Louisville Track & Field Announces 2008 Recruiting Class
March 07, 2008 | Men's Track and Field
March 7, 2008
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Louisville track and field head coach Ron Mann announced on Friday the Cards' 2008 recruiting class, which includes a group of eight high school student-athletes set to the join program for 2008-09.
Signing on to join the Louisville men's track and field program in 2008-09 is Orazio Cremona (throws) from Roodeport, South Africa, Gordon Dooley (distance) from Hebron, Ky., and Luke Lovelace (distance) from Chapin, S.C., while Jacques Caldwell (sprinter) of Garland, Texas will also compete for the Louisville track team after signing with U of L to play football.
The Louisville women will add Kierstan Kirkland (hurdles) of Moreno Valley, Calif., Shane Mullaney-Banks (sprints/hurdles) from Oakland, Calif., Megan Schubert (jumps) of Kokomo, Ind., and Lorna Whaley (distance) from Avon, Ind.
"This recruiting class continues in the pursuit of the Louisville track and field program being a conference contender, a regional power and a strong national representative on a year-in and year-out basis," Mann said. "We continue to recruit Kentucky's best in Gordon Dooley and some of the world's best in Orazio Cremona. And we feel like we're having great success at recruiting national level talent from around the country with additions like Kierstan Kirkland, Shane Mullaney-Banks and Lorna Whaley."
The 2008 Louisville track and field team will continue its indoor season this weekend at a pair of last chance meets at Notre Dame and Virginia Tech.
Here are information capsules on each member of the Cards' 2008 recruiting class announced on March 7:
Men's Signees
- Jacques Caldwell - Sprints
Garland, Texas (Garland HS)
- All-State sprinter and running back
- Top prep times include 21.08 in the 200m, 10.55 in the 100m and 4.4 in the 40m
- Also competed for Garland's 4x100m and 4x400m relay teams
- Orazio Cremona - Throws
Roodepoort, South Africa (Kings School West Rand)
- Personal best 6kg shot put mark of 65-03.50 would rank second all-time among US high school athletes
- Personal best 16-pound shot put mark of 62-08 would rank third all-time among US high school athletes
- African Games participant and is South African junior shot put champion
- Chosen head boy at Kings School West Rand and was school's 2006 Sportsman of the Year
- Gordon Dooley - Distance
Hebron, Ky. (St. Henry District HS)
- Two-time state champion in 3200m and one 1600m state title
- Cross country state champion
- Named Kentucky Runner of the Year in 2006-07
- Kentucky Gatorade Athlete of the Year
- Top prep marks include 4:22 in the mile, 9:21 in the 3200m and 15:32 in the 5km
- Luke Lovelace - Distance
Chapin, S.C. (Chapin HS)
- Three-time state champion
- Two-time Footlocker Championship qualifier
- South Carolina Athlete of the Year
- Top prep marks include 4:20 in the mile, 9:14 in the 3200m and 15:13 in the 5km
- School record holder in the 1600m, 3200m
Women's Signees
- Kiersten Kirkland - Hurdles
Moreno Valley, Calif. (Long Beach Poly HS)
- Two-time division champion in 300m hurdles
- Top prep marks include 42.98 in the 300m hurdles, 1:02.7 in the 400m hurdles, 4,664 points in the multi-events and 25.6 in 200m
- MVP of John W. North HS in 2007
- Coaches' Award in 2005 and 2006
- Shane Mullaney-Banks - Sprints/Hurdles
Oakland, Calif. (Bishop O'Dowd HS)
- Anchor leg on state champion 4x400m relay team
- All-state performer
- Top prep times include 43.68 in 300m hurdles and 57.00 in 400m hurdles
- Megan Schubert - Jumps
Kokomo, Ind. (Northwestern HS)
- All-state in 2006
- All-county/conference in 2005, 2006 and 2007
- Best cleared height in high jump is 5-07
- Also a multi-event athlete and also lettered in gymnastics
- Lorna Whaley - Distance
Avon, Ind. (Avon HS)
- All-State in track and cross country in 2007
- Top prep marks include 5:02 in the mile, 10:57 in 3200m, 14:32 in 4km and 18:18 in 5km
