RADFORD, Va. –Four Virginians ranked in their events at both the national and state levels have signed letters of intent to join the Radford track & field teams for the 2009-10 season.
Elaine Derricott (Henrico), Jasia Richardson (J.R. Tucker) and Anthony Carlie (Prince George) of Richmond, and Drew Hall of Vinton (William Byrd) were recently inked to Brent Chumbley’s second recruiting class as head coach at Radford.
“Obviously we are thrilled with the initial signings this year,” says Chumbley. “Mark White and Willie Johnson have done an outstanding job getting out into the state and getting some of the best athletes onto our campus. Elaine and Jasia will fill some big voids for next year, and should be regional level athletes as freshmen. Anthony and Drew will step in and compete for conference points, along with regional berths as well. This is a great start for Radford track & field as we build the 2009-10 team.”
White, Radford’s recruiting coordinator/assistant coach, says that the four athletes signed to compete for the Highlanders in 2009-10 are the first of several more to come.
“We’re definitely not done yet and we’re still looking at more good performers,” White says. “But the four that we have signed are athletes we feel are not only ready to step in and score for us at the Big South Championships, but they’re quality people as well.”
Elaine Derricott – triple/long jump (Richmond, Va./Henrico)
White on Derricott: “Elaine is one of the most versatile athletes in the state and has tremendous ability that has yet to be tapped. She’s a talented performer in the long and triple jump, but her ability to compete in three sports (track & field, volleyball, basketball) gives her the potential to be outstanding for us, once she arrives here and focuses on one sport.”
- Ranked 21st nationally and eighth in Virginia in the long jump
- Currently 41st in the country and tenth in Virginia in the triple jump
- Posted the sixth-best long jump distance in the commonwealth as a junior, 53rd-best nationally
Jasia Richardson - triple jump (Richmond, Va./J.R. Tucker)
White on Richardson: “Jasia was an athlete that we were high on from the beginning. Not only does she have great ability and consistency in the triple jump, but she comes from a good program at J.R. Tucker that made her as solid as she is. Jasia has a world of potential and a great athletic build that gives her a lot of upside when she arrives at Radford.”
- Ninth-ranked indoor triple jumper in the nation
- Group AAA Indoor State Champion in the triple jump in 2008
Anthony Carlie - long jump/sprints (Richmond, Va./Prince George)
White on Carlie: “Anthony’s versatility is key for us. Not only is he solid in the long jump, but he’s a good sprinter as well and can immediately help us in the 100m and 4x100m events. We look for him to come to Radford and make an impact from day 1, and contend for a conference championship in the long jump.”
- Ranked 24th nationally in the long jump and fifth in Virginia
- Posted a time of 10.8 in the outdoor 100m as a junior
- Richmond Times-Dispatch All-Metro Team
- Central District long jump champion in 2008
- All-Group AAA 4x100 relay performer
Drew Hall - mid-distance (Vinton, Va./William Byrd)
White on Hall: “We’re excited to get someone local like Drew and someone who can fill an immediate need for us. He’s ready to step in and score at the conference championships in the 800m, an event that the Big South, as a whole, is strong in. Plus, Drew is versatile enough to contribute on our 4x400m team and the 400m for us.”
- Ranked 33rd nationally and 14th in Virginia in the indoor 500m
- Part of a 2008 Group AA State Championship 4x800 team at William Byrd
- All-state 4x800 performer
- Posted an outdoor time of 1:53 as a junior in the 800m, the fifth-best time in the commonwealth, and the 80th-fastest time in the nation.