IU track-and-field Head Coach Ron Helmer announced Wednesday that four student-athletes have been added to the 2012 signing class.
Amanda Behnke
High school/hometown : South High School; St. Louis
*A Transfer from Columbia University, Behnke will join her brother, Adam, on the IU roster next season.
Events: Distance
Career highlights:
- Ninth in 2011 Missouri State Cross Country Meet
- Third in 1600- and 3200-meter races at 2012 Missouri State Track Meet
- Personal Records:
- 1600 meters: 5:08.07
- 3200 meters: 11:37.21
From the coach: “Amanda has been consistently successful at the 3A level in state meet competitions in her home state of Missouri. As we recruited her we were impressed with her commitment to work and desire to be challenged in an effort to develop into a high-level, Big Ten and Division I competitor. She has been successful both on the track and in cross-country and will ultimately be a high-level contributor here as well.”
Sara Brown
High school/hometown: Parkview High School; Lilburn, Ga.
Events: Distance
Career highlights:
- Fourth in 1600 meters at 2012 Georgia State Meet
- Personal Records:
- 1600 meters: 5:03.63
- 3200 meters: 11:18.14
From the coach: “Sara saved the best for last as she ran a 13-second PR to place fourth in the Georgia 5A state 1600 this spring. She is another late-developing athlete with a desire to take on the challenge of high-level collegiate distance running, and we are happy IU is the place she chose to make her mark.”
Stephen Keller
High school/hometown: Kouts High School; Kouts, Ind.
Events: High Jump, Multi
Career highlights:
- Personal Records:
- High Jump - 6’8”
From the coach: “Stephen is a very good athlete who has done a number of events but excelled in the high jump. Our multi coaches feel as though he has the skills and physique necessary to give him a chance to develop into a very good heptathlete/decathlete in the future.”
Matt Schwartzer
High school/hometown: Princess Anne High School; Virginia Beach, Va.
Events: Distance
Career highlights:
- Fourth in the 2011 Virginia State Cross Country Meet
- Second in the 3200 meters at 2012 Virginia State Indoor Meet
- Personal Records:
- Mile - 4:14.49
- Two mile - 9:11.24
From the coach: “Matt is running outdoor track for only the second year. He is rapidly developing as an outstanding distance runner, and we believe he will continue to do so for a number of years to come. He has very good range, and we believe he will very quickly adapt to the longer college cross-country distances as well.”
--Joe Popely
