University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt Track and Field Inks 12 During Early Signing Period
11/21/2016 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
Nov. 21, 2016
MEET THE SIGNEES
Nikki Scherer (Lower Burrell, Pa./Burrell HS)
PITTSBURGH - The University of Pittsburgh track and field team revealed 12 recruits who signed National Letters of Intent to join the Panthers in 2017-18, coach Alonzo Webb announced Monday.
"I'm really excited about this class of recruits that we have assembled so far," Webb said. "This class addresses some of the areas that we as a staff identified that would go a long way to satisfying our goal of becoming a complete track and field team, one that can compete at the highest level in all event areas in the ACC, NCAA East and nationally."
The signing class includes six combination sprinters/hurdlers: Jaylyn Aminu, Noah Cook, Daveon Finley, Alexis Leech, Breanna Phillips and Nikki Scherer.
The women's distance crew added Meghan Bartel, Ally Brunton, Emily Burd and Mikaela Vlasic.
Men's distance signed Zach Lefever - a top-five cross country athlete in the state of Pennsylvania - and a two-time New Jersey Meet of Champions qualifier, Brian Spolarich.
"There is still work to be done before we can say we are completely satisfied with this class," Webb said. "Great recruiting has a direct correlation to the success of any program, not necessarily recruiting every top recruit that everyone is going after, because that's too obvious. But along with recruiting those student-athletes, also doing our job by looking for the hidden gems in a recruiting class: kids that fit our program, kids of high character, academic integrity and have a blue-collar work ethic."
MEET THE SIGNEES
Jaylyn Aminu (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty HS)
Events: Sprints
PR: 60m - 7.68; 100m - 11.77; 200m - 24.7
Events: Sprints
PR: 60m - 7.68; 100m - 11.77; 200m - 24.7
Career accomplishments:
- 2016 PIAA State Champion, 100m
- State medalist, 4x100m
- Third in the state for 100m in 2015, seventh for indoor 60m
- District XI and regional record holder
- Two-time all-state team
- Seven-time all-conference
- Six-time district champion
- State medalist, 4x100m
- Third in the state for 100m in 2015, seventh for indoor 60m
- District XI and regional record holder
- Two-time all-state team
- Seven-time all-conference
- Six-time district champion
"Jaylyn will be a great addition to our women's sprint squad. She proved to be a great competitor, beating an elite field of sprinters at the 2016 Pennsylvania State Championship meet in the 100-meter dash. She has rare combination of speed and strength that will help her excel at the Division I level. We are excited to see her progress throughout her career." - Coach Alonzo Webb
Meghan Bartel (Findlay, Ohio/Liberty-Benton HS)
Events: Mid-Distance
PR: 1600m (in) - 5:18.25; 1600 - 5:04.82
Career accomplishments:
- Two-time state qualifier in cross country
- Qualified for state track in five events during her career
- Collected All-Ohio honors in the 3,200 relay twice
- Finished fourth in the 1,600-meter run as a sophomore
- Qualified for state track in five events during her career
- Collected All-Ohio honors in the 3,200 relay twice
- Finished fourth in the 1,600-meter run as a sophomore
"Meghan adds depth to our recruiting class this fall. She is an extremely talented young lady, and one of the top milers in the state of Ohio. She will contribute in both cross country and middle distances here at Pitt." - Coach Adam Bray
Ally Brunton (Pottstown, Pa./Owen J. Roberts HS)
Events: Mid-Distance
PR: 800m (in) - 2:19.32; 800m - 2:15.31; 1600m - 5:03.66; 1 Mile (in) - 5:21.86
Career accomplishments:
- Two-time Tri-County Girls Track Athlete of the Year
- Set a school record in the 1600m
- State medalist as part of the 4x800m relay team
- Helped high school team win first Pioneer Athletic Conference Championship since 2004
- Ran a personal best and school record of 2:15.31 in the 800 in the District 1 preliminaries, placing seventh in the finals to earn a place in the PIAA Class AAA championships
- Set a school record in the 1600m
- State medalist as part of the 4x800m relay team
- Helped high school team win first Pioneer Athletic Conference Championship since 2004
- Ran a personal best and school record of 2:15.31 in the 800 in the District 1 preliminaries, placing seventh in the finals to earn a place in the PIAA Class AAA championships
"Ally is one of the most talented kids in the state of Pennsylvania. She is going to add depth to our distance crew in both the middle distances on the track and cross country during the fall. I'm looking forward to seeing how she progresses through her career." - Coach Adam Bray
Emily Burd (Havertown, Pa./Friends Central HS)
Events: Mid-Distance
PR: 400m - 1:03.23; 800m (in) - 2:22.01; 800m - 2:16.75; 1600m - 5:02.38; 1 Mile (in) - 5:05.25
Career accomplishments:
- Placed fifth in the 1500m and fourth in the 3000m at the 2014 AAU Junior Olympic Games
- Finished sixth in the 400m at the 2014 Friends School League Championships (1:03.23)
- Runner-up in the indoor 1500m at the 2015 Colgate Women's Games Finals (4:43.99)
- Placed third in the 1600m at the 2016 PAISAA Championship (5:08.93)
- Finished sixth with a personal record of 5:05.25 in the one-mile at the 2015 PTFCA Indoor State Championship
- Finished sixth in the 400m at the 2014 Friends School League Championships (1:03.23)
- Runner-up in the indoor 1500m at the 2015 Colgate Women's Games Finals (4:43.99)
- Placed third in the 1600m at the 2016 PAISAA Championship (5:08.93)
- Finished sixth with a personal record of 5:05.25 in the one-mile at the 2015 PTFCA Indoor State Championship
"I believe Emily is a great addition to our program. She is a tough competitor and we envision Emily coming in and making an immediate impact on our program. Emily is another athlete that will be a key component to our future success." - Coach Adam Bray
Noah Cook (Bowling Green, Ohio/Bowling Green HS)
Events: Sprints
PR: 100m - 10.66; 200m - 21.53
Career accomplishments:
- Seventh in 100m and fourth in 200m at state meet
- Owns the school record in the 100m and 200m
- Reached state meet sophomore year (100m) and junior year (100m, 300m, 4x200m)
- Competing at the AAU Junior Olympics
- Owns the school record in the 100m and 200m
- Reached state meet sophomore year (100m) and junior year (100m, 300m, 4x200m)
- Competing at the AAU Junior Olympics
"Noah is a powerfully-built sprinter that will provide needed depth to our sprint corps and is expected to positively impact both short and long relays. I'm excited to see his development as a national caliber athlete." - Coach Alonzo Webb
Daveon Finley (Portage, Ind./Portage HS)
Events: Hurdles
PR: 60m hurdles - 7.99; 110m hurdles - 14.28
Career accomplishments:
- State runner-up in 4x100m - 41.62 (2016)
- Indoor state champion in 60m hurdles
- Indoor State runner-up in 4x200m - 1:31.3 (2016)
- Placed sixth his junior year in the 110m hurdles at state meet after placing eighth as a sophomore
- Six-time all-state for indoor and outdoor
- Indoor state champion in 60m hurdles
- Indoor State runner-up in 4x200m - 1:31.3 (2016)
- Placed sixth his junior year in the 110m hurdles at state meet after placing eighth as a sophomore
- Six-time all-state for indoor and outdoor
"Daveon is one of the top hurdlers in Indiana as well as the Midwest. He was the indoor state champion in Indiana in the 60 meter hurdles last year and has great potential at the collegiate level. We are looking forward to having him join our track and field program here at Pitt." - Coach Alonzo Webb
Zach Lefever (Ephrata, Pa./Ephrata HS)
Events: Distance
PR: 3200m - 9:19.33
Career accomplishments:
- Pennsylvania state medalist in the 3200m, placing sixth as a junior
- Finished fourth at 2016 PIAA 3A cross country state meet
- Took second place at the L-L League championships, third at districts
- Finished fourth at 2016 PIAA 3A cross country state meet
- Took second place at the L-L League championships, third at districts
"Zach is an exciting addition to both the men's cross country and track and field teams. He is a top-five cross country athlete in the state of Pennsylvania and the top returning two-miler on the track. Zach will be looked upon to make an immediate contribution to the success of both teams." - Coach Bryan Jackson
Alexis Leech (Butler, Pa./Butler Area HS)
Events: Sprints
PR: 200m (in) - 27.85; 200m - 25.96; 400m (in) - 1:00.05; 400m - 57.33
Career accomplishments:
- Joined the track team in January of her Junior year, 2016
- Competed at the indoor and outdoor PIAA State Championships
- Qualified for the outdoor state championships in the 400m and as the anchor on the 4x400m relay team
- Helped set two school records during indoor season in the 4x200m and 4x400m relays
- Helped set the the outdoor 4x400m relay record
- Won Track Team MVP award her junior year as well as the Tri-Athlete Award, and the 100 Point Award while scoring 173.5 points on the track
- Competed at the indoor and outdoor PIAA State Championships
- Qualified for the outdoor state championships in the 400m and as the anchor on the 4x400m relay team
- Helped set two school records during indoor season in the 4x200m and 4x400m relays
- Helped set the the outdoor 4x400m relay record
- Won Track Team MVP award her junior year as well as the Tri-Athlete Award, and the 100 Point Award while scoring 173.5 points on the track
"Alexis came on the scene late in her junior year and quickly rose to the top of her class in the 400-meter dash. She is a tall, fluid runner with an immense amount of potential. She will add depth to a great long sprint squad." - Coach Alonzo Webb
Breanna Phillips (Fort Wayne, Ind./Fort Wayne Northrup HS)
Events: Sprints/Hurdles
PR: 100m Hurdles - 14.78; 60m Hurdles - 9.02; 400m Hurdles - 1:01.27; 400m - 55.02; High Jump - 5'6"
Career accomplishments:
- Indiana's all-time indoor 400m record holder (56.54, 2016 UK Invitational, broke 42-year-old Indiana record) (2016)
- USATF Junior Olympic All-American 400m Hurdles (2016)
- First athlete to win four individual events at conference championship meet (100m, 100H, 400m, HJ) (2016)
- USATF Junior Olympic All-American 400m Hurdles (2016)
- First athlete to win four individual events at conference championship meet (100m, 100H, 400m, HJ) (2016)
"Breanna is expected to be an impact long sprinter/hurdler that will help to continue the success of this group. She will be part of a talented freshman class that will help propel us to the top of the ACC, and beyond." - Coach Alonzo Webb
Nikki Scherer (Lower Burrell, Pa./Burrell HS)
Events: Sprints
PR: 60m (in) - 7.82; 100m - 12.10; 200m (in) - 25.26; 200m - 24.24; 400m - 59.98
Career accomplishments:
- PIAA 100m AA state champion (2015)
- PIAA 200m AA state runner-up (2016)
- Seven-time state medalist
- WPIAL 200m record holder (24.24)
- Four-time WPIAL champion
- Ten-time WPIAL medalist
- Two-time all-state
- PIAA 200m AA state runner-up (2016)
- Seven-time state medalist
- WPIAL 200m record holder (24.24)
- Four-time WPIAL champion
- Ten-time WPIAL medalist
- Two-time all-state
"Nikki has been one of the top sprinters in Pennsylvania since her freshman year. She is the kind of versatile sprinter that can help our program in so many ways. Nikki will have an immediate impact on our team, in short and long sprints as well as both relays as we strive to compete on a national level." - Coach Alonzo Webb
Brian Spolarich (Oxford, N.J./Warren Hills HS)
Events: Distance
PR: 3200m - 9:18.35
Career accomplishments:
- Two-time New Jersey Meet of Champions qualifier
- First team all-area in 3200m
- Finished 13th in the 3200m at New Jersey state meet, Meet of Champions (9:18.35)
- Set school record with 9.19.22 in the 3200m, finishing fifth at NJSIAA Group 3 meet
- First team all-area in 3200m
- Finished 13th in the 3200m at New Jersey state meet, Meet of Champions (9:18.35)
- Set school record with 9.19.22 in the 3200m, finishing fifth at NJSIAA Group 3 meet
"We are excited about what Brian brings to the table for both the men's cross country and track and field teams. He has qualified for the Meet of Champions in New Jersey each of the last two seasons (2016 track and 2016 cross country). Brian had a breakout season on the track as a junior and has a lot of upside, he will be looked upon to contribute immediately." - Coach Bryan Jackson
Mikaela Vlasic (Hatfield, Pa./North Penn HS)
Events: Mid-Distance
PR: 400m - 58.41; 800m (in) - 2:17.88; 800m - 2:13.60
Career accomplishments:
- Varsity letterwiner in three sports: cross country, winter track and spring track
- Finished eighth in the 800m at the 2016 PIAA T&F State Championships with a personal record of 2:13.60
- Finished 17th with a personal-record time of 18:45.00 at the PIAA District 1 Cross Country Championships
- Finished eighth in the 800m at the 2016 PIAA T&F State Championships with a personal record of 2:13.60
- Finished 17th with a personal-record time of 18:45.00 at the PIAA District 1 Cross Country Championships
"We are very excited to add Mikaela to our program. We think that Mikaela will add to our middle distance groups recent successes. I think Mikaela is going to make a major impact in the ACC. She is a very talented young lady and I am really looking forward to getting to work with her." - Coach Adam Bray
The complete 2016-17 track and field schedule is available online at PittsburghPanthers.com.
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