1998-99 FIU Track/Cross Crounty Profiles

Alexis Aguilar
Sophomore • 5-11 • Hialeah, FL (American)
Cross country returnee who is expected to be one of the top runners on the team...ran a personal best time of 27:01 at the Trans America Athletic Conference Championship, good for 30th place...finished fifth at the UCF Invitational (9/12)...3000-meter time of 9:16.72 at the Gatorade Classic (4/4) was the third best team time in that event last season...ran a leg of the 4x1600 meter relay team that competed at the Florida Relays (3/28) that finished with a 17:49.34...a three-time prep All-County performer in cross country who finished third at the 1997 state meet...personal bests in high school included a 4:22 mile, 1:55 in the 800 meters and 15:35 in the three-mile run...scholastic scholar athlete...Sports Medicine major.

Kevin Bateman
Junior • 6-3 • Valrico, FL (Bloomingdale)
An all-around athlete who became an accomplished javelin thrower in just one season of competition...TAAC champion with a throw of 61.32 meters (201-2), then bettered that mark with a throw of 64.10 meters at the Penn Relays (4/25)...missed qualifying for the NCAA Outdoor championships by just three meters...also competes with the men's soccer team...TAAC Academic All-Star in 1997-98...transferred from DePaul University where he was named to the Conference USA All-Freshmen soccer team in 1995 and third-team All-Conference as a sophomore...earned high school varsity letters in soccer, football and cross country...an Honor Roll student in both high school and DePaul...Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity member...Sports Management major.

Chris Butler
Senior • 6-0 • Kingston, Jamaica (Wilmers)
School record holder in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.45...finished second at the TAAC Championship (4/18) in that event...also recorded the team's best time in the 200 meters with a mark of 21.62 at the Gatorade Classic (4/4)...holds the school record in the indoor 55-meter dash (6.51) set in 1997 at the University Centre Hotel Invitational in Gainesville...injuries limited his outdoor competition that season...competed in the 1997 Conference Championship where he finished second in the 100-meter dash (11.07) after running a 10.92 in the qualifying heat...also finished fourth in the TAAC 200 meters (22.17)...attended Abilene Christian University as a freshman...ran with the Jamaican Junior National team that competed at the World Junior Championships in Portugal...placed fourth in the 100m and was a member of the winning 4x100 relay team at the 1994 Carifta Games and at the Penn Relays...Business Management major.

Ethan Cabiac
Freshman • 5-10 • South Daytona, FL (Seabreeze)
A walk on who can provide some depth in the middle distance events...voted prep Most Improved in track and MVP in cross country as a senior...named Most Improved in cross country as a sophomore...personal bests include a 2:05 in the 800 meters and 17:10 in a 3-mile cross country race...qualified for the USA Track & Field Cross Country Nationals in 1997 and '98...scholastic wrestler for three years...graduated high school Cum Laude and is a National Merit qualifier...member of the County All-Academic team...also voted All-County Chorus in 1997...Computer Science major.

Eric Castaing
Junior • 5-8 • Miami, FL (Sunset)
Ran a personal best time of 27:08 at last year's Birmingham Classic (9/27)...his 1:59.87 was the second fastest team time last outdoor track season in the 800 meters and recorded the team's third fastest time in the 1,500 meters (4:07.83)...member of school record setting distance medley relay team...injuries slowed his progress as a freshman...ran a season best time of 28:31, good for 16th place, at the UCF Invitational (9/13/96)...lone indoor track appearance was a 4:36.46 mile at the University Centre Hotel Invitational (1/26/97)...fifth in the outdoor 1,500 meters (4:07.38) at the Hurricane Invitational (3/15/97)...All-Miami-Dade County prep performer in both cross country and track...finished fourth at the 1995 state cross country meet and won the FIU High School Invitational that same year...1,600 meter time of 4:28.0 in 1994 was the best in the county that season...undecided major.

Sedric Cherry
Senior • 6-0 • Miami, FL (Coral Gables)
Conference champion in the triple jump with a team season best 14.97 meters (49-1.5), which established a new school record...finished fourth in the 400-meter dash at the TAAC meet (4/18)...ran a 47.68 time in the 400 meters at the Gatorade Classic, just 0.08 off the school record pace...member of the school record holding 4x400 relay teams (indoor and outdoor), as well as the outdoor 4x800 relay team...TAAC Academic All-Star in 1997-98...in 1997, had a pair of second place finishes in the outdoor season running 800 meters, with his best time of 1:54.09 at the Hurricane Classic (3/15/97)...finished second at the Conference meet in both the 800 meters (1:54.25) and the triple jump (45-1.50)...took second place in the 800 meters at the 1996 TAAC Championship...All-County football wide receiver on the high school varsity football team and also played basketball...Education major.

Jason Corbett
Junior • 5-11 • Jacksonville, FL (Wolfson)
Provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championship in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 51.19 at the USF Raging Bull (4/11)...member of both the school record holding 4x400m relay and sprint medley relay teams...his 14.70 in the 110-meter high hurdles at the Jacksonville Invitational (2/28) was the second fastest time on the team last season...second at the 1997 TAAC Championship in the 110m high hurdles (14.99) and third place in the 400m hurdles (54.19)...placed second in the 400m hurdles at the Hurricane Invitational (55.84)...was second at the 1996 high school state meet in the 300-meter hurdles and third in the high hurdles...member of Wolfson's state championship mile relay and cross country teams...Architecture/Construction major.

Carlos Diez
Senior • 5-5 • Miami, FL (Christopher Columbus)
Competed in three cross country meets last season with a 18th place best finish in the Greentree Invitational (9/7)...ran season best times of 9:57.65 in the 3,000 and 17:25.39 in the 5,000 meter outdoor runs...personal best cross country time of 29:25 came at the 1996 State Intercollegiate...finished 35th at the UCF Invitational (9/13/96)...in outdoor track, finished 10th at the '97 TAAC Championship in the 10,000 meters (36:35.66)...was ninth at the 1997 Golden Panther Invitational in the 5,000 meters (16:59.08)...as a freshman, was 10th in the 10,000 meters at the 1996 TAAC Championship (36:48.01)...Business major.

Stanley Dossous
Senior • 6-2 • Miami, FL (Central)
School record holder in the indoor 55-meter hurdles (7.65) and provisionally qualified for the 1998 NCAA Indoor Championships in that event...ran his best time of the outdoor season of 14.74 in the 100-meter hurdles at the adidas Invitational (3/21)...an injured ankle at the TAAC Championship hindered his effectiveness...previous school record holder in the 110-meter high hurdles (14.64) broken last spring...finalist for the 60-meter high hurdles (8.34) at the 1997 Barnett Bank Classic...won the 110m high hurdles at the 1997 Golden Panther Invitational then duplicated that time one week later at the Coca-Cola/Florida Relays...1996 TAAC meet champion with a time of 14.9 in the 110m hurdles...first-team All-Miami-Dade County in the 110m hurdles and second team in the 330m hurdles...runner-up for track team MVP...competed as an amateur with the Northwestern Express Track Club...Business major.

Deshon Fox
Senior • 5-11 • Nassau, Bahamas (St. Augustine's)
A walk on who has raced with the 4x400 relay team...injuries limited his effectiveness last season...ran a season best 11.55 in the 100-meter dash at the 1998 FIU Invitational...finished ninth at the 1997 Golden Panther Invitational in the 400 meters...1997 best in that event was 49.55 at the Gatorade Invitational...two-year team captain in high school...competed internationally as a member of the Bahamas Track team in several countries including Jamaica, Puerto Rico and throughout North America...graduated among the top 10-percent of his high school class with a 3.50 grade point average...Civil Engineering major.

Christian Gutierrez
Junior • 5-10 • Miami, FL (Sunset)
As a member of the cross country team, finished 17th at the 1997 Greentree Invitational with a 6.4K time of 24:10...TAAC Academic All-Star in 1997-98...first began concentrating on cross country and track in the 11th and 12th grades after playing soccer and tennis as a freshman and sophomore...voted Most Improved as a junior and received 110% Award and Highest Academic Achievement as a senior...member of Sunset's runner-up district cross country team...participated in the Spanish and Physics Clubs in high school...ran with the Miami Runners Club in 1995-96...Electrical Engineering major.

Jeremy Herring
Junior • 6-2 • Ft. Lauderdale, FL (Western)
Indoor shot put school record holder with a throw of 44'08.75'...tossed an outdoor season best 43'06.8" (13.28m) at the Gator Invitational...also threw the discus a season best 97'02.1" (29.62m)...TAAC Academic All-Star in 1997-98...competing as freshman, threw his personal best shot put distance of 44'01.5" at the 1997 Gatorade Invitational which, at the time, established a school record...was third at the 1997 TAAC Championship with a toss of 43'08.5"...finished 13th in the shot put at the '97 Barnett Bank Classic (40'08.25")...Physical Education major.

Brian Jones
Junior • 5-11 • Trinidad and Tobago (Excelsior)
Injuries forced him to sit out last season...excelled in the 100-meter dash during the spring of his freshman year...1997 Trans America Athletic Conference champion with a time of 10.94...ran a personal best 10.93 for a seventh-place finish at the Hurricane Invitational (3/15/97)...was third in the TAAC Championship in the 200-meter dash (22.16)...Business Management major.

Horace Laing
Senior • 5-8 • Miami, FL (Coral Gables)
Redshirted in 1997-98...had an outstanding freshman campaign, running his personal best of 1:50.5 in the 800 meters...won the 1997 TAAC Championship in the 800 meters with a time of 1:53.72...had a pair of 1996 second-place finishes at the Golden Panther Meet (1:54.5) and one week later at the Hurricane Invitational (1:53.02)...finished third in the '96 TAAC 400m and fifth in the 200-meter dash...ran a leg of with the school record 4x800m relay team at the 1996 Penn Relays...twice named All-State in high school in track...All-Miami-Dade County in cross country...finished second at the state meet in the 800 meters with a 1:55 time...two-year track team MVP...captain of the Letterwinners Club...also played three seasons of high school soccer...Liberal Studies/Physical Education major.

Tanjuihsien Marx
Junior • 5-11 • Miami, FL (Coral Gables)
Pole vaulter and ran the 400-meter hurdles...his 12'6" vault at the USF Raging Bull (4/11) tied for the team's season best...finished fourth at the TAAC Championship in the pole vault with a height of 11"0" and was fifth in the 400-meter hurdles (59.35) in his best time of the season...was a pole vaulter and 110m and 330m hurdler in high school...prep personal bests were 10'6" in the vault, 16.7 in the 110m and 44.6 in the 330m hurdles...member of Coral Gables' 1992-93 division championship team...Exercise Physiology major.

Joe Mazzeo
Freshman • 5-8 • West Palm Beach, FL (John I. Leonard)
An All-County cross country runner expected to make an immediate impact on the team...three time prep MVP in both cross country and track...personal bests include a 4:23 mile, 9:50 two-mile, 15:37 three-mile, 0:51 in the 400 meters and 1:58 in the 800 meters...helped his high school teams to a pair of county championships, two district championships and two conference titles...a four-year scholar athlete...Education major.

Roody Metelus
Sophomore • 6-0 • Miami, FL (G. Holmes Braddock)
Recorded his personal season bests at the adidas Invitational (3/21) when he ran 24.02 in the 200-meter dash and 15.46 in the 100-meter high hurdles...ran track and field and played football in high school...named Outstanding Hurdler as a senior when he won the district championship in the 110m hurdles...made 55 tackles in football as a prep senior and was voted to the Miami-Dade County All-Star game...named Braddock's Outstanding Athlete in 1996-97...participated in Dance, on the Drill Team and Challenger Patrol in high school...member of the African American Heritage Club...Accounting major.

Joe Michalak
Freshman • 6-1 • Margate, FL (Coconut Creek)
Outstanding prep competitor in track and cross country...won eight varsity letters in the two sports...twice named team MVP in cross country and twice named in track...All-Broward County...personal bests include a 1:59 half mile, 4:23 in the mile, 9:53 in the two mile and 15:49 in three miles...a high school Honor Roll student who was also an officer in the Ecology Club and parliamentarian for DECA...Business major.

Kevin Mondesir
Junior • 5-10 • Orlando, FL (Poincia)
A walk-on who has shown steady improvement, particularly in the jumps...his high jump height of 6'4" at the Gatorade Classic (4/4) was a personal best and the team's season best...finished sixth at the TAAC Championship in the triple jump (43'7") and was seventh in the 400-meter dash (50.50)...was fifth in the high jump at the 1997 TAAC meet with a height of 5'10"...also finished seventh in the long jump during that same meet...played four years of basketball, and a season each of football and track in high school...Sports Medicine major.

Erik Montalvo
Sophomore • 5-11 • Miami, FL (Belen Jesuit Prep)
An outstanding high school runner who showed promise both in cross country and track...finished third at the 8K Central Florida Cross Country Invitational (27:11)...personal best was a 26:28, good for 15th place, at the State Intercollegiate...finished 23rd at the TAAC Championship and led the team with a 54th place finish at the NCAA Qualifying meet...his 1:52.87 in the 800 meters at the USF Raging Bull Invitational was a team season best as was his 4:02.79 in the 1,500 meters...Conference champion in the 800m with a time of 1:55.25, third in the 1,500m...voted Belen's Athlete of the Year as both a junior and senior...team MVP in cross country from 1995 through '97 and in track from 1994 through '97...All-State in both sports as a senior...state champion as a junior with a 4:18 mile...State 4A Runner of the Year in 1996...Architecture major.

Fidelis Mutyambizi
Senior • 5-8 • Zimbabwe (St. George's)
Sat out last season...finished sixth in the 400-meter dash (53.38) at the 1997 Hurricane Invitational...transferred from the University of Idaho where he ran track for two seasons...ran track and played rugby and tennis in high school...scholastic All-Academic student-athlete who was a member of the debate, judo and karate teams...Finance/Marketing major.

Ryan Neese
Freshman • 6-0 • Jacksonville, FL (Allen D. Nease)
Brings outstanding prep credentials...will be looked upon to help out in distance events...won eight varsity letters, four each in cross country and track...All-City, All-State and 1998 team MVP...personal bests include 50.9 in the 400 meters, 1:55 in the 800m, 3:02 in the 1,200m, 4:19 in the mile and 28:53 in the five-mile run...member of Nease's 1998 4x800m state championship relay team...finished third at the state meet in cross country...winner of a Gold Seal and Target Scholarship...Architecture major.

Johann Odermatt
Junior • 5-5 • Hialeah, FL (Hialeah Miami Lakes)
An outstanding high school distance runner who has spent the last two years studying at Miami-Dade CC North...ran prep track and cross country for former FIU assistant coach Bill Evans...1994 District 8-5A regional and individual champion and The Miami Herald's Runner of the Year...helped HML to the 1994 district and regional cross country team championships...winner of the Dade County Youth Fair Championship in the 3,200 meters...father Manny Odermatt was a amateur gymnast champion in Chile for two years...sister Michelle was a All-American who played on two national championship teams at Miami-Dade CC South...sister Ingrid was an All-South cross country runner for FIU and winner of the TAAC Championship in the 800 meters...Marketing and International Business major.

Dwayne Palmer
Freshman • 5-11 • Miami, FL (Southridge)
A three-year high school varsity letter winner who will compete in the hurdles...1998 state champion in the 300-meter hurdles...voted Best All-Around Athlete at Southridge...undecided major.

Richard Patterson
Junior • 5-9 • Weston, FL (St. Thomas Aquinas)
A walk-on who recorded the team's second best long jump (21'3.5") and triple jump (46'3")...threw his season best discus (98'11") to finish eighth at the TAAC Championship...also finished fourth in the triple jump and fifth in the long jump at that meet...expected to perform in the decathlon ran four years of prep track and field...An All-Broward County athlete voted on by both The Miami Herald and Sun-Sentinel...All-Broward Coaches Award winner...two-year Honor Roll student...Nursing major.

Sean Prospect
Freshman • 5-10 • Margate (Coral Springs)
Excelled in both cross country and track in high school...named first-team All-County in cross country as both a sophomore and senior...team track and field MVP for three seasons...personal bests include 50.5 in the 400 meters, 1:58 in the 800m, 16:36 in the 1,600m, and 16:14 in cross country...undecided major.

Sean Roach
Senior • 5-8 • San Juan, Trinidad (Tranquility Secondary)
One of the team's best long sprinters...member of the indoor mile relay team...redshirted for the outdoor season...finished third at the 1997 TAAC Championship in the high jump (6'0") and seventh in the 400-meter dash (50.66)...ran a season best 49.02 in the 400 meters at the 1997 Miami Gatorade Invitational...second at the '96 TAAC in the high jump (6'2")...sat out his freshman season...cleared 6'10" as a scholastic high jumper...competed in soccer, swimming and track and field in high school...prep Athlete of the Year for four straight years...won Mathematics honors in high school...jumped for the 1990 Trinidad Junior National team and for the club Team Concorpe in 1992... also a member of the Kenney Track club...Industrial Engineering major.

Gabriel Rodriguez
Junior • 5-10 • Miami, FL (Christopher Columbus)
Considered the top distance runner on the team...ran a personal best time of 25:17 at the Birmingham Cross Country Classic, good for 18th place...that time ranks as the fifth best all-time in FIU history...finished fifth at the TAAC Cross Country Championship (25:26) for first-team All-Conference honors...TAAC Academic All-Star in 1997-98...his third-place finish at the 1997 U.S. Junior National Championships in the steeplechase, earned him Junior All-America honors...TAAC champion in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a conference record and FIU Community Stadium record time, 9:31.35...holds the school record in that event set at the 1998 Penn Relays (9:18.34)...in his only 1997 indoor track appearance, finished first at the University Centre Hotel Invitational in the 3,000 meters with a time of 8:27.07...was second in the steeplechase at the 1997 TAAC meet (9:52.0)...All-Miami-Dade County in both cross country and track in high school...placed among the top ten finishers at the 1995 state cross country meet...second place in the two-mile run at the state meet as a senior...FIU Honor Roll student...Sports Management major.

Alex Shaw
Sophomore • 5-11 • Miami, FL (Sunset)
Distance runner whose best times were 9:35.08 in the 3,000 meters at the 1998 Gatorade Classic and 16:17.00 in the 5,000 meters at the FIU Invitational...finished 16th in the 1998 TAAC 5,000-meter run...finished fourth in the 5,000m at the Jacksonville Invitational (16:30)...ran cross country and track in his final two years in high school winning two varsity letters in each...after placing 30th in the state cross country meet, voted second-team All-Miami-Dade County as a senior...led his Sunset cross country team to an undefeated season in 1997 (13-0) and a second place finish in the GMAC, district and regionals...Special Education major.

Ouma Skinner
Junior • 5-11 • Port of Spain, Trinidad (Fatima College)
A walk-on distance runner who finished 24th at the 1997 Greentree Invitational with a 6.4K time of 24:33...season-best times in track were 2:02.22 in the 800m at the 1998 USF Raging Bull Invitational and 4:30.88 in the 1,500-meter run at the FIU Invitational...placed 13th at the 1997 TAAC track meet in the 1,500-meter run (4:28.24)...finished sixth in the 800 meters (2:04.96) at the 1977 Hurricane Invitational...personal best in that event is 2:01...Business major.

Matt Slotkin
Sophomore • 5-8 • Ft. Lauderdale, FL (Western)
Top returning shot putter and discus thrower on the team...hurled a team best 13.97m (45'10") shot at the 1998 Gatorade Invitational, establishing a new school record...finished second in that event at the TAAC Championship with a put of 13.69 meters (44'11")...37.14m (121'10") discus throw at the TAAC Championship was the team's season best...finished fifth in the hammer throw (23.02m) at the TAAC...undecided major.

Matt Williams
Junior • 5-9 • Ft. Myers, FL (Ft. Myers)
Middle distance runner who recorded outdoor best times of 4:12.40 in the 1,500 meters, 9:27.00 in the 3,000 meters and 16:41.00 in the 5,000-meter run...finished 11th in the 1998 TAAC Championships in the 1,500m (4:14.81)...Sports Management major.

Juan Yanes
Junior • 5-10 • Miami, FL (Christopher Columbus)
A walk-on distance runner who was slowed by injury last year...recorded his season-best marks of 4:31.48 in the 1,500 meters, 9:38.43 in the 3,000 meters and 16:42.14 in the 5,000 meters...finished 13th at the 1998 TAAC Championship in the 5,000-meter run (16:42.14)...third-place finish at the 1997 Hurricane Invitational in the 3,000 meters (9:10.59) in his very first intercollegiate competition...ran a 4:10.19 in the 1,500-meter run at the 1997 Golden Panther Invitational...placed fifth at the '97 TAAC meet in the 10,000 meters (34:20.50)...All-County cross country selection in high school...History major.

Liz Borrell
Sophomore • 5-6 • Miami, FL (Coral Gables)
Expected to be one of the top runners on the cross country team...just missed All-Conference honors at the TAAC Championship with a 13th place finish...the next week, finished 93rd at the NCAA Qualifying meet with a personal best 19:44...ran middle distances in track with season best times of 2:18.99 in the 800 meters, 4:52.66 in the 1,500 meters and 11:36.67 in the 3,000-meter run...finished sixth in the 1,500 meters of the '98 TAAC Championship (4:54.06) and 13th in the 3,000m (11:36.67)...TAAC Academic All-Star in 1997-98...first-team All-Miami-Dade County in cross country and track...Coral Gables' Female Athlete of the Year in 1996-97 and cross country team MVP...third in the state meet mile and ninth at the cross country championship...Social Work major.

Peta-Gaye Campbell
Freshman • 5-3 • Miami, FL (Killian)
A scholar athlete who will be given the opportunity to compete in the sprints...ran three years of track and two of prep cross country...graduated high school in only three years with a grade point average of 3.86...received Killian's Academic/Athletic Award for 1995-96...voted Most Improved in 1996...given the Courage Award as a junior and Leadership Award as a senior...has been modeling as a hobby since 1995...member of her high school French Club and Fellowship of Christian Athletes...Hospitality Management major.

Tiffany Cook
Sophomore • 5-4 • Orlando, FL (Dr. Phillips)
Sprinter who saved her best for last...ran her season best times at the 1998 TAAC Championship, finishing second in the 100-meter dash (11.69) and fourth in the 200 meters (24.70)...member of the school record holding indoor 4x400 relay team and the outdoor 4x100 and sprint medley relay teams...state champion in the 100 and 200 meters as a prep sophomore when she ran her personal best 200m time of 24.2...participated with the Olympic training camp as a junior...Orange County 6A Runner of the Year and two-time MVP...ran two years with USA Track and Field's Central Florida Gliders...four-year high school Honor Roll student-athlete...Business major.

Anita Edwards
Freshman • 5-8 • Ft. Lauderdale (Stranahan)
An all-around talented athlete who should contribute with the sprints...ran four years of track and a season of cross country and played four years of basketball...first-team All-Broward County from 1996 through '98 and last year's County Runner of the Year...named the team's Most Valuable Runner every year since 1994...State 5A champion in the 200-meter dash with a personal best time of 24.30 in that event...11.8 personal best time in the 100m and 57.00 in the 400m...ran with the Beverly Track Stars club each summer from 1994 through '98...high school ROTC cadet in high school and class commander as a senior...Secondary Education major.

Anita Gilland
Junior • 5-9 • Hollywood, FL (Hollywood Hills)
Multi-talented athlete who not only had the best distance in the high jump last season (5'4.25"), but also had the top javelin throw (85'7") on the team...finished second and the 1998 TAAC Championship in the high jump, earning All-Conference recognition...1997 TAAC champion in the high jump (5'6")...fifth place TAAC finisher in the 200-meter dash (26.21)...All-Broward County track star who competed in the heptathlon...prep All-Conference performer for four years...played high school soccer, was the team's high scorer as a senior and was named second-team All-County...Elementary Education major.

Janell Grasso
Freshman • 5-3 • Palm Beach Gardens, FL (William T. Dwyer)
An all-around high school athlete who will be dedicating herself to track...will run cross country in the fall, middle distances in track...competed in cross country, track and basketball in high school...named MVP in cross country and Most Dedicated in track and field...personal bests include a 2:21 in the 800 meters, a 5:20 mile and a 3-mile time of 19:21...member of Dwyer's state champion 4x800 meter relay team...helped her prep teams to district and conference championships...played AAU basketball in 1995...an Honor Roll student in high school...Physical Therapy major.

Monique Hayez
Senior • 5-5 • Miami, FL (Killian)
Joins the track team after playing a season of soccer at FIU...played in 13 games for the Golden Panthers in 1996, scoring a goal and two assists...All-TAAC academic student-athlete...played soccer and lacrosse at Dickinson (PA) College before transferring to FIU...was a three-year varsity letterwinner in soccer in high school...named Rookie of the Year in 1991...also played two years of volleyball and crew and a season of water polo...Liberal Studies and Women's Studies major.

Shannon Heninger
Sophomore • 5-6 • West Palm Beach, FL (William T. Dwyer)
Will run cross country as well as track this year after concentrating solely on track as a freshman...member of the school record holding outdoors 4x800-meter relay team and distance medley relay team...ran the team's second-fastest 800 meters, in a personal best time of 2:14.08 at the 1998 Gatorade Invitational...recorded her personal best 1,500m time of 4:53.47 at the '98 USF Raging Bull Invitational...finished third in the 800m at the TAAC Championship, earning All-Conference honors...high school All-State and All-Palm Beach County performer in cross country...state champion in the 800 meters (1996-97)...three-time track team MVP...finished third at AAU Track & Field Nationals in the 800m...undecided major.

Antranque Jackson
Freshman • 5-2 • Uniondale, NY (Uniondale)
An outstanding high school performer who will be looked upon to provide immediate impact...scholastic varsity letterwinner in track every year since 1992...voted team's Most Dedicated in 1994 and '98 and MVP in 1993 and '98...recorded a personal best time of 61.9 in the 400-meter hurdles, placing in the top 25 nationally last season...1998 county and division champion in that event...also has run a 200-meter time of 25.0, 57.6 in the 400m, 2:18 in the 800m and 8.4 in the 55-meter high hurdles...earned Scholar Athlete recognition in '98...member of her high school student government association, dance and fashion clubs and played varsity volleyball for one season...Psychology and Business major.

Allana Jenkins
Sophomore • 5-5 • Miami, FL (Killian)
Expected to contribute in the sprints...member of the FIU record holding 4x400-meter indoor relay team...ran a personal best 12.58 in the 100-meter dash at the 1998 FIU Invitational...All-Miami-Dade prep runner in the 100, 200 and 400 meters...holds Killian records in the 200 meters and was part of the record-holding 4x100 and 4x400-meter relay teams...also ran high school cross country...sister Crystal is a senior on the FIU varsity basketball team...Elementary Education.

Tammy King
Senior • 5-4 • Miami, FL (Gulliver Prep)
Comes in as one of the top sprinters on the team after a promising junior campaign...FIU women's indoor record holder in the 400 meters (55.80) and a member of the school record-holding 4x400 and sprint medley relay teams...just missed provisionally qualifying for the NCAA Outdoor Championship in the 400 meters...also ran season-best times of 12.51 in the 100 meters and 24.91 in the 200m...champion of the TAAC 400-meter dash with a time of 55.63...All-Conference in 1998 and '96...sat out her sophomore season...four-time high school MVP in track and Offensive MVP twice in soccer...scored 80 goals over her junior/senior high school career...ranked seventh nationally in high school 400 meters with a time of 55.7...five-time state champion in the 400m through her prep career and was undefeated in County events as a senior...played with the FIU soccer team in 1995-96...Psychology major.

Tayna Lawrence
Senior • 5-4 • Miami, FL (North Miami Beach)
All-America and one of the top sprinters in Division I...earned 1998 indoor All-America honors in the 200-meter dash (23.3) and outdoors in the 100-meter (11.25) and 200-meter dashes (23.0)...reached both Championships with automatic qualifications, also provisionally qualified, but did not compete, in 400m...competed with her homeland Jamaica National team this past summer, racing in several World Championship and the Goodwill Games...FIU record holder in the indoor 55 meters (6.85) and 200 meters (23.30) and the outdoor 100 meters (11.25), 200 meters (22.99) and 400 meters (53.63)...member of the school record indoor 4x400 relay team and outdoor 4x100m, 4x400m and sprint medley relay teams...voted Most Outstanding Female Performer at the 1998 TAAC Championship...captured TAAC titles in the 100-meter dash (11.25) and the 200m (22.99) and finished second in the 400 meters (55.66)...had an outstanding season in 1997, when she broke three school indoor records and three outdoor records...won the 100 meter title at the 1997 Golden Panther Invitational (12.07) and earned All-TAAC honors...state champion in the 200-meter dash as a prep senior...All-Miami-Dade County, team MVP and NMB's Athlete of the Year...received her high school's Social Studies Award...Liberal Studies/Sociology major.

Claudia Lopez
Junior • 5-5 • Miami, FL (Sunset)
Originally a walk-on, expected to be a mainstay both with the cross country team and in the distance events with track...raced in four 1997 cross country meets, posting her personal best 5K time of 19:48 at the Barnett Bank Invitational...finished 18th at the UCF Invitational...ran her best 5,000m time of 20:21.83 at the 1998 TAAC Championship, good for seventh place...also ran her season best times of 5:24.89 in the 1,500 meters and 11.39.08 in the 3,000m...personal bests include 5:11.36 in the 1,500 meters and 11:15.50 in the 3,000 meters...Chemistry major.

Sheba Mason
Sophomore • 5-5 • Miami, FL (Miami Senior)
Sprinter who recorded season best times of 28.26 in the 200-meter dash and 1:05.61 in the 400 meters, both at the 1998 adidas Invitational...ran two seasons of scholastic cross country and track...named cross country team MVP and Outstanding Female Athlete by the Sports Society...a 1997 Silver Knight nominee in Speech and winner of the Citizen Award at graduation...member of several high school student organizations including the TV Production Club and In Vogue Fashion Club...Biology major.

Karen Moya
Junior • 5-3 • Miami, FL (Miami Beach)
One of the top returning distance runners to the program...All-Conference as a sophomore after finishing eighth at the 1997 TAAC Cross Country Championship...ran a personal best 5k time of 19:13 at the Barnett Bank Invitational...in track, member of the school record-holding 4x800-meter relay team...recorded the team's second fastest time of the season with a 4:43.96, winning the 1,500 meters at the 1998 TAAC Championship...earned All-Conference honors for that finish...also finished sixth in the TAAC 800-meter run (2:20.80)...as a freshman, finished third in the 800 meters at the TAAC (2:16.71)...high school state champion in the 800m...personal best time is 2:14...All-Miami-Dade and team MVP in soccer, cross country and track...Broadcast Journalism major.

Vibeke Nilsen
Junior • 5-6 • Cape Coral, FL (Cape Coral)
A record-setting distance runner who returns after sitting out the 1997-98 season...twice named All-TAAC in cross country...finished second in the 1996 run with a 5k time of 19:49...individual champion at the '96 UCF Invitational...personal best time of 18:09 at the 1996 Auburn Invitational ranks tied for the third fastest time in program history...finished fifth at the 1995 TAAC Cross Country Championship earning All-Conference honors...Conference champion in the 3,000-meter track event of 1996...finished second at the State Intercollegiate meet in that same event...took top honors in the 3,000m at the '96 Golden Panther meet (10:05.77) and in the 1,500m at the Hurricane Invitational (4:40.61)...finished fourth at the 1994 state high school cross country meet...also second at the state track meet in the mile run...team MVP and winner of the Coach's Award in track and cross country...played prep soccer, earning three varsity letters...named 1995 County Sports Woman of the Year...Pre-Med major.

Chisa Perry
Sophomore • 5-7 • Orlando, FL (Dr. Phillips)
Had an outstanding freshman season, sharing the school record in the 100-meter hurdles with a personal best 14.41 and running a leg on the record-holding 4x100m relay team...ran a personal best 12.86 in the 100 meters and 26.76 in the 200-meter dash...recorded the top long jump (5.72m) and triple jump (11.00m) on the team last season, both coming during the TAAC Championship...finished second in the long jump at the Conference meet to earn All-TAAC honors...placed fourth in the triple jump...All-State hurdler and MVP of her high school track team...four-year Honor Roll student-athlete who was also a varsity cheerleader...ran five years with the U.S. Track and Field Central Florida Gliders...Political Science major.

Meisha Richards
Junior • 5-6 • West Palm Beach, FL (Suncoast)
A walk-on who has shown vast improvement as her intercollegiate career progresses...raced in the 1997 State Intercollegiate Cross Country meet and finished 44th with a 5k personal best time of 20:08...ran the best 10,000m time last track season (41:54.22) at the TAAC Championship, finishing fourth...recorded the second fastest team times in the 3,000 meters (11:13.11) and the 5,000m (20:33.71)...All-Palm Beach County prep runner who ran both cross country and track...three-time team MVP...member of high school's 1995 state championship team...four-year Honor Roll student-athlete...Special Education major.

Sarah Spitzer
Sophomore • 5-4 • Ft. Lauderdale, FL (Western)
Expected to be one of the top cross country runners this season...competed only once, at the Western Carolina Invitational, finishing 61st (21:01)...ran her personal best track times in the 5,000 meters (21:04.90) and 400-meter hurdles (1:08.65), both at the TAAC Championships...TAAC Academic All-Star in 1997-98...All-County hurdler in high school...honorable mention All-Broward in cross country...four-year prep varsity letter winner in cross country and track, who also played soccer...scholar student-athlete as a senior... Criminology/Sociology major.

Simone Thomas
Freshman • 5-8 • Ft. Lauderdale, FL (Westminster Academy)
An all-around athlete who is expected to compete in the throwing events...an outstanding prep basketball player who earned first-team All-County and second-team All-State recognition...Conference Player of the Year runner-up...also competed in softball, volleyball and track...second-team All-County in volleyball...Sports Medicine major.

Andrea Walkes
Sophomore • 5-6 • Ridgewood, NY (Randolph)
A walk-on sprinter who showed promise last season...had the team's fastest time last season in the 400-meter hurdles (1:08.05), good for fourth place at the TAAC Championship...ran season best times of 26.26 in the 200 meters and 58.61 in the 400m...three-year prep team MVP and named Most Versatile as a senior...part of her high school city championship squad...four-year Honor Roll student-athlete with perfect class attendance...extensive amateur experience includes four years with the LeMans Track club which included competition at the East Coast Invitational, Junior Olympics, Melrose Games, Empire State Games, Seton Hall and Brown Invitationals...Biology major.

Sadie Wells
Sophomore • 5-5 • Titusville, FL (Astronaut)
Distinguished herself as one of the program's top cross country performers...shaved more than a minute off her 5k time from the start of the 1997 season to the end...personal best time is 19:05, good for 16th place, at the 1997 State Intercollegiate...All-TAAC runner with a seventh-place finish at the Conference Championship...member of FIU's record holding outdoor 4x800-meter relay team...ran the team's fastest 3,000 meter time (10:28.73) during the outdoor season...recorded season best times of 2:15.75 in the 800 meters and 4:44.77 in the 1,500m...second-place finish in the 1,500-meter run at the TAAC Championship earned her All-Conference honors...All-State prep runner in both track and cross country...high school personal bests included a 5:13 mile and 2:18 in the 800m...finished second in the state meet in both events as a junior and third in the mile as a senior...undecided major.

Kaydene Wynter
Senior • 5-4 • Kingston, Jamaica (St. Andrew)
Talented sprinter who is part of the FIU school record-holding indoor 4x400-meter relay team and outdoor 4x100, 4x400 and distance medley relay teams...1998 season best times include 12.04 in the 100 meters, 24.81 in the 200 meters and 56.65 in the 400 meters...finished fourth in the TAAC Championship in the 100m, fifth in the 200m and sixth in the 400-meter runs...a transfer from the University of Iowa who recorded personal best times of 11.84 in the 100m, 24.1 in the 200m and 55.1 in the 400m...member of the Big 10 Conference 4x100m relay team...Class I sprint champion in 1994 and Class II champ in 1993...high school sprint MVP as both a junior and senior...Exercise Physiology major.

Elizabeth Zambrano
Junior • 5-6 • Miami Beach, FL (Miami Beach)
A walk-on track distance runner who ran personal best times of 12:20.13 in the 3,000 meters and 21:23.90 in the 5,000m...finished 11th at the TAAC Championship in the 5,000-meter run...placed 16th in the mile run (6:10.05) at the 1997 Barnett Bank Classic and finished fourth at the '97 Hurricane Classic in the 1,500m (4:54.38)...Biochemistry major.


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