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Pack adds two local siblings to class
Feb. 16, 2012
RENO, Nev. -
The University of Nevada track and field team added two more signees to its 2012-2013 class, eighth year head coach Shantel Twiggs announced this week. Erika and Sidney Root of Reno High School each signed National Letters of Intent to bring its incoming class to five.
Erika was the 2011 Nevada 4A 1600 meter champion. In cross country, she finished third in 2010 and fifth in 2011 in the State 4A Championships.
Sidney won the 2010 Northern 4A Regional Championships in the 800 as a sophomore. Her 2011 season was curtailed due to illness. A soccer player throughout her high school years, Sidney will join her sister on the cross country team at Nevada.
"There is great talent here locally in northern Nevada," Head Coach Shantel Twiggs said. "I am pleased the Root sisters have decided to stay home and compete for the University of Nevada."
The team previously announced the signing of three student-athletes that will join Nevada during the 2012-2013 season. Emily Myers of Cabot, Ark. (Cabot HS), and two mid-season transfers Samantha Calhoun (Sr.) and Kerri Simmons (So.), both from Nicholls State, round out the new acquisitions.
"We are excited about Emily and the beginning of our 2013 recruiting class."
Myers, a distance runner, made her mark at Cabot by setting the Arkansas state record in the 3,200 meters at the 2011 Meet of Champions. Her time of 11:01.32 earned her a place on the 2011 Arkansas High School Hall of Fame Track and Field All-Star Team. In cross country events, Myers will provide a boost to the Wolf Pack distance program. She has finished as high as third in the Arkansas 7A State Championships. At Nevada, she will likely be a distance running specialist, competing in the 3,000 and 5,000 meter events during the indoor season and the 5,000 and 10,000 meters during the outdoor season.
"We are lucky to pull three top athletes from the south. They are just a start to a very talented 2012-13 group as we prepare for competition heading into our new conference."
Last season, Calhoun became the first Colonel in school history to qualify for multiple events in NCAA postseason competition. She recorded a pair of school records during the outdoor season, setting new school standards in both the 100 meter and 200 meter events at the 2011 Southland Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships. She also became the first Colonel sprinter to win a Southland Conference championship by taking first place in the 100 m with a school record time of 11.60. Her school record 200 m time is 23.81.
"Samantha is a true sprint specialist and will pull together an already strong sprint crew."
Calhoun shined during indoor competition as well, setting three school records (two individual, one relay) at the 2011 Southland Conference Indoor Championships. She posted a time of 7.55 in the 60 meters to take third place and earn All-Southland Conference honors. In the 200 meters, she posted a time of 24.87. In the distance medley category, she helped her relay team to a first place finish at the league championships. She joined three teammates to record a time of 12:04.86.
Simmons, a thrower, recorded the seventh best overall throw in the conference during the 2011 outdoor season with a school record of 14.19 m (46.6.75 in.) at the Cole-Lancon Invitational at UL-Lafayette. During the indoor season, she recorded the second best throw in the Southland Conference, with a school record of 14.58 m (47 ft. 10.0 in.) to place second at the 2011 Southland Conference Indoor Championships.
"In only one season Kerri has gone from a 35' shot putter to a 47'10'' shot putter. She adds depth to a very young throws group. The sky is the limit for Kerri and I know she wants to throw bigger marks and make the national stage."
Nevada is expected to sign additional recruits over the next few months.
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