STARKVILLE, Miss. ? Mississippi State associate head coach Steve Dudley announced Monday the signing of six student-athletes for 2009. The six talented young distance runners will be eligible to compete in the 2009-10 season.
“All of these young men will be a great addition to both our cross country and track and field programs,” Dudley said. “They are a very talented group, and we look forward to watching them improve within our program.”
The 2009 signing class features some of the top distance runners from the states of Alabama, Ohio, Maryland and Texas.
2009 MSU Signing Class:
Kyle Balderson
Sherwood High School
Sandy Spring, Md.
"Kyle is a talented up and coming athlete that we look very much forward in watching improve within our program," Dudley said.
Henry Li
Seven Lakes High School
Katy, Texas
“We are really excited about Henry joining our program,” Dudley said. “He is a talented athlete we look forward to watching improve within our program.”
Nick Perkins
Hoover High School
Hoover, Ala.
"The addition of Nick brings our cross country program a tough, hard-nosed competitor that will make the adjustment of moving up to the 8K and 10K distances easier than most," Dudley said.
Chase Rathke
Seven Lakes High School
Katy, Texas
2008 Foot Locker Finalist
“We are really excited about having Chase join our cross country and track and field teams,” assistant Coach Houston Franks said. “Each year there are only 40 high school athletes in the United States that qualify to compete for the Footlocker Cross Country Championship in San Diego, and this year Chase was one of those forty,” added Franks. “ I have not come across many high school athletes as driven and determined as Chase, and we expect he will be a great runner for us in both cross country and in track for years to come,” Franks said.
Alexander Richter
Wallace State [AL] Community College
Cullman, Ala.
"I am looking forward in working with Alex due to his extreme devotion to hard work,” Dudley said. “Alex is a very accomplished athlete that will bring a work ethic to our sprint group that will be hard to match.”
Eric Schmidt
Centerville High School
Centerville, Ohio
"Eric is an extremely dedicated and a hard-working student/athlete that should have an immediate positive impact in our distance program," Dudley said.
