Mead adds four recruits for Clayton State women’s cross country
Freshman phenom Chelsea Ellis heads list of Laker newcomers

MORROW, Ga. – August 27, 2007 – Coming off, perhaps, the best season since their inception in 1995, the Clayton State Laker women’s cross country team brings in four newcomers to the Laker program for 2007. Three of the newcomers are not strangers to Clayton State since they are returning students while the fourth is a promising freshman.

"We did not have a strong recruiting season as we would have liked, but we have some terrific additions," said Clayton State head coach Mike Mead. "Three of the four do not have a cross country background, but have been hard-working and are very coachable."

The three campus recruits are led by junior Kara Stokes from Augusta, Ga., who has been a part of the Laker women’s track program the past two seasons and holds the team record in the 400-meter hurdles. Stokes also showed promise this past spring running an 800-meter run in 2:27.

"Kara came in as a 400-meter hurdler and used the 800-meters to build strength," Mead said. "I believe she can become a very good 800-meter runner by doing cross country this fall. She just needs consistent training, some confidence and she will go far."

The other two campus recruits are Jennifer Rhodes, a senior from Stockbridge and Megan Stubbs, a junior from Fayetteville. Rhodes comes in with a swimming background and is a former Salem High School student who will graduate this December from Clayton State. Stubbs, who attended Sandy Creek High School, approached Mead last spring about running cross country.

"Jennifer and Megan are hard-working and will bring a lot to our program," Mead said. "With some consistent training the next eight weeks, they will be a factor for us when we need them."

The lone newcomer to the cross country team is freshman Chelsea Ellis from Port St. Lucie, Fla. Ellis ran cross country and track at Lincoln Park Academy and has a personal-best of 20:12 for 5K on the roads. In track, she has run 5:20 for 1600-meter run and split a 2:21 800-meter on a 4x800-meter relay.

"Chelsea brings a solid background into our program," said Mead. "She had one of the best summers for training than any freshman, other than Allison Kreutzer (two-time cross country All-American), we’ve ever had in our program. Once she gets comfortable with our system, I think she will flourish."

The Lakers, along with the men’s team, open their 2007 on September 15 at the Georgia State Invitational.