BLACKSBURG, Va. – Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Dave Cianelli has announced an 11-member recruiting class for the women’s track & field team that will bring incredible depth and talent to the Hokies in 2015.

“The best thing about this class is not just the depth of talent, but the fact that each of these young women expressed a strong desire to come to Virginia Tech and be a Hokie,” explained Cianelli. “This defines the type of energy and commitment that will translate into a life of success. Each of these individuals is a perfect fit for Virginia Tech and our program.”

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Kacia Vines

Sprints/Jumps

Hillsborough, N.C.

Cedar Ridge HS

Kacia Vines, a multi sport athlete out of North Carolina, has continually excelled throughout her athletic career. 2014 proved to be a great year for Vines as she was the USATF Junior Olympic Champion in the long jump, the North Carolina 3A State Champion in the long jump, the New Balance Emerging Elite Champion in the long jump and the North Carolina 3A State runner-up in the 400 meters. In addition to track & field, Vines is a two-time All-Conference selection in both volleyball and basketball. Vines has personal bests of 25.32 in the 200 meters, 56.26 in the 400 meters, 9.76 in the 60-meter hurdles, 5’2” (1.58 meters) in the high jump, 19’6” (5.95 meters) in the long jump and 39’4.5” (12.00 meters) in the triple jump.

Paul Zalewski on Vines: “I am thrilled to have Kacia as a part of the program. This young lady has a mountain of talent, and the mentality to achieve whatever she puts her mind to. She started coming on late in her junior year, but the improvements she made only shows me how far this young lady can go. Amazing things are in her future, and that future is going to be here pretty quickly.”

Vines on why she chose Virginia Tech: “The reasons why I chose Virginia Tech were because of the great team bond, the coaching staff, and the overall atmosphere. I felt that I could be a great asset to Virginia Tech’s program due to the quality coaching staff and the dedication that we share. I enjoyed how there will be more individualized attention towards development while focusing on each athlete’s specialized talents. The campus was beautiful and everyone in Blacksburg was extremely welcoming. I chose Virginia Tech because I could honestly see myself as a student-athlete while making great strides at the school.”

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Pavla Kuklova

Throws

Czech Republic

Pavla Kuklova, a hammer thrower from the Czech Republic, will join the Hokies next fall. She was the Czech Republic Junior National Champion and competed at the World Junior Championships last summer. Kuklova is a multiple-time national age group champion and has a tremendous amount of international competitive experience. Her current personal record is 190’7” (58.08 meters )

Greg Jack on Kuvlova: "We are pleased to welcome Pavla to the Hokie Nation. We have a long tradition of great hammer throwers and I believe Pavla will take her place as one of the great ones we have had here at Virginia Tech. She will make an immediate impact at the ACC and NCAA championships.”

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Teegan Rasche

Throws

Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada

Teagan Rasche will join the Hokies next year and will compete in the hammer and javelin. She represented Canada at the World Youth Championships in 2013 and was the Canadian Junior Hammer Champion and also placed 3rd in the javelin at the Canadian Junior Championships. Rasche has thrown 174’2” (53.09 meters) in the hammer and 147’6” (44.97 meters) in the javelin respectively.

Greg Jack on Rasche: "Teagan is great young athlete who will step right in and help us in two events right away at the ACC Championships. She comes from a great family, is a hard worker who is eager to improve and fits in very well with our team."

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Emily Beatty

Distance

Blacksburg, Va.

Blacksburg HS

Emily Beatty, a native of Blacksburg, is a two time Nike Cross Country Nationals Finalist, with her team recently winning the 2014 Southeast Region Meet and finishing seventh at the National Championship Meet. Her team has won the Virginia 3A State Cross Country Meet back-to-back years and she was a member of the winning 4x1-mile relay team at the 2014 New Balance Indoor Nationals. She has finished individually in the top three of the Virginia 3A State Cross Country Meet, indoor state track meet, and outdoor state track meet. She owns personal bests of 2:57 in the 1000 meters, 5:01 in the 1600 meters, and 18:22 for 5000 meters cross country.

Ben Thomas on Beatty: “Emily has been a very consistent competitor in her high school career, helping Blacksburg High to numerous state titles. She is a tough and very smart racer who knows how successful teams operate. She has a good range of speed and experience racing against high-level competition. Her addition will definitely help our depth right away in cross country.”

Beatty on why she chose Virginia Tech: “In addition to having access to top-notch academics at Virginia Tech, I will have the opportunity to run with a team that consistently trains and performs at the highest level while maintaining a supportive team spirit. The coaching staff has a proven record of developing athletes to meet their full potential. I'm excited to be a part of the team and compete against the best of the best!”

Lauren Berman

Distance

Fairfax, Va.

James W. Robinson HS

Lauren Berman, sister of former Hokie and All-American Jared Berman, recently finished ninth at the 2014 Virginia 6A State Cross Country Meet and ran an impressive 17:53 in the 5k at the Footlocker Regional Cross Country Championships. She has also finished well on the track, placing third in the 1600 meters at the Virginia 6A State Track Meet indoors and outdoors. Her personal bests include a 4:59 in the 1600 meters and a time of 10:57 in the 3200 meters.

Ben Thomas on Berman: “Lauren comes from a very well coached program at Robinson High School and has thrived competing in the very competitive northern region of Virginia. She can be very good in cross country right away and has good range from the mile to the 5k already. We are very excited to add her to our deep incoming freshman class!!”

Berman on why she chose Virginia Tech: “Whenever I came down to see my brother run for Virginia Tech, I fell in love with the school's atmosphere, the team dynamic, and the engineering program. It offers everything that will allow me to be academically and athletically successful in the future.”

Jillian Everly

Distance

Manassas, Va.

Osbourn Park HS

Jillian Everly out of Osbourn Park High School joins the Hokies as a top-15 finisher at the Virginia 6A State Cross Country Meet the past two years. Her personal bests are 10:56 in the 3200 meters and 18:06 for 5000 meters cross country.

Ben Thomas on Everly: “I am thrilled that we were able to add Jillian to our early signing class. She has been brought along very well by Coach Shuster and had a great senior cross country season. She has been a very steady performer and has the talent to develop into an ACC level competitor. We are really looking forward to working with her!”

Everly on why she chose Virginia Tech: “The reason I chose Virginia Tech is because it is an outstanding university, known for it's academic and athletic excellence. After visiting with the coaches, experiencing the school's pride, and realizing it's the best place to reach my potential I knew there was no better place than Tech.”

Jennifer Fleming

Distance

Blacksburg, Va.

Blacksburg HS

Jennifer Fleming, a native of Blacksburg, will join teammate Emily Beatty at Virginia Tech. Jennifer is also a two time Nike Cross Country Nationals Finalist, a member of the two time team state champ in cross country, and a leg of the national champion 4x1-mile relay team during indoor track. Recently, Fleming finished in the top 10 individually at the Nike Southeast Regional Cross Country Meet and helped her team to a seventh-place finish at the National Cross Country Championships. She has also finished in the top three of the Virginia 3A State Meet in cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track. Her personal bests are 2:57 in the 1000 meters, 4:57 in the 1600 meters, 10:37 in the 3200 meters, and 17:55 for 5000 meters cross country.

Ben Thomas on Fleming: “Jennifer is one of Blacksburg coach James DeMarco's most consistent performers who has been a big part of many state championship team titles. She has good speed and has developed into an excellent cross country runner as well. I love her toughness as a racer as well, and we can't wait to work with her.

Fleming on why she chose Virginia Tech: “I've lived in Blacksburg most of my life, and Virginia Tech has always been a big part of it. Both of my parents went there and a lot of my aunts and uncles did too, and they are always saying great things about it. The engineering program is excellent, and the running program has had so much success; it's just the perfect place for me!”

Rachel Pocratsky

Distance

Olney, Md.

Our Lady of Good Counsel HS

Rachel Pocratsky is a middle distance state champion from Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Olney, Maryland. She finished first in the 800 meters and third in the 400 meters at the 2014 Maryland WCAC Outdoor State Track Meet. She was runner up in the 800 meters the year before. Her personal bests are 57.7 in the 400 meters and 2:16 in the 800 meters.

Ben Thomas on Pocratsky: “Rachel has shown that she has the competitiveness and drive to compete at a high level. She already has the athleticism and has a lot of potential to develop further and excel in the middle distances at the ACC level. We are very glad to add her to the recruiting class and to the group of middle distance runners already here. ”

Pocratsky on why she chose Virginia Tech: Virginia Tech has an impressive engineering program that I’m sure will challenge me and it is located on a beautiful campus with friendly people. In addition, it also has a great track program that will allow me to compete at the Division I level against tough competition.”

Shannon Quinn

Distance

Camp Hill, Penn.

Trinity HS

Shannon Quinn is another middle distance standout from Trinity High School in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania. She led her 4x800 meter-relay team to first place at the 2014 Pennsylvania IAA Outdoor State Track Meet and finished second individually in the 800m at the 2013 and 2014 Pennsylvania IAA Outdoor State Track Meet. She has ran 56.7 in the 400 meters and 2:11 in the 800 meters.

Ben Thomas on Quinn: “Shannon is coming in as one of the fastest recruits we have ever had at 800 meter distance. Her willingness to put in the work in cross country will greatly benefit her at the next level. I am very excited to get to work with her and believe she can make an impact in the middle distances right away.”

Quinn on why she chose Virginia Tech: "Virginia Tech is so unique because there are so many students around, yet the communal atmosphere and the conveniently laid out campus makes you feel completely at home! The coaches truly made me realize how great I could be, and it was amazing how much the team really is a family. I can't wait to be a Hokie!"

Alyssa Shupe

Distance

Forest, Va.

Jefferson Forest HS

Alyssa Shupe from Jefferson Forest High School won an impressive three state titles on the track last year in the middle distances winning the 1600 meters and 800 meters at the 2014 Virginia 4A State Outdoor Track Meet and winning the 1000m at the 2014 Virginia 4A State Indoor Track Meet. She also helped her team win the 2014 Virginia 4A State Cross Country Meet with an impressive fourth place finish individually. Her personal bests are 2:14 for 800 meters, 2:56 for 1000 meters and 5:01 for 1600 meters.

Ben Thomas on Shupe: “Alyssa has proven that she can win when it counts, which is exactly what we look for in a runner. She has competed well in a wide range of distance events and I think she will thrive working with the training group she will have here. She has the ability to make a difference on the cross country course and the track as a freshman, and I can't wait to see what she will do here.”

Shupe on why she chose Virginia Tech: “When I went on my visit to Tech, I immediately knew that's where I wanted to go. The program, coaching staff, and current athletes were all amazing. I am also friends with a lot of the recruits, which is just a really cool bonus!”

Amanda Swaak

Distance

Vienna, Va.

James Madison HS

Amanda Swaak of James Madison High School finished 10^th at this year’s Virginia 6A State Cross Country Meet. She has also ran under 18 minutes in the 5k at the past two Footlocker Regional 5k Cross Country Championships. Last track season she was sixth in the 3200 meters at the Virginia 6A State Indoor and Outdoor Track Meets. Amanda owns personal bests of 10:55 in the 3200 meters and 17:47 for 5000 meters in cross country.

Ben Thomas on Swaak: “Amanda can make an immediate impact in cross country and the long distance events in track and field. She has shown great consistency throughout high school and always races well in the bigger competitions. She will be a huge contributor in continuing to build on the success the women’s team had this year in cross country.”

Swaak on why she chose Virginia Tech: “I love the school spirit, the beautiful campus and the great group of runners on the team. After my official visit to VT, I knew this was going to be my home for the next few years.”

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