Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG, Va. – Virginia Tech Director of Track & Field and Cross Country, Dave Cianelli, announced the signing of eight athletes for the 2013-14 season. The class includes Hanna Green, Emma King, Kristin Lee, Christine London, Nora McKiver, Jasmine Mitchell, Abbey Motley and Olivia Privitera.
Hanna Green
Latrobe, Pa. | Greater Latrobe
Mid-Distance
A top-five performer in the 400 meters at the Pennsylvania state meet the past two seasons, she recently placed fourth at the 2013 championship after taking second at the central section qualifier. In 2012, she set a personal record of 55.93 in the 400 meters as she won the District 7 championship, while also placing second in the 800 meters at the meet. Green has a PR of 2:16.39 in the 800 meters.
Distance coach Ben Thomas on Green…“I think she’s going to be an excellent middle distant prospect. She’s already run 55 for the 400 open and hasn’t run a whole lot of 800, but has run pretty quick when she did. She has run cross country and had a full season during the fall and did quite well. I’m excited to get someone with her kind of leg speed that’s willing to work on the longer end of things. I think that will ultimately result in some really fast 800-meter racing and maybe 1,500-meter racing down the road although we do plan and keeping in the 4x400 relay as often as possible.”
Emma King
Ijamsville, Md. | Oakdale
Pole Vault
The No. 1 pole vaulter in Maryland throughout her high school career, she is a multi-state champion both in indoors and outdoors successfully defended both titles this year. In 2013, she set both a personal record and the all-time Maryland state record when she vaulted 13-3 this year. The mark is currently eighth in the U.S. in the 2013.
Pole vault coach Bob Phillips on King…"Emma is an outstanding athlete with a strong background in gymnastics as well as in the sprints, but her biggest asset is her determination. There is a drive and desire in her that you just can't teach and I'm excited about working with her."
Kristen Lee
Raleigh, N.C. | Wakefield
Pole Vault
The highest prep vaulter to ever come out North Carolina, Lee holds the state record with a mark of 13-5, which she set earlier this year. The vault ranks fifth nationally in 2013. This year, she won both the indoor and outdoor state championships. Lee finished sixth at the 2012 New Balance Indoor Nationals. She was coached by Spencer Frame, director of Kinesis Dynamic Athletics.
Pole vault coach Bob Phillips on Lee…"Kristen is a quiet but determined athlete who is just now realizing what she is capable of in this event. An excellent technician, she will be an outstanding addition to what will be one of Virginia Tech's strongest squads yet."
Christine London
Ellicott City, Md. | Howard
Hurdles
A seven-time state champion in the hurdles, London has won state titles in all three hurdle events. She won the latest of her 55m hurdle championships earlier this year with the nation’s No. 5 time at 7.98. Both of her times (14.17. in the 100mH, 43.80 in the 300mH) at the 2013 MPSSAA 3A&4A Outdoor State Championship ranked No. 1 in the Maryland this season. Her PR in the 300m hurdles at 43.71 earned London her first state championship during her career in 2011.
Hurdles coach Charles Foster on London…“A pretty versatile sprinter and hurdler, she’ll be able to help us in the short hurdles, long hurdles and relays and she’s a very good student as well.”
Nora McKiver
Point, N.C. | T. W. Andrews
Hurdles
A dominant hurdler in North Carolia throughout her career, McKiver is a three-time North Carolina AA state champion in both the 100-meter and 300-meter hurdles, sweeping the hurdles during her last three years. She recorded a new personal best and the state’s top time in the 300 hurdles this season when she clocked in at 42.70. Last year, she set her PR in the 100 hurdles at 14.12.
Hurdles coach Charles Foster on McKiver… “During the recruiting process, she was certainly a positive person. I expect to have good performances from her. She is pretty competitive, doesn’t really back down and I like that.”
Jasmine Mitchell
Amelia Court House, Va. Amelia County
Sprints/Jumps
A four-time Virginia Group A state champion in the 400 meters, Mitchell is a versatile athlete who also owns multiple state championships in the long jump and high jump. She has personal bests of 55.02 in the 400, 18-4 in the long jump and 5-6 in the high jump. At the 2013 state championship, she also set new PRs in both the 100 meters (12.41) and triple jump (35-6¾), placing second the 100 and third in the triple jump.
Sprints/jumps coach Charles Foster on Mitchell… “She was very excited about signing with Virginia Tech and felt that it was an honor to be a part of Hokie nation. She feels that she could make an immediate impact and I certainly welcome that.
Abby Motley
Virginia Beach, Va. | Floyd Kellam
Mid-Distance
The 2013 Virginia AAA state champion in the 3,200 meters, Motley is strong in both the mile and the 3,200. Her time of 10:42.38 in the finals ranked as the fourth-fastest in Virginia this season. At the Southern Track Classic, she clocked a 5:00.55 mile, which converts to 4:58.81 for the 1,600 meters, the fourth-best time in the state in 2013. Motley also took first in the mile and second in 3,200 at the Beach District Indoor before finishing first in the mile that the Easter Regional.
Distance coach Ben Thomas on Motley… “She finished her senior season very strong. I really like how she runs, very efficient. She seems to have a passion for the sport. I think she’ll be a durable and consistent trainer at the next level which can ultimately make her very good at the longer distances at the NCAA level.”
Olivia Privitera
Framingham, Mass. | Marian
Pole Vault
One of the top all-around gymnasts in Massachusetts, Privitera’s training as an elite gymnast along with excellent speed is a combination that will help her as she transitions to the pole vault.
Pole vault coach Bob Phillips on Privitera… “We'll redshirt Olivia during her first year, but she has all of the tools needed to be a great pole vaulter and it should be fun to watch her progress in the event.”