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The William and Mary women’s track and field and cross country programs received a massive infusion of talent today, adding 23 athletes to the rosters for 2012-13. Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Stephen Walsh and his staff have poised the Tribe for a return to the top of the Colonial Athletic Association, with many of the new team members already able to score points and contend for titles at the conference meet.
“I am extremely excited with the addition of so many great athletes to our program,” said Walsh. “Our goal is to create a cohesive, well-rounded team that can challenge for conference titles in both track and cross country, and we feel that these recruits represent an enormous step in that direction. We are excited to have everyone reporting to campus this week, and are looking forward to working with them over the next four years.”
Following is a brief alphabetical look at the entire class:
Erica Amatori – Distance
Cary, N.C./Green Hope
Best Marks – 2:18 (800m), 5:04 (1600m), 11:00.55 (3200m)
Prep: Earned prep All-American honors indoors in the 4xMile in 2011 ... Part of Green Hope’s state championship 4x800m relay indoors in 2012 ... Totaled nine all-state honors in her career ... Eight came in the last two years, including four in the 4x800m relay, two in the 1600m, one indoors in the 3200m, and two in cross country ... Placed fourth in the North Carolina 4A cross country meet as a junior ... Seventh as a senior ... Helped lead Green Hope to three consecutive state and regional cross country team titles ... Won four-straight conference championships ... President of the local FBLA chapter ... Member of the National Honors Society.
Personal: Daughter of Tanya and Leonardo Amatori ... Originally from Ottawa ... Enjoys boating, playing soccer, playing her guitar, and singing ... Plans to major in marketing.
Meghan Blackstone – Distance
Bristow, Va./Paul VI
Best Marks – 5:08.65 (1600m), 11:20.21 (3200m)
Prep: Runner-up at the Virginia state private schools’ cross country championships ... Won the Virginia Catholic Schools’ indoor 3,200m championship ... Also second indoors at 1,600m ... Took third at the Catholic cross country meet ... Member of the National Honor Society.
Personal: Daughter of Cheryl and Joseph Blackstone ... Father ran track and cross country at the Naval Academy ... Enjoys swimming and art ... Plans to major in kinesiology.
Breanna Brukalo – Sprints/Hurdles
Staten Island, N.Y./Staten Island Tech
Best Marks – 1:01.64 (400m), 1:43.61 (600m), 1:04.64 (400m Hurdles)
Prep: Named honorable mention All-City by the New York Post as a senior ... Won six N.Y. PSAL Boro championships, including the pentathlon each of the last two years ... Four-time champion in the Staten Island H.S. meet, including the long jump and 50m hurdles in 2012 ... Bronze-medalist in the pentathlon and fourth in the 400m hurdles at the 2012 N.Y. PSAL all-city championship ... Named to the Staten Island Advance All-Star team in 2012 and 2010 ... Holds the school record in the 400m hurdles and the 4x400m relay ... Also a standout soccer player, being named the MVP of the NYC Mayors Cup All-Star team as a senior ... Member of the National Honor Society and the St. La Salle Honor Society ... Member of the Junior Statesmen of America.
Personal: Daughter of Roseann and John Brukalo ... Uncle, Jon Wasielewski, played football at St. Peter’s College ... Enjoys reading, surfing, and skateboarding ... Undecided as to her collegiate major.
Cierra Butler – Sprints/Jumps
Fredericksburg, Va./Stafford (Mt. Olive College)
Best Marks – 26.70 (200m), 59.10 (400m)
2011-12: Redshirted while transferring ... Ran the 400m unattached at the Colonial Relays.
2010-11 (at Mt. Olive): Helped lead Mt. Olive to the Conference Carolina team championship ... Ran on the championship 4x400m relay team ... Member of the Dean’s List.
Prep: All-district sprinter in both the 100m and 200m all four years of high school ... Twice qualified for the 100m state championships ... Also earned all-district honors at 400m twice ... Indoors, was named all-district three times in the 55m dash ... Member of the National Honor Society ... President of the senior class.
Personal: Daughter of Brenda and Kenneth Butler ... Twin sister, Kierra, is also a member of the Tribe ... Enjoys shopping and spending time with friends ... Majoring in international relations, and minoring in Chinese language and literature.
Kierra Butler – Sprints/Jumps
Fredericksburg, Va./Stafford (Mt. Olive College)
Best Marks – 59.29 (400m), 15.86 (110m Hurdles), 1:04.83 (400m Hurdles), 5.10m (Long Jump), 10.52m (Triple Jump)
2011-12: Redshirted while transferring ... Competed unattached in the 400m hurdles at the Colonial Relays ... Also competed unattached in the long jump, placing ninth in the unseeded section.
2010-11 (at Mt. Olive): Helped lead Mt. Olive to the Conference Carolina team championship ... Won the 400m hurdles at the conference meet ... Ran on the championship 4x400m relay team ... Member of the Dean’s List.
Prep: All-state in the 300m hurdles as a junior ... Qualified for the state meet in that event in 2008, 2009, and 2010 ... Also a state-qualifier in the 100m hurdles as a senior and indoors in the 55m hurdles as a junior ... Five-time district champion ... Won the 300m hurdles each of her last three years of high school ... Seven-time all-region honoree ... Named to the Free-Lance Star all-area team both indoors and outdoors in 2009 ... Member of the National Honor Society ... Secretary of the senior class.
Personal: Daughter of Brenda and Kenneth Butler ... Twin sister, Cierra, is also a member of the Tribe ... Enjoys shopping, listening to music, and spending time with friends and family ... Majoring in biology, with a pre-med emphasis.
Mary Kate Byrne – Distance
Millstone Township, N.J./Red Bank Catholic
Best Marks – 5:09.86 (1600m), 11:20.20 (3200m)
Prep: Helped lead Red Bank Catholic to back-to-back state cross country championships ... Was the state runner-up as a senior ... Holds the school outdoor record at 5,000m ... Board member of the local National Honor Society chapter.
Personal: Daughter of Deborah and Kevin Byrne ... Father ran track and cross country at Georgetown ... Brother, Kevin Jr., runs cross country and track at Notre Dame ... Enjoys reading and spending time with family and friends ... Undecided as to her collegiate major.
Micayla Costa – Distance
Jacksonville, Fla./The Bolles School
Best Marks – 12:18 (Two-Mile), 20:05 (5K)
Prep: Earned all-region and all-district honors in cross country each of the past two years ... Helped Bolles to runner-up team finishes at the state championships in both 2010 and 2011 ... Also helped the team win the region title each of the last three years, and the district championship all four years ... Named all-district in track and field all four years of high school ... Bolles claimed the district team title in 2010, 2011, and 2012 ... Earned cum laude honors on the National Latin Exam as a junior and again as a senior ... Chaired the Pen Pals program for the Bolles lower school ... Vice President of the Outward Bound Club.
Personal: Daughter of Amy and Joseph Costa ... Born in Iceland ... Mother was an All-American field hockey player at West Chester ... She also played tennis in college, and was a professional ultra-marathon runner ... Uncle, Bill Stratton , swam at North Carolina ... Enjoys travel, new languages, and writing ... Plans to major in international relations and business.
Leanna Eisenman – Distance
Front Royal, Va./Warren County
Best Marks – 5:17.13 (1600m), 11:29.42 (3200m)
Prep: Earned all-state honors both in cross country and outdoor track as a senior ... Finished 12th at the Virginia AAA cross country championships ... Improved upon a 14th-place showing as a junior ... Also named all-state after taking sixth in the 3,200m outdoors ... Took 13th in the 1600m at the state meet ... District champion indoors at 1000m and outdoors in both the 800m and 1600m ... Earned all-academic honors every season all four years ... Winner of the Carl Emily Thompson Scholarship, given to Warren County’s top female student ... Chosen to participate in the Mountain Vista Governor’s School ... Member of the National Honor Society.
Personal: Daughter of Diane and James Eisenman ... Brother, Chris, is a junior at the College ... Enjoys hiking, fishing, and painting ... Undecided as to her collegiate major.
Becca Eudailey – Distance
Quinton, Va./New Kent
Best Marks – 5:15.69 (1600m), 11:25.79 (3200m), 19:11 (5K)
Prep: Finished ninth at the Virginia AA state cross country championships ... Also won the Bays River District title in cross country ... Won the region championship at 3200m on the track with a meet-record performance ... All-district and all-region at both 1600m and 3200m ... President of New Kent’s Student Council ... Was her class secretary all four years.
Personal: Daughter of Susan and William Eudailey, Jr. ... Cousin, Libby Kerver, is a sophomore at W&M ... Enjoys reading and playing the piano ... Plans to major in biology.
Rochelle Evans – Throws
Christiansburg, Va./Christiansburg
Best Marks – 46-1 (Shot Put), 137-11 (Discus)
Prep: Six-time Virginia AA state champion ... Won the indoor shot put as a sophomore and again as a junior ... Won both the shot put and the discus in back-to-back years in 2011 and 2012 ... Prep All-American after finishing sixth in the nation indoors in 2012 ... Named the girls’ track and field Performer of the Year by the Roanoke Times each of the past two years ... Coached by W&M record-setter Cassidy (Harris) Jones ‘05 ... Graduated top-10 in her class ... Member of the National Honor Society and the French Club.
Personal: Daughter of Shelby and George Evans ... Father played football at Virginia Tech ... Brother, Zachary, also played football at Virginia Tech ... Enjoys fishing, watching scary movies, and knitting ... Undecided as to her collegiate major.
Jessica Ewing – Sprints
Virginia Beach, Va./Tallwood
Best Marks – 12.53 (100m), 24.40 (200m), 39.20 (300m), 56.92 (400m), 1:16.31 (500m)
Prep: Ranked No. 9 in the nation indoors in the 300m dash ... Finished second at the Virginia AAA state championships in that event ... Also ranked 13th nationally in the 500m dash during the indoor season ... Tallwood’s MVP both indoors and outdoors for the last three years ... All-state indoors at 300m as well in both 2010 and 2011 ... Member of the Key Club ... Contributed over 500 hours of community service while also graduating with honors.
Personal: Daughter of Jackie and Lawrence Ewing ... Uncle, James Church, played football at Richmond ... Enjoys watching movies, playing soccer, and going to the beach ... Plans to double-major in kinesiology and psychology.
Shelby Feliciano - Sprints
Winchester, Va./Millbrook
Best Marks – 45.14 (300m), 1:01.24 (400m), 47.04 (300m Hurdles)
Prep: Finished sixth in the 300m hurdles at the Virginia AA state championships as a senior ... Also earned all-state honors as a sophomore on Millbrook’s 4x800m relay ... All-district all four years in the 300m hurdles ... All-Academic award winner in both volleyball and track throughout high school ... Member of the National Honors Society.
Personal: Daughter of Marilyn and Noel Feliciano ... Enjoys hiking, anything outdoors, and hanging with friends ... Chose W&M over other schools because of its sense of community, tradition, and research opportunities ... Plans to major in biology.
Sarah Garratt – Distance
Hilton Head, S.C./Hilton Head Prep
Best Marks – 5:21.83 (1600m), 11:55.10 (3200m), 19:20 (5K)
Prep: All-state each of the past two years in cross country for Hilton Head Prep ... Runner-up at the South Carolina Independent School’s championship as a junior ... Fourth as a senior ... Region champion last year ... Member of the National Honor Society.
Personal: Daughter of Shirlee Garratt ... Lives with her aunt and uncle, Jane and Jeff Hearn ... Enjoys painting, anything outdoors, and walking her dogs ... Undecided as to her collegiate major.
Olivia Jebb – Sprints/Jumps
Cornwall, N.Y./Cornwall Central
Best Marks – 25.82 (200m), 59.74 (400m), 18-5.75 (Long Jump), 39-6.25 (Triple Jump)
Prep: One of just six students to earn the Murray Scholarship in the W&M Class of 2016 ... H.S. All-American in track and field ... Won the state title in the triple jump and finished second in the long jump ... Will also play on the W&M Volleyball team ... Named second-team Scholar All-America by PrepVolleyball.com ... Led Cornwall Central to the N.Y. State Final Four in volleyball every year of high school ... Won four region and four section championships ... Named first-team all-state as a junior and again as a senior ... Second-team all-state in 2009 ... County Player of the Year each of the last two years as well ... Section Player of the Year in 2011 ... National Merit Finalist ... AP Scholar with Distinction ... National Honor Society.
Personal: Daughter of Cindy and Joel Jebb ... Mother played volleyball at West Point, captaining the team her senior year ... Father played football at West Point ... Brother, Ben, is currently on the Army football team ... Brother, Alex, is on the track team at Johns Hopkins ... Enjoys coffee, Harry Potter, and board games ... Plans to pursue a pre-med or pre-engineering course of study.
Katie Johnston – Throws
Haddonfield, N.J./Haddonfield
Best Marks – 40-9 (Shot Put), 134-3 (Discus), 152-9 (Javelin)
Prep: Won the New Jersey state title in the javelin each of the last three years ... Also added state championships in the discus and the shot put as a senior ... Just the third girl in New Jersey history to win all three throwing titles in the same year ... Her performance in 2012 led Haddonfield to the team championship ... Twice named to the All-South Jersey track and field first team ... Will also play on the Tribe’s women’s soccer team ... A two-time All-South Jersey member for soccer ... Scored the winning goal in the 2009 state championship game ... Holds Haddonfield’s record for most goals and assists in a season, as well as the career assists record.
Personal: Daughter of Susan and James Johnston ... Uncle Steve McGrath played professional lacrosse ... Enjoys reading, watching television and hanging out with friends ... Undecided as to her collegiate major.
Emma Mahony – Distance
Yardley, Pa./Villa Joseph Maria
Best Marks – 2:17 (800m), 5:05.78 (Mile)
Prep: Finished 10th in the Emerging Elites Mile at the 2011 New Balance Nationals ... Fourth at the Pennsylvania State XC Championships in 2010 ... Finished sixth in the mile indoors at the state championships that year as well ... District champion in the mile ... Was VJM’s cross country MVP all four years of high school ... Named to several all-area cross country and track teams by local newspapers ... Member of the National Honor Society ... Class vice-president in both 2009 and 2010.
Personal: Daughter of Janet and James Mahony ... Mother played tennis at Dayton ... Sister, Mary Lee, plays lacrosse at Stonehill College ... Enjoys spending time with friends, running, and traveling ... Undecided as to her collegiate major.
Juliana Marcucci – Distance
Riverhead, N.Y./Ward Melville
Best Marks – 2:17 (800m), 4:50.16 (1500m), 7:09.25 (2000m Steeplechase)
Prep: Earned All-American honors outdoors in 2011 as part of Ward Melville's Distance Medley Relay ... Also earned section, federation, and state honors in 2011 in the 4x800m relay ... Transferred to Ward Melville HS midway through her junior year ... Named all-state and all-section in cross country while helping Melville to the section team title ... All-section indoors at 1,500m ... Also named all-section outdoors in the 2,000m steeplechase ... Won her division in the steeplechase three times, including 2009, 2011, and 2012 ... Named to the county all-academic team in all three seasons as a senior ... Member of the National Latin Honor Society ... Played the viola in the school orchestra.
Personal: Daughter of Beatriz and Rene Marcucci ... Enjoys going to the beach, daydreaming, and dancing ... Plans to major in government.
Meghan McGovern – Distance
North Wales, Pa./North Penn
Best Marks – 2:16.99 (800m), 4:58.63 (1600m), 9:46.30 (3000m)
Prep: Won the 2011 Pennsylvania AAA cross country championship with a course-record time of 18:28 ... Win came after placing eighth in 2009 and fifth as a junior in 2010 ... Runner-up as a senior at the indoor state championships in the 3,000m ... Also finished fourth indoors in the mile as a junior ... Medaled in the DMR each of the past three years ... Helped North Penn win the state title as a junior, while placing second as a sophomore and third as a senior ... Outdoors, finished second in the 3,200m at the state meet after two consecutive third-place finishes ... Fifth in the 3,000m at the Penn Relays as a senior ... Winner of North Penn’s Female Student-Athlete award ... Medalist in the National Latin Exam and the Philadelphia Classical Society Contest ... Member of the National Honor Society.
Personal: Daughter of Maureen and Francis McGovern ... Enjoys reading and traveling ... Undecided as to her collegiate major.
Meghan Mulroy – Distance
Midlothian, Va./Midlothian
Best Marks – 5:27.76 (1600m), 11:25.34 (3200m)
Prep: Helped Midlothian to three Virginia AAA state cross country titles, including each of the past two years ... Named all-region in 2010 and 2011 ... Selected to the all-district cross country team and indoors at 3,200m all four years of high school ... Also earned all-district honors outdoors at 3,200m each of the past three years, and all-district at 1,600m once both indoors and outdoors ... Named to 11 of 12 possible all-academic teams (missed only freshman year cross country) ... National Merit Commended Scholar ... Salutatorian of her high school class ... Member of the National Honor Society, National French Honor Society, and the National Art Honor Society.
Personal: Daughter of Mary and Steven Mulroy ... Will be the 10th member of her family to compete in college athletics ... Grandfather, Thomas Mulroy, played football at Amherst from 1939-41 ... Aunt, Nadine Dye, ran cross country and track at Hamilton ... Uncle, Rick Mulroy, played football at Dartmouth ... Cousins have played several sports at several colleges ... Enjoys baking, reading, and hiking ... Plans to major in kinesiology.
Emily Stites – Distance
Wyoming, Ohio/Wyoming
Best Marks – 5:02.16 (1600m), 10:37.79 (3200m)
Prep: Won her region and finished sixth in the Ohio state cross country championships as a senior ... Broke the Ohio Division 2 state record en route to winning the 3,200m state title in 2012 ... Also won the district and regional championships at both 1,600m and 3,200m as a senior ... Fifth in the state at both distances as a junior in 2011 ... Named to the academic all-state team in both cross country and state each of the past two years ... Member of the National Honor Society and the Latin Honor Society.
Personal: Daughter of Caroline Pritchard and Richard Stites ... Enjoys reading, running, and spending time with family ... Plans to major in marketing.
Claire Tito – Sprints
Richmond, Va./John Randolph Tucker
Best Marks – 26.67 (200m), 57.58 (400m), 1:16.70 (500m), 2:23.18 (800m)
Prep: Monroe Scholar ... Earned all-state honors indoors as a senior in the 500m dash ... Finished sixth in the event at the Virginia AAA championships with a career-best time of 1:16.70 ... Earned all-region honors four times in her career, including both indoors and outdoors as a senior 2012 ... Named by the Richmond Times-Dispatch to their All-Met teams for both indoor and outdoor track all four years of high school ... Also contributed on Tucker’s cross country teams ... Graduated with seven school records, including at 300m, 500m, 800m, 1000m, indoors and outdoors in the 4x400m relay, and outdoors in the 4x800m relay ... Member of the National Honor Society and the French National Honor Society ... National Merit Commended Scholar ... Served as President of both the Key Club and the French Club.
Personal: Daughter of Vickie and Hugh Tito ... Is the fourth member of her family to attend W&M ... Father was a member of the class of 1979 ... Mother graduated in 1980 ... Brother, Greg, is a member of the Class of 2014 ... Enjoys playing board games, hiking, and going to the river with friends ... Undecided as to her collegiate major.
Taylor White-Welchen – Sprints
Omaha, Neb./Brownell-Talbot
Best Marks – 12.46 (100m), 26.00 (200m), 59.95 (400m)
Prep: Eight-time all-state honoree in Nebraska ... Finished third in both the 100m and 200m as a senior ... As a junior, took seventh in the 100m, fifth in the 200m, and eighth in the 400m dash ... Fifth in the 4x100m and seven the 200m as a sophomore ... Also seventh at 200m as a freshman ... Twice won the 100m dash at the Nebraska USAT&F state meet ... Selected to the All-Nebraska Track and Field team in both 2011 and 2012 ... Won the Headmaster’s Award, given to the senior who exhibits the highest ideals of Brownell-Talbot ... Earned both cum laude and magna cum laude honors on the National Latin Exam ... Qualified for the state, national, and world robotics championships ... Was the driver on Brownell-Talbot’s robotics team ... President of Brownell-Talbot’s Headmaster’s Council ... Also served as President of the school Junior Classical League/Latin Club.
Personal: Daughter of Tiffany White-Welchen and Tony Welchen ... Enjoys tap dancing, medical research, and crochet ... Plans to major in kinesiology.
Ashley Woodards – Sprints/Hurdles
Franklinville, N.J./Delsea Regional
Best Marks – 25.20 (200m), 56.80 (400m), 1:02.01 (400m Hurdles)
Prep: Won the 400m hurdles at the New Jersey Meet of Champions as a junior in 2011 ... Five-time state champion ... Named the Girls Track Athlete of the Year in 2012 by the Gloucester County Times ... Won the 200m, 400m, and 400m hurdles at the section championships as a senior ... Won the 400m hurdles at both the Tri-County meet and the Gloucester County meet each of the past two years ... Added the 400m dash title at the Tri-County championships in 2012 ... Vice President of the Delsea chapter of the National Honor Society ... Member of the Athenaeum League ... Member of the Drama Club.
Personal: Daughter of Carolyn and J. Wesley Woodards ... Enjoys traveling, cooking, and writing ... Plans to major in public health.
“I am extremely excited with the addition of so many great athletes to our program,” said Walsh. “Our goal is to create a cohesive, well-rounded team that can challenge for conference titles in both track and cross country, and we feel that these recruits represent an enormous step in that direction. We are excited to have everyone reporting to campus this week, and are looking forward to working with them over the next four years.”
Following is a brief alphabetical look at the entire class:
Erica Amatori – Distance
Cary, N.C./Green Hope
Best Marks – 2:18 (800m), 5:04 (1600m), 11:00.55 (3200m)
Prep: Earned prep All-American honors indoors in the 4xMile in 2011 ... Part of Green Hope’s state championship 4x800m relay indoors in 2012 ... Totaled nine all-state honors in her career ... Eight came in the last two years, including four in the 4x800m relay, two in the 1600m, one indoors in the 3200m, and two in cross country ... Placed fourth in the North Carolina 4A cross country meet as a junior ... Seventh as a senior ... Helped lead Green Hope to three consecutive state and regional cross country team titles ... Won four-straight conference championships ... President of the local FBLA chapter ... Member of the National Honors Society.
Personal: Daughter of Tanya and Leonardo Amatori ... Originally from Ottawa ... Enjoys boating, playing soccer, playing her guitar, and singing ... Plans to major in marketing.
Meghan Blackstone – Distance
Bristow, Va./Paul VI
Best Marks – 5:08.65 (1600m), 11:20.21 (3200m)
Prep: Runner-up at the Virginia state private schools’ cross country championships ... Won the Virginia Catholic Schools’ indoor 3,200m championship ... Also second indoors at 1,600m ... Took third at the Catholic cross country meet ... Member of the National Honor Society.
Personal: Daughter of Cheryl and Joseph Blackstone ... Father ran track and cross country at the Naval Academy ... Enjoys swimming and art ... Plans to major in kinesiology.
Breanna Brukalo – Sprints/Hurdles
Staten Island, N.Y./Staten Island Tech
Best Marks – 1:01.64 (400m), 1:43.61 (600m), 1:04.64 (400m Hurdles)
Prep: Named honorable mention All-City by the New York Post as a senior ... Won six N.Y. PSAL Boro championships, including the pentathlon each of the last two years ... Four-time champion in the Staten Island H.S. meet, including the long jump and 50m hurdles in 2012 ... Bronze-medalist in the pentathlon and fourth in the 400m hurdles at the 2012 N.Y. PSAL all-city championship ... Named to the Staten Island Advance All-Star team in 2012 and 2010 ... Holds the school record in the 400m hurdles and the 4x400m relay ... Also a standout soccer player, being named the MVP of the NYC Mayors Cup All-Star team as a senior ... Member of the National Honor Society and the St. La Salle Honor Society ... Member of the Junior Statesmen of America.
Personal: Daughter of Roseann and John Brukalo ... Uncle, Jon Wasielewski, played football at St. Peter’s College ... Enjoys reading, surfing, and skateboarding ... Undecided as to her collegiate major.
Cierra Butler – Sprints/Jumps
Fredericksburg, Va./Stafford (Mt. Olive College)
Best Marks – 26.70 (200m), 59.10 (400m)
2011-12: Redshirted while transferring ... Ran the 400m unattached at the Colonial Relays.
2010-11 (at Mt. Olive): Helped lead Mt. Olive to the Conference Carolina team championship ... Ran on the championship 4x400m relay team ... Member of the Dean’s List.
Prep: All-district sprinter in both the 100m and 200m all four years of high school ... Twice qualified for the 100m state championships ... Also earned all-district honors at 400m twice ... Indoors, was named all-district three times in the 55m dash ... Member of the National Honor Society ... President of the senior class.
Personal: Daughter of Brenda and Kenneth Butler ... Twin sister, Kierra, is also a member of the Tribe ... Enjoys shopping and spending time with friends ... Majoring in international relations, and minoring in Chinese language and literature.
Kierra Butler – Sprints/Jumps
Fredericksburg, Va./Stafford (Mt. Olive College)
Best Marks – 59.29 (400m), 15.86 (110m Hurdles), 1:04.83 (400m Hurdles), 5.10m (Long Jump), 10.52m (Triple Jump)
2011-12: Redshirted while transferring ... Competed unattached in the 400m hurdles at the Colonial Relays ... Also competed unattached in the long jump, placing ninth in the unseeded section.
2010-11 (at Mt. Olive): Helped lead Mt. Olive to the Conference Carolina team championship ... Won the 400m hurdles at the conference meet ... Ran on the championship 4x400m relay team ... Member of the Dean’s List.
Prep: All-state in the 300m hurdles as a junior ... Qualified for the state meet in that event in 2008, 2009, and 2010 ... Also a state-qualifier in the 100m hurdles as a senior and indoors in the 55m hurdles as a junior ... Five-time district champion ... Won the 300m hurdles each of her last three years of high school ... Seven-time all-region honoree ... Named to the Free-Lance Star all-area team both indoors and outdoors in 2009 ... Member of the National Honor Society ... Secretary of the senior class.
Personal: Daughter of Brenda and Kenneth Butler ... Twin sister, Cierra, is also a member of the Tribe ... Enjoys shopping, listening to music, and spending time with friends and family ... Majoring in biology, with a pre-med emphasis.
Mary Kate Byrne – Distance
Millstone Township, N.J./Red Bank Catholic
Best Marks – 5:09.86 (1600m), 11:20.20 (3200m)
Prep: Helped lead Red Bank Catholic to back-to-back state cross country championships ... Was the state runner-up as a senior ... Holds the school outdoor record at 5,000m ... Board member of the local National Honor Society chapter.
Personal: Daughter of Deborah and Kevin Byrne ... Father ran track and cross country at Georgetown ... Brother, Kevin Jr., runs cross country and track at Notre Dame ... Enjoys reading and spending time with family and friends ... Undecided as to her collegiate major.
Micayla Costa – Distance
Jacksonville, Fla./The Bolles School
Best Marks – 12:18 (Two-Mile), 20:05 (5K)
Prep: Earned all-region and all-district honors in cross country each of the past two years ... Helped Bolles to runner-up team finishes at the state championships in both 2010 and 2011 ... Also helped the team win the region title each of the last three years, and the district championship all four years ... Named all-district in track and field all four years of high school ... Bolles claimed the district team title in 2010, 2011, and 2012 ... Earned cum laude honors on the National Latin Exam as a junior and again as a senior ... Chaired the Pen Pals program for the Bolles lower school ... Vice President of the Outward Bound Club.
Personal: Daughter of Amy and Joseph Costa ... Born in Iceland ... Mother was an All-American field hockey player at West Chester ... She also played tennis in college, and was a professional ultra-marathon runner ... Uncle, Bill Stratton , swam at North Carolina ... Enjoys travel, new languages, and writing ... Plans to major in international relations and business.
Leanna Eisenman – Distance
Front Royal, Va./Warren County
Best Marks – 5:17.13 (1600m), 11:29.42 (3200m)
Prep: Earned all-state honors both in cross country and outdoor track as a senior ... Finished 12th at the Virginia AAA cross country championships ... Improved upon a 14th-place showing as a junior ... Also named all-state after taking sixth in the 3,200m outdoors ... Took 13th in the 1600m at the state meet ... District champion indoors at 1000m and outdoors in both the 800m and 1600m ... Earned all-academic honors every season all four years ... Winner of the Carl Emily Thompson Scholarship, given to Warren County’s top female student ... Chosen to participate in the Mountain Vista Governor’s School ... Member of the National Honor Society.
Personal: Daughter of Diane and James Eisenman ... Brother, Chris, is a junior at the College ... Enjoys hiking, fishing, and painting ... Undecided as to her collegiate major.
Becca Eudailey – Distance
Quinton, Va./New Kent
Best Marks – 5:15.69 (1600m), 11:25.79 (3200m), 19:11 (5K)
Prep: Finished ninth at the Virginia AA state cross country championships ... Also won the Bays River District title in cross country ... Won the region championship at 3200m on the track with a meet-record performance ... All-district and all-region at both 1600m and 3200m ... President of New Kent’s Student Council ... Was her class secretary all four years.
Personal: Daughter of Susan and William Eudailey, Jr. ... Cousin, Libby Kerver, is a sophomore at W&M ... Enjoys reading and playing the piano ... Plans to major in biology.
Rochelle Evans – Throws
Christiansburg, Va./Christiansburg
Best Marks – 46-1 (Shot Put), 137-11 (Discus)
Prep: Six-time Virginia AA state champion ... Won the indoor shot put as a sophomore and again as a junior ... Won both the shot put and the discus in back-to-back years in 2011 and 2012 ... Prep All-American after finishing sixth in the nation indoors in 2012 ... Named the girls’ track and field Performer of the Year by the Roanoke Times each of the past two years ... Coached by W&M record-setter Cassidy (Harris) Jones ‘05 ... Graduated top-10 in her class ... Member of the National Honor Society and the French Club.
Personal: Daughter of Shelby and George Evans ... Father played football at Virginia Tech ... Brother, Zachary, also played football at Virginia Tech ... Enjoys fishing, watching scary movies, and knitting ... Undecided as to her collegiate major.
Jessica Ewing – Sprints
Virginia Beach, Va./Tallwood
Best Marks – 12.53 (100m), 24.40 (200m), 39.20 (300m), 56.92 (400m), 1:16.31 (500m)
Prep: Ranked No. 9 in the nation indoors in the 300m dash ... Finished second at the Virginia AAA state championships in that event ... Also ranked 13th nationally in the 500m dash during the indoor season ... Tallwood’s MVP both indoors and outdoors for the last three years ... All-state indoors at 300m as well in both 2010 and 2011 ... Member of the Key Club ... Contributed over 500 hours of community service while also graduating with honors.
Personal: Daughter of Jackie and Lawrence Ewing ... Uncle, James Church, played football at Richmond ... Enjoys watching movies, playing soccer, and going to the beach ... Plans to double-major in kinesiology and psychology.
Shelby Feliciano - Sprints
Winchester, Va./Millbrook
Best Marks – 45.14 (300m), 1:01.24 (400m), 47.04 (300m Hurdles)
Prep: Finished sixth in the 300m hurdles at the Virginia AA state championships as a senior ... Also earned all-state honors as a sophomore on Millbrook’s 4x800m relay ... All-district all four years in the 300m hurdles ... All-Academic award winner in both volleyball and track throughout high school ... Member of the National Honors Society.
Personal: Daughter of Marilyn and Noel Feliciano ... Enjoys hiking, anything outdoors, and hanging with friends ... Chose W&M over other schools because of its sense of community, tradition, and research opportunities ... Plans to major in biology.
Sarah Garratt – Distance
Hilton Head, S.C./Hilton Head Prep
Best Marks – 5:21.83 (1600m), 11:55.10 (3200m), 19:20 (5K)
Prep: All-state each of the past two years in cross country for Hilton Head Prep ... Runner-up at the South Carolina Independent School’s championship as a junior ... Fourth as a senior ... Region champion last year ... Member of the National Honor Society.
Personal: Daughter of Shirlee Garratt ... Lives with her aunt and uncle, Jane and Jeff Hearn ... Enjoys painting, anything outdoors, and walking her dogs ... Undecided as to her collegiate major.
Olivia Jebb – Sprints/Jumps
Cornwall, N.Y./Cornwall Central
Best Marks – 25.82 (200m), 59.74 (400m), 18-5.75 (Long Jump), 39-6.25 (Triple Jump)
Prep: One of just six students to earn the Murray Scholarship in the W&M Class of 2016 ... H.S. All-American in track and field ... Won the state title in the triple jump and finished second in the long jump ... Will also play on the W&M Volleyball team ... Named second-team Scholar All-America by PrepVolleyball.com ... Led Cornwall Central to the N.Y. State Final Four in volleyball every year of high school ... Won four region and four section championships ... Named first-team all-state as a junior and again as a senior ... Second-team all-state in 2009 ... County Player of the Year each of the last two years as well ... Section Player of the Year in 2011 ... National Merit Finalist ... AP Scholar with Distinction ... National Honor Society.
Personal: Daughter of Cindy and Joel Jebb ... Mother played volleyball at West Point, captaining the team her senior year ... Father played football at West Point ... Brother, Ben, is currently on the Army football team ... Brother, Alex, is on the track team at Johns Hopkins ... Enjoys coffee, Harry Potter, and board games ... Plans to pursue a pre-med or pre-engineering course of study.
Katie Johnston – Throws
Haddonfield, N.J./Haddonfield
Best Marks – 40-9 (Shot Put), 134-3 (Discus), 152-9 (Javelin)
Prep: Won the New Jersey state title in the javelin each of the last three years ... Also added state championships in the discus and the shot put as a senior ... Just the third girl in New Jersey history to win all three throwing titles in the same year ... Her performance in 2012 led Haddonfield to the team championship ... Twice named to the All-South Jersey track and field first team ... Will also play on the Tribe’s women’s soccer team ... A two-time All-South Jersey member for soccer ... Scored the winning goal in the 2009 state championship game ... Holds Haddonfield’s record for most goals and assists in a season, as well as the career assists record.
Personal: Daughter of Susan and James Johnston ... Uncle Steve McGrath played professional lacrosse ... Enjoys reading, watching television and hanging out with friends ... Undecided as to her collegiate major.
Emma Mahony – Distance
Yardley, Pa./Villa Joseph Maria
Best Marks – 2:17 (800m), 5:05.78 (Mile)
Prep: Finished 10th in the Emerging Elites Mile at the 2011 New Balance Nationals ... Fourth at the Pennsylvania State XC Championships in 2010 ... Finished sixth in the mile indoors at the state championships that year as well ... District champion in the mile ... Was VJM’s cross country MVP all four years of high school ... Named to several all-area cross country and track teams by local newspapers ... Member of the National Honor Society ... Class vice-president in both 2009 and 2010.
Personal: Daughter of Janet and James Mahony ... Mother played tennis at Dayton ... Sister, Mary Lee, plays lacrosse at Stonehill College ... Enjoys spending time with friends, running, and traveling ... Undecided as to her collegiate major.
Juliana Marcucci – Distance
Riverhead, N.Y./Ward Melville
Best Marks – 2:17 (800m), 4:50.16 (1500m), 7:09.25 (2000m Steeplechase)
Prep: Earned All-American honors outdoors in 2011 as part of Ward Melville's Distance Medley Relay ... Also earned section, federation, and state honors in 2011 in the 4x800m relay ... Transferred to Ward Melville HS midway through her junior year ... Named all-state and all-section in cross country while helping Melville to the section team title ... All-section indoors at 1,500m ... Also named all-section outdoors in the 2,000m steeplechase ... Won her division in the steeplechase three times, including 2009, 2011, and 2012 ... Named to the county all-academic team in all three seasons as a senior ... Member of the National Latin Honor Society ... Played the viola in the school orchestra.
Personal: Daughter of Beatriz and Rene Marcucci ... Enjoys going to the beach, daydreaming, and dancing ... Plans to major in government.
Meghan McGovern – Distance
North Wales, Pa./North Penn
Best Marks – 2:16.99 (800m), 4:58.63 (1600m), 9:46.30 (3000m)
Prep: Won the 2011 Pennsylvania AAA cross country championship with a course-record time of 18:28 ... Win came after placing eighth in 2009 and fifth as a junior in 2010 ... Runner-up as a senior at the indoor state championships in the 3,000m ... Also finished fourth indoors in the mile as a junior ... Medaled in the DMR each of the past three years ... Helped North Penn win the state title as a junior, while placing second as a sophomore and third as a senior ... Outdoors, finished second in the 3,200m at the state meet after two consecutive third-place finishes ... Fifth in the 3,000m at the Penn Relays as a senior ... Winner of North Penn’s Female Student-Athlete award ... Medalist in the National Latin Exam and the Philadelphia Classical Society Contest ... Member of the National Honor Society.
Personal: Daughter of Maureen and Francis McGovern ... Enjoys reading and traveling ... Undecided as to her collegiate major.
Meghan Mulroy – Distance
Midlothian, Va./Midlothian
Best Marks – 5:27.76 (1600m), 11:25.34 (3200m)
Prep: Helped Midlothian to three Virginia AAA state cross country titles, including each of the past two years ... Named all-region in 2010 and 2011 ... Selected to the all-district cross country team and indoors at 3,200m all four years of high school ... Also earned all-district honors outdoors at 3,200m each of the past three years, and all-district at 1,600m once both indoors and outdoors ... Named to 11 of 12 possible all-academic teams (missed only freshman year cross country) ... National Merit Commended Scholar ... Salutatorian of her high school class ... Member of the National Honor Society, National French Honor Society, and the National Art Honor Society.
Personal: Daughter of Mary and Steven Mulroy ... Will be the 10th member of her family to compete in college athletics ... Grandfather, Thomas Mulroy, played football at Amherst from 1939-41 ... Aunt, Nadine Dye, ran cross country and track at Hamilton ... Uncle, Rick Mulroy, played football at Dartmouth ... Cousins have played several sports at several colleges ... Enjoys baking, reading, and hiking ... Plans to major in kinesiology.
Emily Stites – Distance
Wyoming, Ohio/Wyoming
Best Marks – 5:02.16 (1600m), 10:37.79 (3200m)
Prep: Won her region and finished sixth in the Ohio state cross country championships as a senior ... Broke the Ohio Division 2 state record en route to winning the 3,200m state title in 2012 ... Also won the district and regional championships at both 1,600m and 3,200m as a senior ... Fifth in the state at both distances as a junior in 2011 ... Named to the academic all-state team in both cross country and state each of the past two years ... Member of the National Honor Society and the Latin Honor Society.
Personal: Daughter of Caroline Pritchard and Richard Stites ... Enjoys reading, running, and spending time with family ... Plans to major in marketing.
Claire Tito – Sprints
Richmond, Va./John Randolph Tucker
Best Marks – 26.67 (200m), 57.58 (400m), 1:16.70 (500m), 2:23.18 (800m)
Prep: Monroe Scholar ... Earned all-state honors indoors as a senior in the 500m dash ... Finished sixth in the event at the Virginia AAA championships with a career-best time of 1:16.70 ... Earned all-region honors four times in her career, including both indoors and outdoors as a senior 2012 ... Named by the Richmond Times-Dispatch to their All-Met teams for both indoor and outdoor track all four years of high school ... Also contributed on Tucker’s cross country teams ... Graduated with seven school records, including at 300m, 500m, 800m, 1000m, indoors and outdoors in the 4x400m relay, and outdoors in the 4x800m relay ... Member of the National Honor Society and the French National Honor Society ... National Merit Commended Scholar ... Served as President of both the Key Club and the French Club.
Personal: Daughter of Vickie and Hugh Tito ... Is the fourth member of her family to attend W&M ... Father was a member of the class of 1979 ... Mother graduated in 1980 ... Brother, Greg, is a member of the Class of 2014 ... Enjoys playing board games, hiking, and going to the river with friends ... Undecided as to her collegiate major.
Taylor White-Welchen – Sprints
Omaha, Neb./Brownell-Talbot
Best Marks – 12.46 (100m), 26.00 (200m), 59.95 (400m)
Prep: Eight-time all-state honoree in Nebraska ... Finished third in both the 100m and 200m as a senior ... As a junior, took seventh in the 100m, fifth in the 200m, and eighth in the 400m dash ... Fifth in the 4x100m and seven the 200m as a sophomore ... Also seventh at 200m as a freshman ... Twice won the 100m dash at the Nebraska USAT&F state meet ... Selected to the All-Nebraska Track and Field team in both 2011 and 2012 ... Won the Headmaster’s Award, given to the senior who exhibits the highest ideals of Brownell-Talbot ... Earned both cum laude and magna cum laude honors on the National Latin Exam ... Qualified for the state, national, and world robotics championships ... Was the driver on Brownell-Talbot’s robotics team ... President of Brownell-Talbot’s Headmaster’s Council ... Also served as President of the school Junior Classical League/Latin Club.
Personal: Daughter of Tiffany White-Welchen and Tony Welchen ... Enjoys tap dancing, medical research, and crochet ... Plans to major in kinesiology.
Ashley Woodards – Sprints/Hurdles
Franklinville, N.J./Delsea Regional
Best Marks – 25.20 (200m), 56.80 (400m), 1:02.01 (400m Hurdles)
Prep: Won the 400m hurdles at the New Jersey Meet of Champions as a junior in 2011 ... Five-time state champion ... Named the Girls Track Athlete of the Year in 2012 by the Gloucester County Times ... Won the 200m, 400m, and 400m hurdles at the section championships as a senior ... Won the 400m hurdles at both the Tri-County meet and the Gloucester County meet each of the past two years ... Added the 400m dash title at the Tri-County championships in 2012 ... Vice President of the Delsea chapter of the National Honor Society ... Member of the Athenaeum League ... Member of the Drama Club.
Personal: Daughter of Carolyn and J. Wesley Woodards ... Enjoys traveling, cooking, and writing ... Plans to major in public health.
