Women's Track Inks Two Throwers for 2010
5/19/2009 12:00:00 AM
May 19, 2009
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Alabama women's track and field has signed two throwers for the 2010 season. Wilamena Hopkins will join the Crimson Tide from Buchholz High School in Gainesville, Fla. and Rebekah Hoppis will join the Tide from Tuscaloosa, Ala. where she competed for American Christian Academy.
Hopkins, who led her team to winning the 2005-08 District and Regional Championships, placed second in the shot put at the 2007 Florida State Championships and second in the shot put as well as the discus at the 2008 Florida State Championships. Hopkins was named the 2007 and 2008 Track Athlete of the Year and set the Buchholz school record three times.
Hopkins boasts personal bests of 46-9 1/2 and 131-0 in the shot put and discus, respectively.
Hoppis, a native of Tuscaloosa, led American Christian Academy High School to back-to-back Alabama state team titles in 2007 and 2008. Hoppis is a three-time state champion in the javelin (2005, 06, 08) and a two-time state champion in the discus (06, 08). She holds the 1A and 2A javelin state record as well as the 2A discus state record. She boasts personal bests of 137-4 in the javelin and 116-8 in the discus.
Hoppis is also a member of the National Honor Society and was the Class Treasurer. She was the recipient of the Bryant-Jordan Scholar Athlete Award and was a Wendy's Heisman State Finalist.
Head coach of the Alabama women's track and field team, Sandy Fowler, had this to say about the 2010 incoming freshmen class.
On Wilamena Hopkins:
"She is rated as one of the top shot putters in the country and recently threw a major personal best in the discus. She will make an immediate impact in the throws. Wilamena is very powerful and versatile, as a thrower she will also help in the 20-lb weight, hammer and discus events for the Crimson Tide."
On Bekah Hoppis:
"She is a state champion in the javelin with a lot of untapped potential. She has always competed in 2 sports (track and field and softball) in the spring. I can see Bekah's javelin exploding when she has the opportunity to specialize and train specifically for the throws. Bekah will also look to help the Crimson Tide in the discus. She is also a tremendous student and will do a great job in the classroom."
On distance signee Katlyn Will:
"She will be a tremendous asset to both our cross country and track and field teams here at Alabama. Her athletic ability and versatility will make her a force to compete against in both sports. Katlyn is also an excellent student and I see her adjustment to college as being a very simple and an exciting one as she will help the Crimson Tide program immediately."
On distance signee Elsbeth Denton:
"She is a very talented young cross country and track and field athlete who will develop nicely here at the capstone. Her untapped potential will benefit and develop as she trains under the guidance of Coach Hasenbank and our current middle distance and distance athletes. Elsbeth will add some depth and be very successful at this level."
