Racer XCTF Announce 2020 Signing Class

The Murray State track and field and cross country teams would like to officially announce their recruiting class of 2020. Overall, 10 new student-athletes are joining the Racers track and field team, three of which will also run cross country as well as three men who will run cross country.

"We are extremely excited about the 2020 class," said head coach Adam Kiesler. "We believe this class is very strong in multiple areas. When looking at the landscape of the OVC and quality talent it possesses, we think this group of student-athletes will allow our team to continue to fight for championships for years to come. This group has accomplished a lot in their high school careers and they all look to continue that well representing the gold and blue of Murray State. It was extremely sad getting our season cut short and we feel bad for these seniors that their high school career had to end that way. We hope that MSU gives them a great place to call home and allows them to achieve their goals over the next four or five years!"

Track and Field
Sprints (Quotes from head coach Adam Kiesler)
Alexis Witherspoon – Elizabethtown, Ky. – John Hardin HS
"Alexis has been very successful in the state of Kentucky and we look for her to continue that here at Murray State. I think there is a lot of upside and I know she is determined to have a great career."

Kristan Ross – Euclid, Ohio – Euclid HS
"Kristan will bring a lot of big race experience to our long sprint group. The 400 in the OVC has been very deep in the past and we expect Kristan to make a splash in the results right away."
Ross

Hannah Malone – Southaven, Miss. – DeSoto Central HS
"Hannah made great strides during the indoor season of her senior year. She has tremendous tools and her potential is untapped and has a great upside."
Malone

Teliyah James – Norristown, Pa. – Norristown Area HS
"Teliyah is someone we think can help us from the 60m all the way to the 4x400. She has lofty goals and I can't wait to see her achieve them because that means she would have a great career."
James

Nia Scott – Snellville, Ga. – Brookwood HS
"Nia has run numerous races under 14.20 seconds which is unbelievable consistency. There are so many things she does well and there are so many things for her to learn. We look forward to her making her mark in both the short and long hurdles at the conference level."
Scott

Jumps and Multi (Quotes from assistant coach Kelsey Riggins)
Jasmine Claunch – Harrodsburg, Ky. – Mercer County HS
"We are thrilled to have Jasmine join our team in the fall. She will make an immediate impact for us in the Triple Jump. Jasmine's dedication, work ethic, and positive attitude are infectious and will add to the great culture growing here with Racer XCTF."
Claunch

Ella Siebenberger – Freeburg, Ill. – Freeburg HS
"Ella is a wonderful person from a great family. Murray State pole vault has really taken flight in the last few seasons and Ella will help us continue to grow and develop in that event."

Distance and Cross Country (quotes from assistant coach Jordan Wallace)
Kayla Bell – Lansing, Ill – Thornton Fractional South HS
"Kayla made waves at the National Junior Olympic Championships last summer as a sprinter who found herself dominating in the 800m. I am elated to have Kayla join our growing Mid-Distance squad and I anticipate her to make a major impact in our conference her freshman year."
Bell

Cassidy Goebel – Evansville, Ind. – Evansville Day HS
"I knew from the moment I watched Cassidy's 1600m race at the IHSAA Sectional meet that we needed her in our program. She is strategic and gutsy in a high-pressure competition and I cannot wait to see what she is able to do in her first cross country season as a Racer."
Goebel

Breanna Day – Eagle River, Alaska – Chugiak HS
"Breanna is the kind of student-athlete coaches are always searching for. Throughout her recruiting process I learned how dedicated she was to even the "little things" that make an athlete great and I look forward to having her leadership in our program."
Day

Men's Cross Country (quotes from Wallace)
Nathan Quinn – Crestwood, Ky. – South Oldham HS
"Nathan has consistently set the bar higher and higher for himself, running a 26-second personal record in XC for a 5k, and followed that up with a one mile and 3200m lifetime PR's during his short-track season this winter. Nathan is a competitor and has proven to me during the recruiting process that he has a passion for the sport that our program is looking for.
Quinn

Austin Kirkpatrick – Rogersville, Tenn. – Cherokee HS
"I am very excited to have Austin join our program. He is loaded with energy and the tenacity that just can't be coached. He is incredibly versatile from the cross country course to the track and I am looking forward to working with him on his first 8k race this fall."
Kirkpatrick

Jarod Willis – Troy, Ill. – Triad HS
"Jarod dropped a tremendous amount of time in the distance events on the track his junior year, which carried over into his senior year of cross country. I am impressed with his consistent progression throughout his career and am excited to have him join our men's team."
Willis

Murray State University Athletics

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