Wolverines Land Three Recruits in Early Signing Period
12/8/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's track and field team inked three student-athletes in the early signing period, signing Jennifer Biewald (Ottawa, Ontario/Hillcrest HS), Alicia Cole (Cadillac, Mich./Cadillac HS), and Jenny Morgan (Clarkston, Mich/Clarkston HS), head coach James Henry announced Thursday (Dec. 8).
"This is a small signing class for us," said Henry, the 2005 Big Ten Conference Indoor Coach of the Year. "We didn't feel the need to sign more than what we did sign. I think that the two runners that Mike (McGuire) has signed are extremely good. He has done an outstanding job in getting quality middle-distance runners in here, and I think the kid out of Canada, Jennifer Biewald, has the kind of caliber that we find in freshperson Genna Gall. So, we've signed three kids, but it's three kids that we think can come in make and immediate contribution and we're looking forward to the April signing, where we will sign more kids."
Biewald is one of the top middle-distance student-athletes in all of Canada. While at Hillcrest High School she has posted a personal record of 2:06.05 in the 800-meter run. Her 1,500m personal record is 4:26.00.
"We're excited to have Jenny on board; she will be a great addition to our continued success in the middle-distance program at Michigan," said associate head coach Mike McGuire, the 2005 Big Ten and NCAA Great Lakes Regional women's cross country Coach of the Year. "We see her making an immediate impact with our indoor and outdoor track teams. We also see her developing along the way into being an outstanding cross country runner."
Cole is one of the top sprinters in the state, having won two state titles in the 100m and 200m. For her accomplishments she has been named to the MTCA Dream Team and Regional Dream Team First Conference. Cole also owns four school records in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m, and 4x200m. Her personal records are 11.80 in the 100m and 24.60 in the 200m.
"Cole is filling a needed area that we are pretty much short in, and that is the short sprints," said Henry. "She is a 100m and 200m runner and we think she can make an immediate contribution if she is as good as Tiffany Ofili. In fact, she beat Tiffany in the 100m at the state meet, being a two-time state champion. So we're excited that a sprinter of her caliber that can come in and help us in the short sprint area."
Morgan was the 2005 Division I state champion in the 1,600m and 3,200m. She has also earned All-America honors in the outdoor two-mile event and boasts the fourth fastest time in 2004 in the two-mile. Her personal record in the 1,600m is 4:48.00, and for two miles it is 10:24.00.
"Jenny's coming in with outstanding credentials," said McGuire. "We feel that she will be an immediate impact person in both cross country and the distance events for the track team. We're excited to have her on board. She's an outstanding student-athlete and we feel a great fit for the University of Michigan track and cross country teams."
The Wolverines begin the 2006 season at home in the Jack Harvey Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 7, at the U-M Indoor Track Building.
Contact: Joseph Conrad (734) 763-4423
