHSAA State Championship in the 4x100
and 4x400 in 2009. Most recently, Gray participated in the AAU Junior Outdoor
National Championships, where she set a personal-best 12.27 100-meter mark.
"Keana is an
outstanding sprinter and will have an immediate impact in the Ohio Valley
Conference," Molnar said. "She has all the tools to run anything from the 100
to the 400-meters and be very successful."
Jones,
meanwhile, is a 400-meter specialist hailing from Memphis Central High School. Another
talented sprinter, Jones looks to have the ability to stretch out for longer
distances while also providing depth in 200-meter dash. Through her prep
career, she has a 28.13 200-meter personal best along with a 56.94 personal
best in the 400-meters. In fact, she her 400-meter best came in the prelims at
the 2011 TSSAA State Championships prior to a fourth-place finish in the
finals.
"Breigh is a
very talented long sprinter and middle distance runner out of Memphis," Molnar
said. "We're sure she'll be able to contribute in the 400- and 800-meters in
the OVC. She has great speed for the 400m and the strength to run an
outstanding 800-meter race.
Toler is a
four-time Kentucky High School Athletic Association cross-country state qualifier
from George Rogers Clark High School. Perhaps the most versatile of the three,
she has participated in almost every long-distance event available, running the
1600-meters, the 3000-meters, the 5000-meters and the mile run. Toler has been
named Academic All-State four times in cross-country, and twice for track and field.
For the Lady Govs, she is expected to add a lift on the cross country side
while also increasing depth on the track.
"Tiffany is
a solid distance prospect from Kentucky," Molnar said. "She's going to be one
to watch next year in cross-country. We're confident that she can help the Lady
Govs immediately. She's a tough-minded runner who's run a lot of difficult
course which should lend itself to collegiate cross-country."
-AP-