Ashton Purvis Named Girls National Gatorade Track and Field Athlete of the Year
Aug. 12, 2010
CORAL GABLES -
The University of Miami Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Amy Deem announced Friday the signing of nine high school seniors to National Letters of Intent and one junior college transfer as part of the Hurricanes highly-touted 2010 recruiting class, highlighted by Ashton Purvis (Oakland, Calif.) and Thandi Stewart (Richmond, Calif.).
The other eight members of the incoming class are Jasmyne King (Rapid City, S.D.), Nicole Cummings (Peekskill, N.Y.), Alyssa McClure (Baltimore, Md.) and Ashley Holmes (Ina, Ill.) for the women's team and Connor Adams (Flower Mound, Texas), Bassim El Sabawi (San Diego, Calif.), Latwan Anderson (Cleveland, Ohio) and Jeffery Lewis (Chesapeake, Va.) for the men squad.
"I am very pleased with the overall quality of this year's recruiting class," said Deem. "Each year our goal as a staff is to improve the level of athlete we are recruiting, both athletically and academically. This class brings that and more to the table and is the most versatile class we have signed since combining the men's and women's programs in 2008."
Purvis was recently named the Gatorade National Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year, becoming the first Miami commit to earn the prestigious award. The outstanding St. Elizabeth's School sprinter won state championships in the 100 and 200m dashes, with times of 11.17 and 22.90 seconds, respectively. She completes her high school career ranked seventh all-time in the 100m and ninth all-time in the 200m.
Stewart completed her senior season as the second-fastest 300m hurdler (40.45) in the country with her CIF runner-up finish. She completes her career at James Logan High School nationally ranked in the 400m (53.79) and 800m (2:11.45), as well as the 300m hurdles. Thandi will join the trio of All-American 400m hurdlers, Ti'erra Brown, Tameka and Takecia Jameson.
King is a three-time South Dakota Gatorade Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year recipient. Most recently, she won the 100m dash at the state championships and holds a career-best time of 11.58 seconds in the event. She also anchored the three-time state championship 4x100 relay team. In her high school career at Rapid City Central, King accumulated a total of 12 state championships and holds the state record in the long jump at 18-10.75.
Cummings will be the next addition in the long line of successful Miami jumpers. Her mark of 19-5.25 in the long jump was good for a second-place finish at the 2010 Nike Indoor Nationals meet and she was also the state indoor runner-up. The Peekskill High product holds a career-best mark of 19-6.50.
McClure, a sprinter out of Digital Harbor High School, won state championships in the indoor 55m and outdoor 400m dashes this past season and anchored the state championship 4x100, 4x200 and 4x400 relay teams. McClure also was the runner-up at the 2009 AAU National meet in the 100m dash.
The last signee from the women's squad is Holmes, a throws transfer from Rend Lake College. The 2009 NJCAA Outdoor Champion in the discus and runner-up in the shot put carries personal bests in the discus (158-2.00) and hammer (165-00.00) that would rank among the top five in Miami history right now.
"This may be one of deepest women's classes we have had in years," added Deem. "We signed six young ladies that have the potential to come in and have an immediate impact at both the conference and national levels. Obviously, Ashton's high school career speaks for itself and with the late addition of Thandi, we improved the nation's top 400m hurdle crop. I am very excited to watch the progression of all these young ladies over the course of their careers."
The men's team will welcome Anderson, a dual-sport star from Glenville High. He was the 2010 state indoor champion in the 60 and 200m dashes and a member of the champion 4x200 and 4x400. Anderson is also the No. 15 overall football player as rated by national recruiting services.
Flower Mound High School product Adams, is the lone distance runner in the 2010 class. He was the state 1,600m champion this season, finishing in a time of 4:12.12. At the 2009 AAU National Meet, Adams won the Young Men's 1,500m run in 3:57.67. The Wendy's High School Heisman recipient for his school also holds program records in the 800 and 1,600m, as well as being a member of the 4x800 relay team.
Sprinters El Sabawi and Lewis will also join the `Canes. El Sabawi was the 2010 CIF San Diego Champion in the 100m dash and the runner-up in the 200m for Torrey Pines High, while Lewis led his team to the 2009 state title. Lewis has international experience as well, placing third at the 2009 Caribbean Interscholastic Invitational in the 110m hurdles.
"We added men that will come right in and contribute to the program," said Deem. "Both Connor and Latwan have won state championships and are nationally ranked this year in their perspective events. They will continue to improve our team as we continue to build a winning culture."
The Hurricanes, with their new recruiting class, will look to build on a successful 2010 campaign that saw the women's team finish 11th at the NCAA Championships and the resurgence of the men's sprints and relays.
Women Hometown Last School Event
Nicole Cummings Peekskill, N.Y. Peekskill HS Jumps
Ashley Holmes Ina, Ill. Rend Lake College Throws
Jasmyne King Rapid City, S.D. Rapid City Central HS Sprints
Alyssa McClure Baltimore, Md. Digital Harbor, HS Sprints
Ashton Purvis Oakland, Calif. St. Elizabeth's School Sprints
Thandi Stewart Richmond, Calif. James Logan HS Hurdles, Sprints
Men Hometown Last School Event
Connor Adams Flower Mound, Texas Flower Mound HS Distance
Latwan Anderson Cleveland, Ohio Glenville Academy Sprints
Bassim El Sabawi San Diego, Calif. Torrey Pines HS Sprints
Jeffery Lewis Chesapeake, Va. Western Branch HS Hurdles
Courtesy University of Miami
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