Youth Movement for the Women’s CC Team

The Women’s Cross Country Team is about to begin its first year in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.  Last year Greenville College out of Greenville, IL earned first place honors.  This year Spalding looks to make a statement right away and Coach Alessandro believes he brought in the right group of freshman to do so. 

Kerry Campbell from Lloyd Memorial High School ran in her first season of high school cross country last fall.  Her program finished 2nd in the AA state meet last fall.  Kerry comes in with the fastest personal best of the female class as she has run 22:00 for the 5000m race.  “She is a strong runner,” Coach Alessandro comments. “Kerry will make strides with her development as she experiences more with the sport.  We will set aggressive goals for her as she has a lot of potential at the collegiate level.”

Coach Alessandro has added two more runners, Mirena Cissel and Sarah Hodge.   Mirena comes from Heath High School and is fairly new to the sport of cross country.  Alessandro notes, “she is extremely dedicated to the sport and we look forward to seeing how she responds to the increase of mileage the sport will bring her.”  Mirena comes in with a personal best of 23:00 for the 5000 meter run and it is anticipated that she will really turn some heads this fall when she truly develops as an athlete. 

Sarah Hodge attended Mercy High School.   She arrives with a personal best of 23:43 in the 5000 meter run.  “Sarah is an athlete that will do whatever is asked of her and with the right training program the sky is the limit”, Alessandro comments. “  She will provide a much needed stability for team that is extremely young.”

Liz Schooler and Nekayia Wade are the remaining two recruits Coach Alessandro is bringing in for the 2009 season.    Liz hails from Seymour High School and will be a dual sport athlete for the Golden Eagles,  competing in cross country and softball.  She has been competing in the sport of running since high school and her experience and competitive nature will propel her to run faster than she ever has before.  Coach Alessandro states, “Liz has a tremendous attitude and will be making an immediate impact on the Spalding Cross Country team for years to come.”  Nekayia Wade is the most recent addition to the program coming from Western High School.  She is a tremendous runner and will be a integral part to an already impressive group.