FARMVILLE, Va. – Brooke Craig, Longwood's Head Cross Country and Outdoor Track Coach, announced the addition of 20 newcomers to the programs on Thursday.
 
The newcomers, who make up the largest recruiting class in program history, join during an exciting time to be a runner for the Lancers. In the fall, the women's cross country team posted its best effort at the Big South Championship in team history. In the spring, Longwood announced it was adding men's and women's outdoor track to its sports offerings.
 
"This past recruiting season has been the most exciting time because we are adding outdoor track," Craig said. "I really want to thank Coach Resnick for partnering with me to help sign our biggest recruiting class ever. In preparation for that, we looked for student-athletes that would continue to elevate our program and take it to the next level. Every student-athlete that we signed brings something special to the table, and they are prepared to set a new standard for our program."
 
The cross country teams begin racing on the first Saturday in September as they start the race to the Big South Championship, which will be Saturday, October 28 at Green Hill Park in Salem, Virginia.
 
Women's Cross Country Team
 
Sam Bolen
Fr.
Hamilton, Va.
Loudoun Valley
 
Bolen comes to Longwood following her high school career at Loudoun Valley High School. She ran both cross country and track. While running, she set her personal bests while running, and beating, a men's heat while at Loudoun Valley.
 
She holds personal bests of 2:20 in the 800M, 5:05 in the 1,600M and 11:26 in the 3,200M. Her best time in the 5K is 19:33. She chose Longwood, in part, because of the homey feel in Farmville.
 
Priscilla Keller
Fr. | 5'6
Roanoke, Va.
Roanoke Valley Christian
 
Keller ran cross country for four seasons at Roanoke Valley Christian School and lettered in track in the program's first official year as a program when she was a senior. A team captain for her final three seasons on the cross country team, she holds multiple school records for times. She also won the conference title for cross country in each of her last three seasons, and she ran her first marathon a shade more than one year ago.
 
Her best time in the 5K is 18:46, and she holds a personal best of 5:30 in the 1,600M and 2:33 in the 800M. She chose Longwood because the friendliness and environment on campus drew her in.
 
Caroline Layne
Sr.
Leesburg, Va.
Loudoun County
 
A rising senior who attends Longwood, Layne joins the Longwood cross country team for her final season of school.
 
The education major holds a 23:48 as her personal best in the 5K.
 
Haley Slattery
Jr. | 5'7
Kingston, Mass.
Silver Lake Regional
University of New England
 
Slattery comes to Longwood following two years at the University of New England. She was an all-conference selection last year as a sophomore during the conference cross country championship. As a freshman, she earned third-team all-conference honors during the track season for her third place finish in the 5,000M.
 
She holds personal bests of 19:53 in the 5K, 24:46 in the 6K, 18:44 in the 5,000M on a track, and 5:11 in the 1,500M. She chose Longwood when she transferred because she wanted to stay at a smaller university while still being challenged athletically. Once she visited the campus, she knew this was the place.
 
Kai Wheeler
Fr. | 5'2
West Springfield, Va.
West Springfield
 
Wheeler comes to Longwood following her time at West Springfield High School, where she earned three varsity letters in cross country and indoor track and two in outdoor track. She helped her cross country team win the 2019 Patriot District Championship, and she helped indoor track win the 2021 Patriot District Championship.
 
She holds personal bests of 20:53 in the 5K, 5:48 in the 1,600M and 2:42 in the 800M. She chose Longwood because of the connection she felt with the professors in her major when she met them, and she also liked how closely knit the cross country team is.
 
Women's Outdoor Track Sprints
 
Jada Fyffe
Fr.
Lynchburg, Va.
Brookville
 
Fyffe comes to Longwood following her prep career at Brookville High School. She made it to nationals in back-to-back seasons in outdoor track while also qualifying in indoor as well once. An all-state sprinter, she placed in the state meet in both indoor and outdoor track.
 
She holds personal bests of 7.51 in the 55M, 12.61 in the 100M, and 45.22 in the 300M. She chose Longwood because it is a great school while still being close to home.
 
Trinity Smith
Fr. | 5'6
Midlothian, Va.
Manchester
 
Smith comes to Longwood after her time at Manchester High School. She persevered as a senior after battling back from an injury that sidelined her during her junior season, and she set personal bests in every meet last year.
 
She holds personal bests of 7.66 in the 55M, 13.11 in the 100M, 27.18 in the 200M and 46.94 in the 300M. She chose Longwood because of the beautiful campus and the proximity to home.
 
Men's Cross Country Team
 
Andrew Bernhardt
Fr.
Glen Allen, Va.
Glen Allen
 
Bernhardt comes to Longwood following his time at Glen Allen High School. He runs both cross country and the distance events in track, and he improved his 5K time by nearly 10 minutes between the start and finish of his high school career. In addition, he helped his high school team win back-to-back state championships.
 
Bernhardt holds a personal best of 18:26 in the 5K for cross country, and his personal best on the rack is 5:02 for a mile, 2:10 for the 800M, 11:05 for the 3,200M and 57 seconds for the 400M. He chose Longwood because he saw the close, tight-knit community of the team and how they build each other up to be the best runners they can be.
 
Avery Brown
Fr. | 5'8
Forney, Texas
Wills Point
 
Brown comes to Longwood following a strong career at Wills Point High School where he lettered in both cross country and track three times apiece. He also qualified as an individual for state in cross country.
 
On the course, he holds a personal best of 16:59 in the 5K. On the track, he has a personal best of 4:50 in the 1,600M and 10:15 in the 3,200M. He chose Longwood because of the great team dynamic and beautiful campus.
 
Clinton Clancy
Fr. | 5'7 135
Midlothian, Va.
Clover Hill
 
Clancy comes to Longwood following his time at Clover Hill High School, where he ran indoor and outdoor track as well as cross country. A team captain as a senior, he was a four-time all-state selection and six-time all-region selection spread across the three sports. He was a two-time 4x800M state champion, winning the title in both indoor and outdoor track.
 
Clancy holds a personal best of 4:24 in the 1,600M, 1:59 in the 800M and 9:52 in the 3,200M. His time in the 1,600M is the second-best in school history. He chose Longwood in part because he was looking to be part of a tight-knit campus community.
 
Jordyn Dillavou
So. | 5'8 140
Springfield, Ohio
Clark Shawnee
Malone University
 
Dillavou transfers in to Longwood after one season at Malone University, where he ran in five outdoor track events and two indoor track events. In high school, he ran track and cross country at Clark Shawnee High School while also wrestling. He was a two-time all-state selection and the CBC Runner of the Year twice.
 
In high school, his personal best in the 5K was 16:26, and he ran a 15:35 on a college track at Malone. In the 1,500M, his personal best is 4:17. He chose Longwood in part because of the friendly nature of the coaching staff, team and environment around it.
 
Chris Reid
Fr. | 5'10 155
Spotsylvania, Va.
Courtland
 
Reid comes to Longwood following his prep career at Courtland High School, where he ran both cross country and indoor track for four years and outdoor track for three. An all-area selection for cross country, he was part of a relay team that holds the school indoor record for the 4x800M at 8:18.
 
He holds personal bests of 16:38 in the 5,000M, 10:03 in the 3,200M, 4:29 in the 1,600M and 2:42 in the 1,000M, with all times being set in his junior or senior seasons. He chose Longwood because he likes the atmosphere of the school and team, and he feels like the camaraderie on the team will foster growth.
 
Marcus Sosa
Fr.
San Diego, Calif./Alexandira, Va.
Yucca Valley
 
Sosa comes to after competing at Yucca Valley High School. A distance runner, he ran his marathon debut at the Marine Corps Marathon and finished in 2:46:43. His personal best in the half marathon is 1:14:59.
 
On a road course, he holds a personal best of 15:24 in the 5K, and he chose Longwood in part due to the unique structure of the academic program that allows him to focus on his major while pursuing internships.
 
Nic Williams
Fr. | 5'11 145
Chesapeake, Va.
Grassfield
 
Williams comes to Longwood following his time at Grassfield High School where he ran cross country, indoor track and outdoor track. An all-region selection as a senior, he helped his team with the 6A regional title in all three sports.
 
His best time in the 5K is 17:10, and he holds personal bests of 4:39 in the 1,600M and 2:06 in the 800M. He chose Longwood in part because he loved the campus and the Lancer cross country program.
 
Men's Outdoor Track Sprints
 
Charlie Adams
Fr. | 5'10 150
Culpepper, Va.
St. Paul VI Catholic
 
Adams comes to Longwood following his time at St. Paul VI Catholic High School. While there, he ran a variety of sprints, and he holds his school record in the 60 meter dash.
 
As a senior, he competed at state. His PR in the 100M is 11.78, and in the 200M it is 23.32.
 
Mark Betts
Fr. | 5'5 122
Danville, Va.
Halifax County
 
Betts comes to Longwood after running both track and cross country in high school, and he began with the middle distances before working down to the 200M and 400M.
 
He holds a personal best of 56.03 in the 400M. He chose Longwood after following the school's 'Your College-Bound Guide' that he received in 10^th grade.
 
Cullen Carter
So. | 6'0 170
Mechanicsville, Va.
Atlee
 
Carter comes to Longwood following his high school career at Atlee High School where he ran on varsity track every year he competed. He won back-to-back state titles and qualified for nationals while being a two-time all-state selection.
 
He was also an all-region selection all four years of high school, and he has a personal best of 11.2 in the 100M, 22.8 in the 200M and 51.6 in the 400M. He was a part of the relay team that set the school's 4x200M and 4x100M record. At Longwood, he is also a part of the Cormier Honors College.
 
Justin Goode
Fr. | 6'0 146
Glen Allen, Va.
Glen Allen
 
Goode comes to Longwood following his time at Glen Allen High School where he excelled as a sprinter. He was an All-American in the 4x100M relay at Adidas Nationals in 2022, and he was an all-state selection in both indoor and outdoor track in the 4x400M.
 
A team captain at Glen Allen, he had personal bests of 6.97 in the 55M, 11.56 in the 100M, 23.65 in the 200M, 37.21 in the 300M and 52.12 in the 400M.
 
Logan Macklin
So. | 5'11 178
Glen Allen, Va.
Glen Allen
 
Macklin comes to Longwood after running cross country, indoor track and outdoor track at Glen Allen. He was an all-state runner on the 4x400M relay team, and his relay team competed at the 2023 New Balance Indoor Nationals. He was a part of both an indoor and outdoor team that finished as runners-up at state.
 
An aspiring art teacher, Macklin holds personal bests of 39.75 in the 300M, 53.62 in the 400M, and 2:06.69 in the 800M. He is excited for the opportunity to take part in Longwood's top-tier teaching and art programs.
 
Ayden Stewart
Fr. | 5'11 160
Williamsburg, Va.
Warhill
 
Stewart comes to Longwood following his prep career at Warhill High School where he ran sprints. An All-American in the sprint medley relay, he was an all-state selection for the 4x400M relay. He was a part of a sprints team that set the school record for the sprint medley relay.
 
A team captain in high school, he holds personal bests in the 100M of 11.79, the 200M of 23.03, the 400M of 51.04.