http://www.lionsports.net/index.php?pid ... le&id=3238
HAMMOND - Southeastern Louisiana University track and field coach Sean Brady announced the signing of 15 athletes - including the nephew of former head coach and current Southeastern Hall of Fame member Andy Thiel - for the 2007-08 campaign.
Southeastern, which posted its best-ever finish at the Southland Conference Outdoor Championships this spring with a third-place showing, added nine men and six women to the 2007-08 roster.
Signing on the men's side were sprinters Jacob Hadley (Metairie, La.), Jordan Redd (Opelousas, La.), Jerel Butler (New Orleans, La.), Shannon Grover (Reserve, La.) and Alex Collins (Rosenberg, Texas), pole vaulters Matthew Thiel (Covington, La.) and Stephen Durel (Baton Rouge, La.), triple jumper Michael Rheams (Walker, La.) and junior college thrower Kyle Francis (British Virgin Islands).
Inking with the Lady Lions were sprinters Jelessa Jett (New Orleans, La.), Josalynn Burns (Geismar, La.) and Darielle Sanders (LaPlace, La.), and distance runners Everlyne Montonyei (Eldoret, Kenya) and Dorcus Kipkiai (Eldoret, Kenya). The Lady Lions also added distance runner Ernestine Carodine (Philadelphia, Pa.), who transferred from Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
"This recruiting class projects to be a very strong group for us," Brady said. "The addition of some mature junior college and quality high school athletes should really help strengthen our men's and women's sprint hurdle and women's distance groups.
"Additionally, this group is probably the best group of students we have recruited. Their overall GPA's and test scores are quite impressive. I believe the men we have added will put us in contention for the Southland Conference outdoor title in 2008 and the distance runners we added on the women's side should move us up numerous spots in cross country.
Thiel, a St. Paul's standout and son of former Lion trackster Terry Thiel, cleared a personal-best 14-6 last spring and was an All-Academic, All-Metro and All-District selection. Durel, who finished third in the pole vault at the state indoor and outdoor meets, was a two-time district champion and was the 2007 regional champion at Catholic High School.