June 15, 2009

KENNESAW, Ga. - Owls' Track and Field Head Coach Don McGarey announced on Monday, June 15, that the Owls have added eight new recruits to next year's women's team.

The recruits include the following:

Michelle Quimby: One of the top prep pole vaulters in the nation, Quimby will join the Owls from Shenendehowa High School in Clifton Park, New York. The 2008 Indoor and Outdoor New York State Champion in the pole vault, Quimby boasts a personal best of 12' 3" in the pole vault. Quimby was 10th in the pole vault at Nike Indoor Nationals in 2009. Quimby also holds a personal best of 5' 8" in the high jump. She is currently ranked #66 in the nation in the high jump and #46 in the pole vault for US prep girls.

"Michelle is a phenomenal athlete," Assistant Coach Jerel Langley said. "She is a true competitor and really strives to be the best. If she can hit the weight room hard and continue to work hard on the track, she has the ability to be a National Qualifier. She will be invaluable in our conference and we really look forward to great things from her in the future."

Teresa Smith: A graduate of North Forsyth High School in Cumming, Georgia, Smith will join the Owls as a pole vaulter next season. The top senior in Georgia, Smith was fifth at the Class AAAAA State Championships in 2009. A former state champion gymnast, Smith owns a personal best of 10' 8" in the pole vault.

"Teresa is a very accomplished gymnast that has yet to truly transfer that talent over in the vault," Langley said. "She has great speed down the runway and her gymnastics ability has carried her this far. With improved technique and strength, Teresa will be a force in the Atlantic Sun for years to come."

Kennisha Holden: A graduate of Redan High School in Georgia, Holden joins the Owls as a very successful prep star in Georgia. In 2009, Holden took 3rd in the Class AAAAA State Championships for the 300 Hurdles and took 5th in the open 400 meters. In 2008, Holden was the AAAAA State Champion in both the 300 Hurdles and 400 meters. She holds personal bests of 42.80 in the 300 hurdles, 1:00.15 in the 400 Hurdles and 55.06 in the open 400 meters. She is currently ranked 23rd in the nation for high school girls in the 400 hurdles.

"We are extremely excited to have Kennisha be a part of our program," Assistant Coach Devin West said. "She is an outstanding talent and has been a dominant force in the state of Georgia for her entire career. We look forward to her pushing for numerous conference titles, regional and national times throughout her career."

Decoshia Boswell: Another graduate from Redan High School, Boswell will add quality depth to the Lady Owls 400 group. Boswell was a part of Redan's 2009 AAAAA State Championship 4x100 meter relay as well as their 5th place 4x400 meter relay team. She holds personal bests of 57.29 in the 400 meters and 2:22 in the 800 meters.

"Decoshia displayed a lot of range through her high school career," West said. "We look forward to having her add quality depth to our women's 400 group and contributing to our relays."

Morgan Williams: The 2009 AAAA Georgia State Champion in the 400 and 800, Williams will join the Owls from Northwest Whitfield High School. Williams was a two time "Runner of the Year" at Northwest and holds six school records at Northwest. She holds personal bests of 56.63 in the 400 and 2:18.09 in the 800.

"Morgan is a very impressive student-athlete," West said. "She graduated high school with a very impressive GPA and had a stellar career at Northwest. She capped off an impressive season by pulling a very hard double at the state meet winning the 400 and the 800. We are pleased to have her join our team and look for her to push for Regional and National marks in her career."

Naquia Williams: Williams joins the Owls from Miami Northwestern Senior High School in Miami, Florida. One of the great programs in the nation, Williams was a part of the Northwestern program that won three 4A State Titles in a row. In 2009, Williams was third in the class 4A 100 meter hurdles and sixthin the long jump. She holds personal bests of 14.73 in the 100 hurdles, 44.74 in the 300 hurdles, 18'11" in the long jump and 36'10" in the triple jump.

"Naquia brings a winning attitude to our ladies program," West said. "Miami Northwestern is one of the top high school programs in the country and they win, period. Naquia will give us strength in the short hurdles and also help solidify our horizontal jumps group. We are excited to have her join our group and hope she can help us bring home a few titles of our own"

Tai Dorsett: Dorsett joins the Owls via Mississippi State for the 2009-2010 season. A native of Nassau, Bahamas, Tai was the 2008 Bahamas Olympic Trials Champion in the 400 hurdles. Dorsett will have four years with the Owls after redshirting her freshman year at Mississippi State.

"Tai brings international experience to our women's team," West said. "Having competed at big meets such as the Bahamas Olympic Trials adds a new dimension to our women's team. She is a great talent and is still very young, still only 17. She has a lot of room to grow and we look forward to her being an Owl the next four years"

Suzee Mills: Mills is a 2009 graduate from Mill Creek High School in Georgia. She will join Aaron Chamblee and former Red Hawk and current Owl, Brian Graham, from Mill Creek. In 2009, Mills was fifth in the State AAAAA discus competition. She was the region 7AAAAA discus champion and was 3rd in the shot put, narrowly missing a trip to state. She holds personal bests of 127'9" in the discus and 38'7" in the shot put.

"Suzee has yet to tap into her ability as a thrower," Assistant Coach Jason Carruthers said. "In only her second year competing, she put up impressive numbers and was one of the best in the state. She is a hard worker and we look for her to do great things here in a Owls uniform."