Lander Signs Five Women's Cross Country Runners

GREENWOOD - Lander cross country coach Bob Stoner today announced the signing of five cross country runners to National Letters of Intent for the 2008-09 academic year.

The signees are: Kenya Jeter, Spartanburg, S.C.; Heather Lundin, Orange Park, Fla.; Claudia Nunez-Lopez, Chapin, S.C.; Katie Quarles, Pendleton, S.C.; and Karmen Twitty, Kershaw, S.C.

"This is one our best recruiting classes ever," said Stoner, who is entering his 19th season as the Lander coach. "This class, teamed with our returning runners, will give us the opportunity to improve in both the Peach Belt Conference and the region. I'm excited about working with this talented group of runners."

Jeter, a senior at Boiling Springs High School, had a very successful first year of cross country by running a 20:42 (5-kilometers) at the state championships during her senior year.

Lundin, a senior at Ridgeview (Fla.) High School, was an all-district and all-region runner in track and cross country, while posting a 19:38 in cross country and a 5:17 mile. She finished seventh in the Florida State championships in the one-mile run.

Nunez-Lopez, the younger sister of Lander's Olga Nunez-Lopez, is a senior at Chapin High School. She was an all-state runner in cross country and clocked a 19:46 in the 2007 state championships. She also finished sixth in the prestigious Disney Cross Country Classic last fall and was seventh in the state championships in the one-mile run this spring.

Quarles, a senior at Pendleton High School, placed seventh in the state cross country championships as a junior and won the regional title her senior year. Her personal best is 20:27. She is also a versatile track and field athlete.

Twitty, a senior at Andrew Jackson High School, is an all-region champion in both the one- and two-mile runs. Andrew Jackson doesn't offer cross country, but Twitty will bring a 12:22 personal best in the two-mile run to Lander.

Lander's returning runners are seniors Olga Nunez-Lopez, who ran No. 1 for the Bearcats last season and earned a spot on the All-Peach Belt team, and Anna Lohmann, who ran No. 3 for the team all season.

"On paper, we should have the best 1-2-3 we've ever had," added Stoner. "Our depth will also be a lot better than it's ever been. The talent level we have should create a very good training environment and, hopefully, that will allow us to improve as the season progresses."

Stoner added that he is still working on a couple other prospects for the upcoming season.