STARKVILLE, Miss. ? Mississippi State’s 2009 track and field signing class swelled by five on Monday, MSU coach Al Schmidt announced.
The five additions represent five different states ? Ohio, Nevada, Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama ? and all are expected to be key contributors in both field events and on the track.
The new signees are Alyssa Hall (Cincinnati), Taisha Lee (Las Vegas), Jessica Merriweather (Memphis), Sojourner Ewing (Gulfport) and Allison Storey (Tuscaloosa).
“We are excited to have these student-athletes join our team and feel each one brings something that will make our program even better,” MSU assistant coach Bryan Fetzer said. “They are proven winners and hopefully we can make them even better.”
Alyssa Hall
Withrow High School (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Recorded the fifth-best indoor high hump in the United States with a person best 5 foot, 8 inches at the UK High School Invitational in Lexington, Ky., back in February. ... Has only been jumping for two years. ... Also a standout athlete in volleyball and basketball.
Taisha Lee
Belville State Community College (AL)/Las Vegas Ranch High School
A junior college All-American, she finished third at the NJCAA National Championships in 2008 in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 62.41. Also lead the 4x400-meter relay team to a sixth-place finish. ... Has a personal best of 14.18 in the 100m hurdles and 12.00 in the 100-meter dash.
Jessica Merriweather
Rend Lake Community College (IL)/Memphis Bartlett High School
Was a high jumper that competed on the 2008 USATF World Junior Team in Poland. ... Won the 2008 NJCAA National Championship in the high jump (6’1 1/2”) and was a high school All-American after winning the Heptathlon (4,788 points) at the 2007 Tennessee State Championship.
Sojourner Ewing
Gulfport High School
This past year was considered one of the Top 10 returning senior high school jumpers in the USA by Track and Field News. ... Last year, posted the 22nd best long jump in the USA with a leap of 19-9. ... At this year’s Class 5A championships, she finished fourth in the 400-meter dash and sixth in both the 200-meter dash and long jump. ... Won the 400m and 200m at the 5A South State meet.
Allison Storey
Northridge High School (AL)
As a ninth grader, finished second in the javelin at the Class 6A state championships. ... Finished second this year with a throw of 130-01, the second-longest in Class 6A history. ... She also finished seventh in the discuss at 96-05. ... Her personal best of 141-2 was set as a junior.
