SALEM, Ore. – Corban University head women's cross country and track & field coach Norm Berney announced his 2016 recruiting class on Monday, naming seven athletes that would be joining the Warrior ranks in the fall of 2016 and the spring of 2017.
Amy Jo Murphy – 5' 0" – Distance – Nooksack Valley High School – Everson, Wash.
Hailing from Everson, Wash., Amy Jo Murphy comes to Corban with loads of talent and is expected to make an impact right away with the cross country and track & field programs. While placing second at her conference championships with a time of 18:18, she eventually took fourth at the State Championships in 2015. Over the course of her career, she was an All-State honoree during her senior year of cross country and collected All-Conference plaudits during each of her final three seasons. She holds multiple school records, and in 2015 captured the District Championship in the 3,200 Meters event.
"Amy Jo Murphy is one of the best runners in the state of Washington in her Division in Cross Country," said Berney. "She brings experience to our program and should be in the hunt for the top distance runner for our women."
Murphy plans to major in Health/Exercise Science and hopes to work in Physical Therapy after college.
Naphtali Ward – 6' 0" – Jumps – Gig Harbor HS – Seattle Pacific Univ. – Gig Harbor, Wash.
Ward joins the Warriors after competing at Seattle Pacific University on the track & field team while capturing the GNAC High Jump Championship in 2015 with a clearing height of 5' 6.5". During her time with the Falcons, she led the team to the GNAC 2015 indoor and outdoor championships, and then the 2016 outdoor championship. While at Corban, she will also compete on the Warrior volleyball team.
"Naphtali is an All-Conference transfer High Jumper from Seattle Pacific University that is multi-talented," said Berney. "If time allows, she could also be great in the Heptathlon. In addition to track & field, Naphtali will be competing on the Corban volleyball team."
Ward plans to major in Accounting at Corban.
Madison Youngers – 5' 11" – Jumps – Ephrata High School – Ephrata, Wash.
Youngers, who will compete on both the volleyball team and the track & field team at Corban, will make an immediate impact in the High Jump and Triple Jump for the Warriors. During her time, she qualified for the State Championships in both events and was an All-State performer in the High Jump.
"Madison is a great dual-sport athlete that placed at the State Championships in the High Jump and Triple Jump," said Berney. "She is very competitive and has a great attitude."
Rachel Harland – 5' 7" – Sprints/Heptathlon – Roseburg High School – Roseburg, Ore.
Harland joins the Warrior ranks on the track & field squad and hopes to make a difference right away in the sprints and heptathlon. During her high school career, she captured the 100 Meters and 200 Meters Titles, along with the standing Long Jump. She also placed seventh in the nation in the standing Long Jump. In addition Harland competed on the relay teams that qualified for the State Championships.
"Rachel was forced out of competition during her junior year because of an injury," said Berney, "but she has made a great comeback after being one of her school's best athletes during her first two years in high school. We are putting her in the Heptathlon this upcoming year because she has so many events she has been successful in."
Harland plans to major in Education with the intention of becoming an Elementary School teacher someday.
McKenzie Wade – 5' 6" – Distance – Shadle Park High School – Spokane, Wash.
McKenzie Wade is set to compete on the Warrior cross country and track & field teams after starting her running career in Ethiopia. Just this past year, she placed eighth at the conference championships, finishing her high school career strong.
"McKenzie is just recovering from an injury and hopefully she will be able to be back to compete by October," said Berney. "Her parents were Missionaries to Ethiopia and that is where she started her running career."
Rebecca Sidlo – 5' 9" – Distance – Roseburg High School – Roseburg, Ore.
Sidlo comes to Corban from Roseburg High School where she placed ninth at the conference championships in the 5k with a time of 19:37. She also experienced a standout track & field career, clocking a 5:06 in the 1500 Meters and a 2:22 in the 800 Meters.
"Rebecca was one of the top runners at Roseburg High School," said Berney. "She has experience at the State Championships and should be competing for one of the top-five spots on the team."
Alicia Walter – 5' 7" – Pole Vault/Javelin – McLoughlin High School – Milton-Freewater, Ore.
Walter comes to Corban from Milton-Freewater, Ore., and will compete in the Pole Vault and Javelin. While taking second overall at the District Championships and qualifying for the State Championships in the Pole Vault, she also placed in the top-five in the Javelin at the District Championships.
"Alicia competed in the Pole Vault and Javelin in High School," said Berney. "Her improvement each year tells us that with hard work, she can be a good collegiate athlete."