Dec. 1, 2003

WACO, Texas - The Baylor Track & Field team signed Carla Grace, Lyndsy Bedell, Brinn Newman and Jeremy Jackson to National Letters of Intent during the early signing period, head coach Clyde Hart announced today.

"We feel fortunate to have signed such a good group at such an early time," Hart said. "We have filled areas in which we will need help for the future, and these athletes willl give us good representation in several events."

Grace, from MacArthur High School in San Antonio, finished third in the 400 meters at the state championships in 2002 and has a personal best time of 55.37 in the event. She also has personal bests of 11.5 in the 100 and 23.7 in the 200.

Bedell, from Plano West High School in Plano, Texas, was the District 9-5A and Region II runner up in cross-country. Baylor head cross-country coach Todd Harbour also labeled her "one of the most consistent cross-country runners during the fall of 2003."

Newman, from Salado High School in Salado, Texas, was the District 25-2A and Regional champion in the pole vault last season. She also finished third at the state championships.

Jackson, from Stony Point High School in Round Rock, Texas, was the Region II champion and finished fourth at the state championships in the 110-meter hurdles in 2003. He also finished second at the 2003 AAU Junior Olympics and recorded a personal best of 13.88 last season.

The four signees will join the Bears for the 2004-05 academic year, while Baylor opens up the 2004 track and field season at the Oklahoma Indoor Classic on Jan. 17 in Norman, Okla.