Women?s Cross Country Signs Three Distance Standouts

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. ?? Alabama head women’s cross country coach Randy Hasenbank announced the signing of three prep distance standouts to join the Crimson Tide in the 2008 season. Sara Vaughn (Tulsa, Okla.), Kelsey Johnson (Iowa Park, Tex.) and Andrea Torske (Rowlett, Tex.) will bring their lofty credentials to the Capstone for both the cross country and track seasons.

“I am very excited about this recruiting class, as we have a great tradition here at the University of Alabama in all aspects of cross country and track and field,”

 Sara Vaughn

head women’s track coach Sandy Fowler said. “I feel our signees can be a huge part in our future.”

Vaughn comes to Tuscaloosa from Union High School in Tulsa, Okla. The two-time defending state champion in cross country, enters her senior track season as a two- time defending state champ in the 800 meter run as well.   In addition to also winning the 1600 at last May’s outdoor championship, Vaughn posted the states’ fastest time, at both, 800 (2:12.89) and 1600 (5:06.42) meters. Gatorade and RISE magazine recently selected Vaughn as the Oklahoma Girls’ Cross Country Runner of the Year after she defended her state cross country title last fall. 

“We are very, very excited that Sara Vaughn will join our program,” Hasenbank said. “Sara is a tremendous talent.  She holds herself to a very high standard academically and athletically.  Her commitment to academic excellence plays large roll in her success as a runner.  She is very disciplined.  As an athlete, Sara is unique in the fact that she possesses great range.  To win the state cross country title and the state 800 title shows that she has very good speed and strength.  She will add great quality to our program and she will be a lot of fun to work with.”

Vaughn, a 4.0 student and National Honor Society member, twice claimed victory (??06 & ??07) in the Arkansas-Oklahoma Dual, a cross country event matching the top runners from each state.  In addition to her five state titles, Vaughn has earned runner-up honors in the 1600 and the 3200.  She was also the 5th place medalist in the state cross country finals as a sophomore.   Vaughn has also helped lead Union High School, led by Coach Mike Stanton, to team tiles in Outdoor Track and Field in 2006 and 2007.

“We are thrilled that Sara has chosen the University of Alabama,” Fowler said. “Sara is extremely talented and will add a quality of depth to our program. Sara also takes her academics very seriously which illustrates her commitment to herself and her future.  I look forward to being a part of helping Sara mature both academically and athletically within the Alabama family. “

Kelsey Johnson 

Johnson will come to the Capstone from Iowa Park High School in Iowa Park, Tex. Johnson is the No. 3 returning 1600 meter runner in the state of Texas.  A four time all-state performer, Johnson posted her personal best of 4:58.6 in the 1600 meter run in her victory last spring at the prestigious Jesuit-Sheener Relays in Dallas. Johnson was  a third place finisher at the 2007 state cross country championship in November and  holds virtually every distance running record at Iowa Park High School including 10:55 for 3200 meters. 

“I am very excited that Kelsey is coming to the University of Alabama to continue her studies and chase her athletic dreams,” Hasenbank said. “This young woman is extremely dedicated to her sport.  She knows what it takes, and has made the necessary sacrifices in order to become successful. We are looking forward to Kelsey joining us in the fall. Her training and development should allow her to make a smooth transition physically. We also recognize that Kelsey is a very strong willed individual.  To be ranked #1 in her class academically while competing among the elite talent in Texas says a lot about her.  We are looking forward to her contributions to our program.”

In addition to her tremendous athletic abilities, Johnson also ranks No. 1 in her class and is a member of the National Honor Society.  Johnson has competed in the last two Footlocker South finals finishing as high as 20th. She recently competed in the USA junior cross country championships held in San Diego where she finished an impressive 17th.   Johnson also competes for the Dallas Metroplex Striders coached by Terry Jessup.

“I look forward to Kelsey having a great career here at Alabama both athletically and academically,” Fowler said. “Kelsey will add to our elite students as she is extremely dedicated to her studies. Being ranked number one in her class talks for itself with regard to dedication and commitment and sacrifice. I always say academics and athletics complement each other very well, as a result this has added to the reason why Kelsey is so dedicated to cross country and track & field.  She knows the sacrifices and has used them to her advantage both in the classroom and in cross country course and track.”

Andrea Torske of Garland High in Rowlett, Texas enters her outdoor season as one of the top rated seniors in Texas at 3200 meters. As a junior, Torske ran 11:03

 Andrea Torske

for 3200 meters and competed in the Texas state finals.  Torske is also a state qualifier in cross country and holds several school records.  She is also a three time District champion and all-region performer. 

“Andrea is a very, very, intelligent young lady with tremendous potential,” Hasenbank said. “She is just scratching the surface in regards to what she can accomplish as an athlete.  As a student, Andrea will make a very smooth transition to the University of Alabama. She will graduate from the International Baccalaureate program at Garland High in May; she will be well prepared academically. “

Torske, a tremendous student, is a member of the National Honor Society, and has earned the distinction of National Merit Semi-Finalist.  In September, Andrea was chosen as the Dallas area “Runner of the Week”.

“Andrea will bring quality and depth to our program both in cross country and in track & field,” Fowler said. “She has only begun to see the talent and potential that she possesses as a student-athlete as she grows into her role she will be a very important contributor to our program.  She is extremely intelligent and will adjust very easy to the transition from Garland High School to the University of Alabama.”

The three signees will join junior college transfer Betty Rotich (Nakuru, Kenya). Already this season, Rotich has clocked a NCAA provisional time in the 5000 meters with a finish of 16:40.17. Rotich has turned in the second fastest times on the team in the 3000 (10:04.89) and mile (4:57.60). 

Rotich was a six-time National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) National Champion at Colby Community College. The Nakuru, Kenya native won her six national titles in a period of seven months, starting with the 2006 NJCAA cross country national championship last November. In the 2007 indoor season she won the mile, 3,000m and 5,000m national championships and in the 2007 outdoor season she won the 5,000m and set a new NJCAA meet record in winning the 10,000m.

For her efforts she earned NJCAA All-American, NJCAA All-Region VI and All- Jayhawk Conference in each of those events. Rotich currently holds the Colby CC records in seven different events; XC 4K, XC 5K, indoor Mile, indoor 3,000m, indoor 5,000m, outdoor 5,000m and outdoor 10,000m. Prior to joining enrolling at Colby CC she won three NAIA national titles at Missouri Baptist. She won both the indoor and outdoor 5,000m and the outdoor 10,000m in 2006.

University of Alabama Athletics

Women?s Cross Country Signs Three Distance Standouts

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