RADFORD, Va. ---- Coach Mackenzie Wartenberger welcomes a deep 2015 recruiting class to the Radford cross country program. The class features 13 harriers, seven on the men's side and six on the women's.
 
"I am incredibly excited and honored by our incoming freshmen class," exclaimed Wartenberger. "For the second year in a row, Highlander cross country is adding a huge group of athletes, with a record setting year on the men's side, which is such an affirmation of what we are doing here as a program and how well our dedicated student-athletes represent themselves, both in our community and across the region.
 
"This incoming class is one of the strongest the program has ever put together, for both genders, and I expect to see many of them race well beyond their years as we get them into a Radford uniform. I am so thrilled to be bringing in student-athletes who believe in Radford University and are fiercely motivated to compete and take Highlander cross country to the highest levels. I could not be more proud to welcome this class and to see what the future holds."
 
For the latest news on the Radford cross country team, follow the Highlanders on Twitter at @RadfordTrackXC. To keep up with all Radford athletics, follow @RU_Athletics on Twitter.
 
The incoming Highlanders…
 
Ashenafi Kidanu :: Woodbridge, Va. :: Woodbridge HS
::Stats::
Concluded his high school career with a personal-best 16:19 at the VHSL State Cross Country Championships…Finished 22^nd at the VHSL Championships…Finished inside the top 10 at four meets in 2014, highlighted by a first-place performance at MileStat.com Invite…Turned a 4:17.83 on the track in the 1,500-meter run and a 4:33.63 in the mile…3,200-meter run best of 9:54.01 in April 2015 at the Gokejian Twilight Classic.
 
::Coach Wartenberger on Kidanu::
"Ash brings an incredible depth to our recruiting class in terms of long-distance ability. Ash is a true distance-runner, mentally and physically, and I look forward to his success in the longer collegiate distances."
 
Ryan Small :: Nokesville, Va. :: Patriot HS
::Stats::
Ran his personal best of 16:09.93 at the 2013 VHSL Conference Championships…His 2014 top time was a 16:13.00 turned in at the Foot Locker South Regional…Came in 37^th at the VHSL Cross Country Championships with a time of 16:30.00…Clocked a 9:50.57 at the 2014 VHSL Regionals in the 3,200-meter run…Won the Battlefield Conference Meet in the mile with a 4:43.60.
 
::Coach Wartenberger on Small::
"I am incredibly excited to have the opportunity to work with Ryan. I have been following his career for years, and what has always impressed me about Ryan (besides his obvious talent) is his passion for our sport and for team. I know he will play an important role as this impressive freshmen class begins to take shape."
 
Ridge Ellis :: Saluda, Va. :: Middlesex HS
::Stats::
Won his conference championship meet in cross country with a time of 16:44.00…Earned second at the VHSL State Meet, clocking a 16:42…Took first in 2012 at the Region A cross country championships…Placed second in the outdoor mile in 2012 in Region A and won the two mile in the same event.
 
::Coach Wartenberger on Ellis::
"Ridge is pure 100% pure athleticism and competitiveness. He is an elite on the state-level with his distance running, but was also a championship-caliber wrestler throughout his high school career. What I really appreciate about Ridge is that nothing scares him; he just wants to work and compete. I know he will be extremely successful on the collegiate level."
 
Sean Tully :: Dumfries, Va. :: Pope Paul the Great Catholic HS
::Stats::
Clocked a personal best 16:26.11 at the 2014 Virginia State Catholic Cross Country Championships to take first…Finished inside the top 10 at the Virginia Independent Schools State Cross Country Championships…ran a 16:50.00 at the Foot Locker South Regional…Turned in a 9:41.80 in the 3,200 meters at the Wildcat Track Classic in April 2015…Best mile came at the Woodberry Forest Invite in 2015 with a 4:29.07…Was fifth in the mile at the VISAA Indoor Track & Field Championships.
 
::Coach Wartenberger on Tully::
"Sean is an incredible talent from the Catholic school league in Virginia. I know he is going to turn a lot of heads once he gets into a system that pushes him to be the best."
 
Cameron Mims :: Haymarket, Va. :: Battlefield HS
::Stats::
Came in second in the mile with a career-best 4:41.02…crossed the line in third at the Battlefield Conference meet in 4:45.30 in the mile…clocked a 9:55.04 3,200-meter run at the VHSL Conference Indoor Championships…His best 5,000-meter run in cross country was a 16:27.80 at the Third Battle Invite…took fourth at 2014 VHSL Conference Championship in 16:44.10.
 
::Coach Wartenberger on Mims::
:Cameron really impressed me this fall during the cross country season. He has all the physical tools to be a fantastic runner, but most importantly, has that mentality that has made him a consistent contender as a high schooler and will make him an important part of what we are building here at Radford as a collegian."
 
Jeff Gibson :: Alexandria, Va. :: Thomas Edison HS
::Stats::
Placed fifth at the 2014 Foot Locker South Regional with a 16:01.00…16th at the VHSL State Cross Country Championships, clocking a 16:20.00…In 2014, crossed in 11th at the Foot Locker South Regional with a time of 16:08.00…Finished inside the top 20 at every cross country meet this past fall…On the track, turned in a 9:35.26 at the VHSL State Indoor Championships, finishing in fourth…Won VHSL Conference Indoor Championships in 2015 in the two mile…Ran a 4:31.94 mile at the Lake Braddock Hall of Fame Invitational…was 14th at the 2014 Nike Spring Invite in the mile.
 
::Coach Wartenberger on Gibson::
"Jeff is one of my favorite athletes out of this bunch to watch compete. Jeff was blessed with wonderful talent, but more importantly he is extremely gutsy during his races. He puts himself out there 100-percent when he runs, and I couldn't be more excited to work with an athlete like that moving forward."
 
Matthew Luigi :: Manassas, Va. :: Osbourn Park
::Stats::
Personal best in cross country came in a 13th-place effort at the 2013 VHSL Conference Championships where he finished 16:52.04…Took fifth at the 2014 VHSL Conference Championships with a 17:01.40…Clocked a 4:20.79 on the track in the 1,500-meter run and a 4:31.39 in the mile at the 2014 VHSL Conference Outdoor Championships, where he took fifth…Won the 2014 VHSL Conference Indoor Championships in the mile with a 4:33.73…Was 10th in the 800-meter run with a time of 1:57.00 at the VHSL Outdoor State Championships in 2014.
 
::Coach Wartenberger on Luigi::
"Matt was a late addition to our class, but brings an important speed component to the group. Matt has been a middle-distance standout in Northern Virginia for quite some time, and I am thrilled to see what he can do when he applies himself to the cross country discipline."
 
Sarah Riley :: Burke, Va. :: Lake Braddock HS
::Stats::
Clocked a personal best 19:03.00 at the 2014 VHSL State Cross Country Championships, taking 20th…Turned in a 19th-place performance with a 19:22.08 at the Disney Cross Country Classic…Ran a 19:05.30 at the Nike Cross Country Nationals Southeast Regional…Was 13th at the VHSL Regional Indoor Championships in the two mile with 11:54.61…Quickest mile of 5:31.38 turned in at the CNU HS Winter Frolic. 
 
::Coach Wartenberger on Riley::
"I am thrilled to add Sarah to our incoming freshmen class. She is having an incredible senior season, but she has a huge amount of upside that I don't think she has even begun to tap into. I know her range (she is competitive from the middle distances all the way to cross country) will serve her well as a Highlander!"
 
Audra Yarber :: Abingdon, Va. :: Abingdon HS
::Stats::
Has tallied 18 wins throughout her cross country and track career…Ran a personal best 19:04.00 to take third at the 2014 Wendy's Invite…Ran a 19:09.00 at the Foot Locker South Regional…14th at the 2014 VHSL State Cross Country Championships…Seventh at 2014 VHSL Conference Championships…Finished in the top 10 in 11 3,200-meter runs…Best two mile effort of 11:55.57 came at the Regional IV Outdoor Championships…Clocked a 5:38.96 mile at the 2015 Virginia Tech HS Invite.
 
::Coach Wartenberger on Yarber::
"Audra was our first female signee for this group, and for good reason. She has proven through years of competitive excellence that she is a force to be reckoned with throughout the distance running community in southwest Virginia and throughout the state. I am really looking forward to watching Audra continue to grow and develop into a runner who I believe can be competitive on the highest levels."
 
Percie Lyons :: Kailua, Hawaii :: Kalaheo HS
::Stats::
Tallied 23 wins throughout her cross country and track career…clocked an 18:32.00 at the Woodbridge Cross Country Classic in 2011…was 16th at Hawaii State Cross Country Championships…Has nine wins in the 800-meter run with a personal best of 2:28.49…Eighth at the OIA Track and Field Championships in 2014 in the 800 meter…Clocked a 5:03.13 in the 1,500-meter run…Third in the 1,500 at the OIA Track and Field Championships in 2014…Won the Southwestern League Finals in 2012 with a 5:36.25 in the mile.
 
::Coach Wartenberger on Lyons::
"Percie is an exciting addition to our group because she is such a competitor. Unlike Virginia, Hawaii is a little less structured with their competitive seasons, and Percie spent a lot of time this year seeking out opportunities to compete. I know that drive is going to make her a threat in any event on the college level."
 
McKenzie Shrank :: Winchester, Va. :: Millbrook HS
::Stats::
Won 17 events, ranging from the 100-meter hurdles to the 800-meter run, throughout her career…Ran a 20:24.60 at the Third Battle Invite…Competed at the 2014 Foot Locker South Regional, running a 20:53.00…Turned in an 8:50.64 to take seventh in 2,000-meter steeplechase at the MileStat.com Classic…Pair of top 10's at the VHSL State Outdoor Championships in the 100-meter hurdles and 300-meter hurdles.
 
::Coach Wartenberger on Shrank::
"McKenzie comes to us not only as an impressive distance and middle-distance talent, but also as one of the top hurdlers around. She is so athletic and explosive. I know we have scratched the surface of what she is truly capable of."
 
Elise Rasmussen :: Woodbridge, Va. :: Woodbridge HS
Has four wins in the 1,600-meter run over the past two seasons with a career best of 5:21.31 at the Running Store City-County Championship in April 2015…Finished top 15 at the VHSL State Indoor Championships in the mile after taking third at the regional level in the discipline…Was ninth in the mile at the 2014 VHSL Outdoor Championships…Career best in the two mile is a 12:19.80 at the Cardinal District Indoor Championships in 2012…On the cross country course, has a best of 19:43.00…Came in 10th at the VHSL Group 6A Conference Cross Country Championships.
 
::Coach Wartenberger on Rasmussen::
"Elise brings a really impressive range to the table, particularly in the middle distance events, and will be challenging to break into our very strong middle distance group, but I am particularly looking forward to seeing what she can do once she focuses and applies herself to the cross country discipline."

Allison Brennan :: Ashburn, Va. :: Briar Woods HS
:: Stats::
Notched six major wins to her win on the track, three in the 800-meter run and three in the mile…Clocked a personal best 2:28.16 in an 800-meter victory at the Tuscarora 5 Team Meet…Fifth at the 2014 VHSL Group 5A Conference Outdoor Championships in the 800…Career best 5:19.20 in the mile at the Wolverine Track Classic…In 2014, took second in the two mile at the VHSL Conference 14 Outdoor Championships, 13th at the Regional Outdoor Championships and 9^th at VHSL State Championships…Has stopped the clock at 19:31.00 to take 10^th at the 2013 VHSL State Cross Country Championships…Raced to 17 top-25 finishes in cross country career.
 
::Coach Wartenberger on Brennan::
"Allison is a very talented athlete who brings us depth in the distance events. She has already started off her senior outdoor track campaign with some very impressive marks, and I look forward to working with her as a Highlander!"