The Lock Haven University women's cross country and track & field teams have announced the 2022 recruiting class. Head coach Aaron Russell and LHU welcome 18 new Bald Eagles all of whom have signed a National Letter of Intent, have been accepted and/or have enrolled at Lock Haven University.
"We're excited to welcome the next generation of Bald Eagles to The Haven," said Coach Russell. "This fall's newcomers feature a number of district and state medalists, along with a slate of others who possess a lot of untapped potential. With six of the additions being transfer or graduate students, we immediately add significant experience to our line-up that should have an instant impact."
The new arrivals look to bolster the Bald Eagles to yet another strong season. In 2021-22, LHU picked up a fifth-place finish at the Atlantic Region Cross Country Championships, and in the track & field season, the Bald Eagles saw five student-athletes notch United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCA) All-Region honors.
Meet the Newest Bald Eagles:
Shyla Benner
Hometown: Newport, Pa.
High School: Newport
Major: Nursing
Bio: PR's: 800m: 2:57.84; 5000m: 24:19.50.
Ella Bray
Hometown: Pocono Pines, Pa.
High School: Pocono Mountain West
Major: Health & Physical Education
Bio: XC: PIAA AAA State Participant… PIAA District XI Medalist (11th) … Eastern Pennsylvania Conference Championship Medalist (9th) … T&F: Colonial League & EPAC Championship medal (6th) … PR's: 5000m: 20:26.84; 3200m: 12:05.33; 2000m Steeplechase: 8:17.73; 1600m: 5:40.95; 800m: 2:36.40.
Mallory Eck
Hometown: Lock Haven, Pa.
High School (Previous College): Central Mountain (Penn State University)
Major: Business Administration/Management
Bio: T&F: PIAA AAA State Championships Participant (Shot Put) … PIAA AAA District 6 Champion (Shot Put) … 2X PIAA District 6 Medalist (Shot Put~1st; Javelin~2nd) … 2X PHAC North Championships Medalist (Shot Put~1st; Javelin 5th) … PR's: Javelin: 113' 8"; Shot Put: 36' 3-1/2".
Katryn Gatchell
Hometown: Red Lion, Pa.
High School (Previous College): Red Lion (Geneva College)
Major: GRAD: Physician's Assistant
Bio: At Geneva in 2021: President Athletic Conference Indoor Champion (800m) … 2X PAC Indoor medalist (800m~1st; Mile~5th) … NCCAA National Championship Medalist (800m; 4th) … 2020-2021-PAC Medalist (800m~3rd) … PR's: 800m: 2:19.37; Mile: 5:30.60; 1500m: 5:17.18; 5000m: 20:27.20; 6000m:24:36.70
Natalie Gentzel
Hometown: Yaphank, N.Y.
High School: Bellport
Major: Health & Physical Education
Bio: 2X Section XI State Qualifier Medalist (100m Hurdles~5th; 400m Hurdles~6th) … 2X Section Z County "A" Championship Runner-Up (100m Hurdles; 400m Hurdles) … Indoor Section 11 League Championships Runner-Up (60m Hurdles) … 2021 2X Section 11 Division II Medalist (100m Hurdles~2nd; 400m Hurdles~2rd) … 400m Hurdle School Record Holder… Bellport High School Athlete of the Year… Golden Key Award… PR's: 100m Hurdles: 15.90; 400m Hurdles: 1:07.12; 60m Hurdles: 9.33; 400m: 61.2
Katie Gingrich
Hometown: Annville, Pa.
High School: Syner Academy Homeschool
Major: Political Science/Pre-Law
Bio: 2X Lebanon County Champion (100m Hurdles, Long Jump) … Lebanon County Championships Runner-Up (Triple Jump~2nd) … PR's: 100m Hurdles: 16.50; Long Jump: 15' 11-1/4"; Triple Jump: 32' 9-3/4".
Claire Hauser
Hometown: Medford, N.J.
High School (Previous College): Shawnee (Towson University)
Major: Pre-Physician Assistant
Bio: PR's: 5000m: 18:56.00; 6000m: 23:40.30; 1600m: 5:05.21; 800m:2:24.95; 3200m: 11:21.70.
Kaitlyn Houck
Hometown: Tyrone, Pa.
High School: Tyrone
Major: Pre-Physician Assistant
Bio: 2022 Mountain League Championships Medalist (Javelin~3rd) … PR's: Javelin: 109' 3"; Long Jump: 13' 5-1/2".
Krista Jones
Hometown: Friendsville, Pa.
High School: Elk Lake
Major: Pre-Physician Assistant
Bio: T&F: 2021 PIAA District 2 AA 1600m Champion… PIAA AA State Championship Medalist (1600m~6th) … PIAA District 2 Medalist (1600m~3rd) … Wyalusing Lasagna Invitational 1600m Champion… Molly Dry Memorial Invitational 1600m Champion… XC: PIAA State Championships A Medalist (8th) … PIAA District 2 A Individual Champion… 2018 PIAA District 2 A XC Champion… PR's: Mile: 5:07.89; 800m: 2:23.04; 5000m: 19:09.30; 3200m: 11:44.54
Megan Kendall
Hometown: Williamsport, Pa.
High School (Previous College): Loyalsock (Shippensburg University)
Major: English/Writing
Bio: At Shippensburg: 2021 PSAC Championships 100m Hurdle Runner Up… High School: PIAA State Championships AA Medalist (100m Hurdles~4th) … PIAA District IV AA Champion (100m Hurdles) … PIAA District IV AA Runner-Up (300m Hurdles~2nd) … PR's: 100m Hurdles: 14.89; 300m Hurdles: 47.45; 400m Hurdles: 1:07.54; 60m Hurdles: 9.44; Long Jump: 16' 5"; High Jump: 4' 11"; 5000m: 22:01.00
Gwen Lloyd
Hometown: Red Lion, Pa.
High School (Previous College): Red Lion (Towson University)
Major: Pre K-4/Early Childhood Education
Bio: At Towson: Dean's List; 2xCAA Academic Honor Roll (2020, 2021) … HS: PIAA State Championship AAA Participant (35th) … PIAA District III AAA Championship Medalist (18th) … YAIAA League medalist (4th) … PR's: 18:31.70; Mile: 5:18.16; 800m: 2:28.58
Alianys Morales
Hometown: Selinsgrove, Pa.
High School: Selinsgrove
Major: Pre K-4/Early Childhood Education
Bio: PR's: 60m: 9.42; 200m:31.34.
Nicole Register
Hometown: York, Pa.
High School: Dallastown
Major: Exploratory Studies
Bio: 5000m: 20:50.20; 800m: 2:45.17; 1600m: 6:07.02.
Veronica Sander
Hometown: Williamsport, Pa.
High School: Jersey Shore
Major: Exploratory Studies/Nursing
Bio: 2019 PHAC Medalist (High Jump~6th) … 2018 3xPIAA District IV AAA Medalist (100m~5th; 200m~3rd; High Jump~7th) … 3xPHAC Medalist (100m~5th; 200m~3rd; High Jump~7th) … PR's: High Jump: 5' 0"; 300m Hurdles: 49.74; 200m: 26.76; 100m: 13.24.
Greta Shaffer
Hometown: Romney, In.
High School (Previous College): McCutcheon (Earlham College)
Major: GRAD: Sport Science
Bio: 2021 HCAC XC Championship Honoree (14th) … PR's: 6000m: 24:54.5; 5000m: 21:40.9; 3000m: 12:22.84.
Katie Snyder
Hometown: Julian, Pa.
High School: Bald Eagle
Major: Biology/Biomedical Sciences
Bio: PIAA District IV AA Medalist (Discus~8th) … 3X Mountain League Championship Medalist (Shot Put~3rd; Discus~3rd; Javelin~6th) … PR's: Javelin: 98' 5"; Discus: 93' 0".
Stef Steckel
Hometown: Walnutport, Pa.
High School: Northern Lehigh
Major: Criminal Justice
Kenzie Suter
Hometown: Rebersburg, Pa.
High School: Penn's Valley
Major: Pre K-4/Early Childhood Education
Bio: PR: 60m: 9.57
Original source can be found here.
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