Temple University Athletics
Track & Field and Cross Country Teams Announce Five Signees for 2016-17
11.19.15 | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country, Women's Track and Field
PHILADELPHIA – Head coach Elvis Forde has officially announced the signing of five athletes to National Letters of Intent for the 2016-2017 cross country and women's track and field seasons. Zach Seiger, Kevin Lapansky, Millie Howard, Caitlin O'Brien, and Keion Greenhow will join the Owls in August of 2016.
Joining the men's cross country roster will be Pennsylvania natives Zach Seiger and Kevin Lapansky, who both boast impressive careers as distance runners and students.
"We are looking for guys like Zach and Kevin to join the program over the next few years," said Coach Forde. "They are two very bright, young guys and they will represent us within their academic programs. We are excited for them join us. [Coach Snyder] has been at the forefront and bringing in young talent. We are losing four crucial guys this year and I think these two guys are going to bring in a lot for the program."
Seiger, a native of Lewisberry, Pa., will come to Temple with the intent of majoring in Management Information Systems in the Fox School of Business. On the course, Seiger recently placed 14th in the Pennsylvania Cross Country Championships and has logged a personal best three-mile time of 15:40.
"Zach has had a lot of success over the past few years," said Coach Forde. "He is a little banged up this year, but he loves the longer races and he will be a good compliment to the program. He will certainly help build the program over the next four years."
Lapansky hails from Easton, Pa., and plans to study accounting during his career as an Owl. His personal-best three-mile time of 15:48 will bode well for the team come next fall.
"Kevin has had a lot of success in cross country over the past couple years," said coach Forde. "This is a good addition to our cross country team and [Coach Snyder] is looking forward to working with him over the coming years."
Joining the Owls for both the cross country and track and field seasons is Millie Howard. Howard is native of the United Kingdom and will study economics upon her arrival in Philadelphia.
"Millie is bringing a lot of pedigree and rising up the expectation that we have for this program," said coach Forde. "She is perfect in regards to what we're looking for. She will help us tremendously. With her youth we believe the sky is the limit for her."
Howard boasts personal-bests of 2:07.55 in the 800 meter race and a time of 4:28.89 in the 1500 meter race.
"We are trying to keep moving forward and these are the athletes we need to find," said coach Forde. "Hopefully bringing in Millie as an international athlete will open doors for more athletes from overseas to join the program."
Another cross country and track and field addition will be Caitlin O'Brien of Jackson, N.J. As a middle distance runner, O'Brien has logged personal-best times of 5:12 in the mile and 11:00 in the two-mile.
"Caitlin is fairly new to the sport and is one of the better middle distance and cross country runners in New Jersey," said coach Forde. "She will help out a lot in cross country as well as during the track and field seasons. She has a lot of learning to do in terms of the track and field areas, but we want the cross country team to grow so we look forward for having her here to help with that."
Keion Greenhow is the final signee joining the women's track and field roster. Greenhow hails from Ashland, Va., and plans to work for her degree in social work. The coaching staff plans to bring in Greenhow as a multiple event athlete, especially in sprinting and jumping events.
"Based on her athletic ability and one more year left of high school track to run, I believe Keion will turn out to be a great track athlete in the long run," said coach Forde. "We are looking for depth and quality athletes and Keion will bring that."
Greenhow finished her 2015 outdoor season at Patrick Henry High School ranking sixth in the long jump in the Girls All-Metro Track & Field Rankings. She posted personal-best times of 12.4 in the 100 meter dash and 15.2 in the 100 meter hurdles. Greenhow's best long jump logged in at 17'6.75 and recorded a top triple jump mark of 35'4.75.
Temple women's cross country will have Blanca Fernandez represent the team at the NCAA Championships on Saturday in Louisville, Ky.
Cross country travels to New York this weekend to close out its 2015 season at the IC4A Championships. The women's track and field team will kick off its indoor season on Dec. 5 at the Fast Time Meet in Bethlehem, Pa.
Joining the men's cross country roster will be Pennsylvania natives Zach Seiger and Kevin Lapansky, who both boast impressive careers as distance runners and students.
"We are looking for guys like Zach and Kevin to join the program over the next few years," said Coach Forde. "They are two very bright, young guys and they will represent us within their academic programs. We are excited for them join us. [Coach Snyder] has been at the forefront and bringing in young talent. We are losing four crucial guys this year and I think these two guys are going to bring in a lot for the program."
Seiger, a native of Lewisberry, Pa., will come to Temple with the intent of majoring in Management Information Systems in the Fox School of Business. On the course, Seiger recently placed 14th in the Pennsylvania Cross Country Championships and has logged a personal best three-mile time of 15:40.
"Zach has had a lot of success over the past few years," said Coach Forde. "He is a little banged up this year, but he loves the longer races and he will be a good compliment to the program. He will certainly help build the program over the next four years."
Lapansky hails from Easton, Pa., and plans to study accounting during his career as an Owl. His personal-best three-mile time of 15:48 will bode well for the team come next fall.
"Kevin has had a lot of success in cross country over the past couple years," said coach Forde. "This is a good addition to our cross country team and [Coach Snyder] is looking forward to working with him over the coming years."
Joining the Owls for both the cross country and track and field seasons is Millie Howard. Howard is native of the United Kingdom and will study economics upon her arrival in Philadelphia.
"Millie is bringing a lot of pedigree and rising up the expectation that we have for this program," said coach Forde. "She is perfect in regards to what we're looking for. She will help us tremendously. With her youth we believe the sky is the limit for her."
Howard boasts personal-bests of 2:07.55 in the 800 meter race and a time of 4:28.89 in the 1500 meter race.
"We are trying to keep moving forward and these are the athletes we need to find," said coach Forde. "Hopefully bringing in Millie as an international athlete will open doors for more athletes from overseas to join the program."
Another cross country and track and field addition will be Caitlin O'Brien of Jackson, N.J. As a middle distance runner, O'Brien has logged personal-best times of 5:12 in the mile and 11:00 in the two-mile.
"Caitlin is fairly new to the sport and is one of the better middle distance and cross country runners in New Jersey," said coach Forde. "She will help out a lot in cross country as well as during the track and field seasons. She has a lot of learning to do in terms of the track and field areas, but we want the cross country team to grow so we look forward for having her here to help with that."
Keion Greenhow is the final signee joining the women's track and field roster. Greenhow hails from Ashland, Va., and plans to work for her degree in social work. The coaching staff plans to bring in Greenhow as a multiple event athlete, especially in sprinting and jumping events.
"Based on her athletic ability and one more year left of high school track to run, I believe Keion will turn out to be a great track athlete in the long run," said coach Forde. "We are looking for depth and quality athletes and Keion will bring that."
Greenhow finished her 2015 outdoor season at Patrick Henry High School ranking sixth in the long jump in the Girls All-Metro Track & Field Rankings. She posted personal-best times of 12.4 in the 100 meter dash and 15.2 in the 100 meter hurdles. Greenhow's best long jump logged in at 17'6.75 and recorded a top triple jump mark of 35'4.75.
Temple women's cross country will have Blanca Fernandez represent the team at the NCAA Championships on Saturday in Louisville, Ky.
Cross country travels to New York this weekend to close out its 2015 season at the IC4A Championships. The women's track and field team will kick off its indoor season on Dec. 5 at the Fast Time Meet in Bethlehem, Pa.
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