University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt Track And Field Announces Early Signing Class
12/21/2018 2:22:00 PM | Track & Field
PITTSBURGH – University of Pittsburgh track and field head coach Alonzo Webb announced his early signing period class of six student-athletes on Friday afternoon.
The six signees each inked their National Letters of Intent to attend and compete at Pittsburgh next year for Coach Webb and his staff.
When asked about the signing class, head coach Alonzo Webb said "We are following the same trend as our last two recruiting classes as we signed some kids who are really talented and will make an immediate impact on our program at Pitt. We were looking for athletes who could come in right away and be a major contributor for us and I think these six athletes are going to do that in their respective areas."
The class will include a trio of distance runners in Mary Borkoski, Jack Wisner and Jack Miller that will come in and compete for Coach Herbster right away.
Borkoski enters her senior season as the number one available steeplechase runner in the country and third ranked steeplechaser overall in the country. This past cross country season, Borkoski won seven of her nine races that she appeared in.
Coach Herbster on Borkoski: "We are very excited to add Mary Borkowski as she is one of the top steeplers in the country. She has great range and will be able to help us in all three seasons, cross country, indoor and outdoor track & field. She has been a major contributor over her four years in high school and will come right in and help elevate the Pitt distance program."
Wisner comes to Pitt from Carlisle, PA where he had a great cross country season during his senior campaign. The distance specialist has posted career-best times of 1:56.30 in the 800 meter run and 4:18.71 in the 1600 meter run over his high school career.
Coach Herbster on Wisner: "Jack Wisner is coming to us from a very storied program in Carlisle, PA. Getting somebody of his caliber and range is a huge get for our program. He is going to contribute in all three seasons but we expect him to make major contributions in the indoor and outdoor track & field seasons for us."
Miller will join the Panthers from Jenkintown high school in Jenkintown, PA where he was a PIAA State Champion for his squad. He closed out a very successful cross country season this year with eight wins in nine races while also placing 21st at the Footlocker Regional meet.
Coach Herbster on Miller: "Jack Miller is strong both academically and athletically and will represent Pitt at a high level. He will bring an immediate impact to the program in all three seasons. He has great range and has a good understanding of the direction of our program."
Lydia Bottelier will come to Pittsburgh and jump for Coach Alonzo Webb III next season. Bottelier is one of the best high jumpers in the country as she was rated No. 1 in the state of Pennsylvania and No. 7 in the country for returning athletes. The Kintnersville, PA native has a career-best high jump of 5'-10" and a career-best long jump of 18'.
Coach Webb III on Bottelier: "Lydia Bottelier is someone who is going to make an immediate impact on our program as she is already a three-time State Champion and will be looking to add to that this season. She is somebody that knows how to win and that will be huge for us as we look to build this program. The heights she has posted already would put her inside the top three in the ACC so we are looking at her as someone who will be able to lead by example and appear in the conference championships each year for us."
Throwing for the Panthers and Coach Brent Shelby next season will be Laurel Kun who comes to Pitt from Lincoln high school in Portland, OR. Kun is a very accomplished thrower that will come in and compete right away for the Panthers.
Coach Shelby on Kun: "Laurel brings commitment and hard-work, along with a relentless pursuit of success. Her achievements in the shot-put and weight throw make her tailor-made for ACC success."
Brianna Spirnak will be joining the Panthers and throwing for Coach Brent Shelby next season after a successful career at Elizabeth Forward high school in Elizabeth, PA. A very accomplished high school thrower, Spirnak comes to Pitt with a personal record of 151'0 in the javelin, a mark she set during her junior season. She was also the state runner-up in the javelin in 2018 while being ranked fifth among returning athletes in the javelin this season.
Coach Shelby on Spirnak: "This WPIAL standout and 2018 state runner-up brings a history of success in not just track and field, but is also a force in volleyball and basketball. A 1,000 point scoring forward for Elizabeth Forward is also the fifth ranked returning javelin thrower in the country and will continue that pursuit at Pitt."
The Panthers will return to competition on Saturday, Jan. 12 as they head to University Park, PA for the Nittany Lion Challenge, hosted by Penn State.
The six signees each inked their National Letters of Intent to attend and compete at Pittsburgh next year for Coach Webb and his staff.
When asked about the signing class, head coach Alonzo Webb said "We are following the same trend as our last two recruiting classes as we signed some kids who are really talented and will make an immediate impact on our program at Pitt. We were looking for athletes who could come in right away and be a major contributor for us and I think these six athletes are going to do that in their respective areas."
The class will include a trio of distance runners in Mary Borkoski, Jack Wisner and Jack Miller that will come in and compete for Coach Herbster right away.
Borkoski enters her senior season as the number one available steeplechase runner in the country and third ranked steeplechaser overall in the country. This past cross country season, Borkoski won seven of her nine races that she appeared in.
Coach Herbster on Borkoski: "We are very excited to add Mary Borkowski as she is one of the top steeplers in the country. She has great range and will be able to help us in all three seasons, cross country, indoor and outdoor track & field. She has been a major contributor over her four years in high school and will come right in and help elevate the Pitt distance program."
Wisner comes to Pitt from Carlisle, PA where he had a great cross country season during his senior campaign. The distance specialist has posted career-best times of 1:56.30 in the 800 meter run and 4:18.71 in the 1600 meter run over his high school career.
Coach Herbster on Wisner: "Jack Wisner is coming to us from a very storied program in Carlisle, PA. Getting somebody of his caliber and range is a huge get for our program. He is going to contribute in all three seasons but we expect him to make major contributions in the indoor and outdoor track & field seasons for us."
Miller will join the Panthers from Jenkintown high school in Jenkintown, PA where he was a PIAA State Champion for his squad. He closed out a very successful cross country season this year with eight wins in nine races while also placing 21st at the Footlocker Regional meet.
Coach Herbster on Miller: "Jack Miller is strong both academically and athletically and will represent Pitt at a high level. He will bring an immediate impact to the program in all three seasons. He has great range and has a good understanding of the direction of our program."
Lydia Bottelier will come to Pittsburgh and jump for Coach Alonzo Webb III next season. Bottelier is one of the best high jumpers in the country as she was rated No. 1 in the state of Pennsylvania and No. 7 in the country for returning athletes. The Kintnersville, PA native has a career-best high jump of 5'-10" and a career-best long jump of 18'.
Coach Webb III on Bottelier: "Lydia Bottelier is someone who is going to make an immediate impact on our program as she is already a three-time State Champion and will be looking to add to that this season. She is somebody that knows how to win and that will be huge for us as we look to build this program. The heights she has posted already would put her inside the top three in the ACC so we are looking at her as someone who will be able to lead by example and appear in the conference championships each year for us."
Throwing for the Panthers and Coach Brent Shelby next season will be Laurel Kun who comes to Pitt from Lincoln high school in Portland, OR. Kun is a very accomplished thrower that will come in and compete right away for the Panthers.
Coach Shelby on Kun: "Laurel brings commitment and hard-work, along with a relentless pursuit of success. Her achievements in the shot-put and weight throw make her tailor-made for ACC success."
Brianna Spirnak will be joining the Panthers and throwing for Coach Brent Shelby next season after a successful career at Elizabeth Forward high school in Elizabeth, PA. A very accomplished high school thrower, Spirnak comes to Pitt with a personal record of 151'0 in the javelin, a mark she set during her junior season. She was also the state runner-up in the javelin in 2018 while being ranked fifth among returning athletes in the javelin this season.
Coach Shelby on Spirnak: "This WPIAL standout and 2018 state runner-up brings a history of success in not just track and field, but is also a force in volleyball and basketball. A 1,000 point scoring forward for Elizabeth Forward is also the fifth ranked returning javelin thrower in the country and will continue that pursuit at Pitt."
The Panthers will return to competition on Saturday, Jan. 12 as they head to University Park, PA for the Nittany Lion Challenge, hosted by Penn State.
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