April 23, 2004
WACO, Texas - The Baylor track team signed six more student-athletes to national letters of intent, which should add quality depth to the distance corps, head coach Clyde Hart announced Friday.
"All of these athletes are not only quality people, but they are outstanding students," assistant track coach and head cross country coach Todd Harbour said. "The two men we signed will be able to help us immediately in the fall, and the women give us great depth and will have the opportunity to make an impact with the departure of our seniors and some injuries we've had."
The Bears went north to grab one of the nation's top runners, Alissa McKaig from Concordia Lutheran High School in Fort Wayne, Ind. McKaig doubled as the 2003 indoor national champion in the 5,000 meters, clocking 17:08, and the two miles. She was also the undefeated 2003 state cross country champion and the runner-up in the 3,200 meter, ranking nationally with a time of 10:37. McKaig is the valedictorian of her class, was a 2003 Foot Locker finalist and received the State Mental Attitude Award.
McKaig's high school teammate, Sarah Manck, has also signed with Baylor. Manck, her class salutatorian, was an all-state cross country runner and earned all-state honors in the 1,600 meters. Jessi Barnes, from Bentonville High School in Bentonville, Ark., earned all-state cross country honors in 2000 and 2002. Barnes was also the 2003 5A state champion and the Meet of Champions gold medalist in the 1,600 meters with a time of 5:07.
Local product Danielle Elliot from Robinson High School was the district and regional champion in the 800 meters and finished fifth in the state.
On the men's side, Jacob Jones from Willis High School in Willis, Texas, was a 2003 regional champion and state qualifier in the 3,200 meters and was an all-state cross country runner, finishing seventh at the state championships. Jones was also the 2004 district champion in both the 1,600 and 3,200 meters. Ryne Elfstrom from Deer Park High School in Deer Park, Texas has won back-to-back district titles in both the 1,600 and 3,200 meters.
The group joins Carla Grace, Lyndsy Bedell, Brinn Newman and Jeremy Jackson, who each signed in November during the early signing period.
