Cardinal Track & Field Signs a Pair of Prep Standouts
December 16, 2004 | Men's Cross Country
Nov. 18, 2004
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Louisville track and field/cross country head coach Ron Mann announced the signing of two highly regarded prep standouts, Andrew Hackney of Brookwood High School in Lawrenceville, Ga., and Cory Thorne of Portsmouth High School in New Hampshire, to national letters-of-intent for the Fall of 2005.
Hackney is a talented thrower with great physical skills who is expected to compete in the discus, hammer, shot put and weight throw for U of L, while Thorne is a gifted distance runner and is expected to compete in both cross country and the distance events in track.
"This is a wonderful step for the future of the University of Louisville track and field and cross country program," Mann said. "To be able to sign a pair of athletes ranked in the Top-5 nationally in their respective events during the early signing period is an indication of the bright future of this program as we move towards the Big East Conference in the fall of 2005."
As a junior in the spring of 2004, Hackney finished ninth in the hammer at the Adidas Outdoor Championships and ninth in the weight throw at the Nike Indoor Championships and was also second in the state of Georgia in the discus. Following his junior season, he was ranked fourth in the nation in the hammer and sixth in the nation in the 25-pound weight throw, and at 6-2, 250 pounds, Hackney also showed great athletic ability away from the track as he lettered in football and wrestling at BHS.
"This is a fantastic opportunity for Andrew, and the University of Louisville is getting a tremendous young man," said Brookwood track and field head coach Bill Shields. "The thing that stands out about him is his work ethic because he's very serious about everything he does. He's also a very good athlete, and I think he'll be a great performer for the University of Louisville."
Thorne signs on with the U of L program as he finishes his senior season and the final chapter on an already impressive prep career. As a cross country runner, his 5-kilometer time of 15 minutes, 38.5 seconds is the fifth fastest time in the nation this fall by a prep athlete according to the DyeStat rankings on Nov. 14, while on the track, his two-mile time is among the Top 20 in the nation. He was also the 2003 New Hampshire state champion in cross country.
"Cory is such a talented runner and he's got even more potential ahead of him," said Portsmouth track and field head coach Stan Lyford. "He's had a great high school career, but I really think the best is still in front of him. Once he gets to campus and starts working with Coach Mann and his staff on a daily basis, I think they'll be able to help him reach all of his great potential."
Both Hackney and Thorne are expected to begin competition for the Cardinals as freshmen during the 2005-06 season, U of L's first in the Big East Conference.
