ATLANTA, Ga. -- Nine student-athletes are set to join the Georgia State cross country program beginning this fall, head coach Chris England announced recently. The five men's runners and four women's runners will compose England's first class as head coach.
"I am really excited about the new class of runners that are coming to GSU," said England. "We have a really good mixture of runners from the state of Georgia and then nationally and internationally."
The student-athletes who will be joining the men's team include brothers Brandon and Julian Black from Roswell, Ga., Canadian star Jordan Collison, Warren Enriquez from Fayetteville, Ga., and Tyler Tomy, younger brother of current GSU cross country and track and field performer, Seth Tomy.
"We had to bring in several men due to only two returning from this year's squad," said England. "It is a very talented group. We are especially impressed with Jordan Collison out of Southampton, Ontario, Canada. He won some impressive races at the national level and he should be able to come in and be an asset immediately."
Joining the women's team will be Ohio runner Kathryn Papesh, a pair of metro Atlanta runners, Jennifer Rubel and Anna Sinclair and London, Ontario, Canada native Madison Halls.
"With a lot of returning runners, we didn't need quite as many additions as the men's team," said England. "However, these ladies are also talented and will be solid additions to our returning core."
England begins his first season as head coach of the Panthers in the fall.
2010 Georgia State Cross Country Signees
Brandon Black - Centennial High School/Roswell, Ga.
- Three-Time GHSA State Cross Country Qualifier
- Three-Time USATF Jr. Olympic Qualifier
- Twin Brother, Julian, also signed with GSU
Julian Black - Centennial High School/Roswell, Ga.
- Three-Time GHSA State Cross Country Qualifier
- Three-Time USATF Jr. Olympic Qualifier
- Twin Brother, Brandon, also signed with GSU
Jordan Collison - Saugeen District Secondary School/Southampton, Ontario, Canada
- 2008 Canadian Junior National Championships - 3,000-Meter Steeplechase - 7th Place
- 2008 Ontario, Canada Track and Field Championships - 2,000-Meter Steeplechase - 1st Place
- 2008 Ontario, Canada Track and Field Championships - 3,000-Meter Run - 1st Place
- 2009 OFSAA Track and Field Championships - 2,000-Meter Steeplechase - 2nd Place
Warren Enriquez - Starrs Mill High School/Fayetteville, Ga.
- Currently Ranked 12th in the State of Georgia - 1,600-Meter Run
- 1st Place at the 2010 Fayette County Track Championships - 1,600-Meter Run
- 2009 Fayette County Cross Country Champion
- 2009 Georgia Region 5-AAAA Cross Country Champion
- 2009 Georgia State Cross Country Championships - 7th Place
- Georiga State Cross Country Championship Qualifier - 2007-2009
Tyler Tomy - Milton High School/Milton, Ga.
- 2008 Georgia State Cross Country Championships - 5th Place
- Georgia State Championship Qualifier - 2008-2009
- No. 1 Runner on High School Team
Madison Halls - St. Thomas Aquinas/London, Ontario, Canada
- Eighth in the 800-Meter Run at OFSSA Province H.S. Championships
- Two-time OFSAA Qualifier in the 800M
- 3rd Nationally at Legion Youth Nationals 800M Run
- Personal Best in the 800M: 2:14.21
- Personal Best in the 1,500M: 4:53.20
Kathryn Papesh - Dublin Scioto High School/Dublin, Ohio
- Ohio State Championships Qualifier in Cross Country and Track and Field - 2009
- 2009 District Track Champion - 1,600-Meter Run
- 2006 and 2009 District Cross Country Team Champions
- Personal Best in Cross Country 5K - 18:58
- Also Played Varsity Basketball - Ranked 3rd in the State in 3-Point Field Goal Percentage
- Co-Captain of Both the Varsity Cross Country and Basketball Teams
Jennifer Rubel - Woodward Academy/College Park, Ga.
- Four-Time Cross Country GHSA State Qualifier
- Three-Time Varsity Letterwinner at Woodward
- GHSA State Track and Field Qualifier - 3,200-Meter Run
- Academic Interests Include Math and Writing
Anna Sinclair - North Forsyth High School/Cumming, Ga.
- Top 10 Finisher at GHSA State Cross Country Championships
- 1,600-Meter Run and 3,200-Meter Run Runner Up at Forsyth County Track and Field Championships
- Two-Time Varsity Letterwinner in Cross Country and Track and Field
- Sports a 3.5 GPA
