March 12, 2008

EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State cross country and track & field programs have received signed National Letters of Intent from 12 athletes to join the team in the fall of 2008. The newcomer cast will join an already talented group of young athletes from the cross country and track & field squads.

"We are really excited about the student athletes who have committed to Michigan State thus far," said MSU Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Walt Drenth. "We have addressed needs in every event area, moving closer to our goal of becoming a balanced competitive track and field program. We have commitments from exceptional nationally ranked athletes who we expect will become significant Big Ten scorers. It is exciting to think about attending championship events with this group of student athletes."

Below is a look at each of the signees:

REBECCA BUCHHOLTZ
Jumps
East Troy, Wis./East Troy High School
Personal Best: High Jump - 5-9, Triple Jump - 37-1/4, Long Jump - 17-4

HIGH SCHOOL & PERSONAL DATA: Three-year letterwinner in track ... 2007 State high jump champion and record holder (5-9) ... 2007 high jump regional champion, section and conference runner-up ... State indoor high jump champion ... State, sectional and conference triple jump champion in 2007 ... 2007 Regional runner-up, state runner-up and conference long jump champion ... All-State in high jump and triple jump in 2007... 2006 state, sectional, regional and conference high jump champion; All-State in high jump ... 2005 state and sectional high jump runner-up; regional and conference high jump champion ... Set school records in the high jump in 2005 and triple jump in 2007 ... Beloit Invitational Female Field Athlete MVP in 2006 and 2007 ... 2007 Team MVP ... Gatorade "Will to Win" award winner in 2006 ... Voted 2005 Most Promising Freshman ... Born May 23, 1990 ... Daughter of Don and Dawn Buchholtz ... Plans on majoring in chemistry.

LYDIA BROWER
Throws
Zeeland, Mich./Zeeland East
Personal Bests: Discus - 100-7, Shot Put - 37-2

HIGH SCHOOL & PERSONAL DATA: All-conference and all-region selection after competing in one year of track & field in 2006 ... Four-year starter on high school volleyball team ... Born April 10, 1990 ... Daughter of Dave and Rhonda Brower ... Plans on majoring in kinesiology.

KATHERINE GUIKEMA
Jumps
Byron Center, Mich./South Christian High School
Personal Best: Long Jump - 19-5

HIGH SCHOOL & PERSONAL DATA: Four-year letterwinner in cross country and three-year letterwinner in track & field ... Two-time all-conference in cross country (2006-07) ... Three-time all-conference in track and field (2005-07) ... Placed fifth in the long jump her sophomore year, and was state champion in her junior season ... Two-time all-state selection in the long jump in 2006-07, and a member of the 1600m relay team that also earned all-state honors both years ... Cross country team took second place in the state her sophomore year, while helping the team earn academic all-state status ... Born Feb. 12, 1990 ... Daughter of Curt and Amy Guikema ... Plans on majoring in special education.

KATHERINE HAINES
XC/Distance
Rockford, Mich./Rockford High School
Personal Bests: 800m - 2:18.9, 1600m - 5:00.3, 3200m - 10:50.01, 5000m - 17:47.3

HIGH SCHOOL & PERSONAL DATA: Four-year letterwinner in cross country and three-year letterwinner in track & field ... Cross Country: Voted all-conference in 2004-07, conference champion in 2006 and runner-up in 2004 and 2007 ... Selected all-region 2004-07, regional champion 2005-06 and runner-up in 2007 ... All-state selection in 2004 (11th), 2005 (2nd), 2006 (3rd), and 2007 (10th) ... Voted to the 2005 and 2006 Michigan Interscholastic Track Coaches Association (MITCA) Dream Team ... 2004 Outstanding Freshman award ... 2006 and 2007 Most Valuable Runner ... Advance Newspaper All-Area First Team in 2004-07 ... 2007 Gatorade Michigan Girl's Cross Country Runner of the Year ... Track & Field: All-conference in 2005 and 2007 ... Conference champion in the 4x800m, 1600m and 3200m in 2007 ... Earned all-region honors in 2005-07 ... 2007 regional champion in 4x800m and 1600m ... 1600m state champion in 2007 ... Advance Newspaper All-Area Track First Team ... 2005 Most Valuable Distance Runner ... 2007 State Representative Michael Sak - Oustanding Female Distance Runner in West Michigan Award ... Born Aug. 26, 1989 ... Daughter of Ken and Sara Haines ... Undecided on intended major.

BRIAN HANKINS
XC/Distance
Pinckney, Mich./Pinckney High School
Personal Bests: 800m - 1:57, 1600m - 4:17, 3200m - 9:32, 5000m - 15:27

HIGH SCHOOL & PERSONAL DATA: Four-year letterwinner in track and three-year winner in cross country ... Cross Country: All-county selection in 2005-07 ... 2007 All-County Athlete of the Year ... All-state in 2005-07 ... 2005-07 Team State Champions ... 2007 Individual State Cross Country Champion ... Track & Field: 2006-07 All-county selection ... All-regional in the 1600m and 3200m in 2007 ... All-state in the 4x800m in 2007 ... 2007 Indoor and Outdoor All-America selection in the 4xMile ... Born Jan. 18, 1990 ... Son of Phil and Paula Hankins ... Plans on majoring in either kinesiology or landscape architecture.

CORYN MARZEJON
Sprints
Huntley, Ill./Huntley High School
Personal Bests: 100m - 12.36, 200m - 24.81, 400m - 56.13

HIGH SCHOOL & PERSONAL DATA: Four-year letterwinner in track & field ... Three-time all-state 400m sprinter (2005-07) ... All-state in the 200m in 2005-06 ... 2006-07 state qualifier in 100m ... 2005 200m state qualifier ... Two-time 800 medley state qualifier (2005-06) ... All-state indoor sprinter in the 200m and 400m in 2006-07 ... 2007 state qualifier and finalist in the 55m dash ... Born March 2, 1990 ... Daughter of Gerald and Kim Marzejon ... Plans on majoring in broadcast journalism.

JOSH MCALARY
XC/Distance
Jackson, Mich./Lumen Christi High School
Personal Best: 800m - 1:58, 1600m - 4:17.08, 3200m - 9:23, 5000m - 15:36

HIGH SCHOOL & PERSONAL DATA: Four-year letterwinner in cross country and track & field ... Cross Country: All-region, all-county and all-conference in 2004-07 ... All-state 2005-07 ... Runner of the Year for Jackson Area 2006 and 2007 ... Member of the Michigan High School All-Star Cross Country Team ... Track & Field: Indoor all-state in the 1600m in 2006 ... All-conference and all-region in 2004-06 ... All-county in 2005-06 ... 2005 all-state in 3200m ... All-State runner-up in 1600m and 3200m in 2006 ... Born May 30, 1990 ... Son of James and Amy McAlary ... Plans on majoring in elementary education.

LONNIE PUGH
Throws
Gross Ile, Mich./Grosse Ile High School
Personal Best: Shot Put - 55-4, Discus - 187

HIGH SCHOOL & PERSONAL DATA: Four-year letterwinner in track & field and football, and a three-year winner in basketball ... State qualfier in the discus his freshman year ... State champion on the discus for Division II in sophomore season ... Took third in the shot put and sixth in the discus at the state meet his junior season ... All-state in track & field ... Holds his high school record in the discus ... All-Huron League First-Team selection in 2005 and 2006 ... Two-time Newshearld champion in the discus in 2005 and 2006, owning the discus record at the Newshearld Meet ... Born Feb. 23, 1990 ... Son of Patricia Pugh ... Plans on majoring in kinesiology.

JESSICA SCHERTING
Jumps
Saginaw, Mich./Heritage High School
Personal Best: High Jump - 5-6, Long Jump - 17-5, Triple Jump - 34-10

HIGH SCHOOL & PERSONAL DATA: Four-year letterwinner in track ... Division 1 All-State selection in the high jump in sophomore and junior years ... Indoor track all-state long jumper in 2006 ... Division 1 state qualifier in long jump in 2006 ... Four-year academic honor roll student ... Two-year letterwinner in basketball and team captain in 2007 ... Born April 29, 1990 ... Daughter of Jeff and Robin Scherting ... Plans on majoring in special education.

SLOAN SECORD
XC/Distance
Gaylord, Mich./Gaylord High School
Personal Best: 800m - 2:21, 1600m - 5:14, 3200m - 11.27, 5000m - 17:49

HIGH SCHOOL & PERSONAL DATA: Four-year letterwinner in cross country and track & field ... Cross Country: First place at the 2007 State Finals and named Miss Cross Country 2007 ... Had nine first place finishes in 2007, including setting three course records at three different events ... 2007 individual and team state champions ... Conference champion in 2007 and regional champion in 2006 and 2007 ... All-regional and all-conference selections for all four years of high school ... Track & Field: Seventh place in state in the 3200m, regional and conference champion in the 3200m and 1600m in 2007 ... Born Nov. 26, 1990 ... Daughter of Jay and Trina Secord ... Undecided on intended major.

BRENT SHUTTLEWORTH
Jumps
Edwardsburg, Mich./Edwardsburg High School
Personal Best: High Jump - 6-6

HIGH SCHOOL & PERSONAL DATA: Four-year letterwinner in track & field and soccer ... 2006 all-conference honorable mention in the high jump ... Third place in the high jump at the 2006 regionals ... 2007 First-Team All-Conference in the high jump ... Second place in the high jump at the 2007 regionals ... 2007 State high jump qualifier ... Born June 16, 1990 ... Son of Marty and Lora Shuttleworth ... Plans on majoring in marketing.

MAGGIE SMITH
Jumps
Cadillac, Mich./Cadillac High School
Personal Best: Long Jump - 17-7

HIGH SCHOOL & PERSONAL DATA: Named to the 2005-07 all-district and all-region teams ... 2005 All-State selection ... Received track team's 2006 Best Long Jumper award and 2006 Most Improved Athlete Award ... Earned track team's 2007 Most Valuable Athlete award ... Set three school records in the 4x100m (48.4), 4x200m (1:44.7), and long jump (17-7) ... Born May 1, 1990 ... Daughter of Peter and Connie Smith ... Undecided on intended major.