Temple University Athletics
Cross Country and Track & Field Add 10 More to 2017 Rosters
5.8.17 | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country, Women's Track and Field
PHILADELPHIA - Temple's cross country and track and field teams have locked in 10 more recruits to add to the rosters in 2017. Additions to the women's cross country and track and field rosters include Aisha Brown (Bristow, Va., Patriot), Candus Burks (Bowie, Md., Bowie.), Julianne Foering (Lumberton, N.J., Rancocas Valley), Helene Gottlieb (Hoersholm, Denmark, Naerum Gymnasium), Lucy Jones (Leicestershire England, Our Lady's Covent), Michelle Joyce (Stroudsburg, Pa., Stroudsburg), Kaitlyn Rauscher (Franklinville, N.J., Delsea Regional), Mallorie Smith (Waldorf, Md., North Point), and Sydney Williams (Indian Head, Md., Henry E. Lackey). Slated to join men's cross country in the fall is Kristian Holm Jensen (Aarhus, Denmark, Esbjerg Gymnasium).
Brown is a jumper from Bristow, Va. During her sophomore season at Patriot, she both tied and broke the school's high jump record. As a junior, Brown was the indoor state champion in the girls high jump and aided in her team's second-place finish in the 4x400-meter relay. The incoming freshman will also join the Temple women's soccer roster this fall.
"Aisha is talented enough to benefit both our program and the soccer program," said head coach Elvis Forde. "She will aid us through her talents in the high jump and has the potential to develop in other events as well. Temple was one of the few athletic departments to allow her to join both a soccer and track program and we are glad we were able to accommodate her as she is a talented athlete all around."
Burks is a jumper from Bowie, Md., whose athletic abilities allow her to also compete in sprint events. In addition to the long jump, Burks has contributed to Bowie's 4x200 and 4x100-meter relay teams.
"Candus is invested in the sport," said Forde. "She wants to get better and learn more and more about her events which is critical to the program's success. We are looking to Candus to long jump and further develop in the triple jump for Temple. We are looking forward for her to join the group and be a major contributor ont he field."
Foering brings more depth to Temple women's track and field as a javelin thrower. With a personal best mark of 136 '9", she shows promise of growth for the program in throwing events.
"Julianne is already throwing over 135 feet which means she will be able to score for us at conferences," said Forde. "In order for us to contend at the conference level, we have to begin to incorporate more field events despite not having a place to throw. We are investing in Julianne because the javelin is her forte and continues to grow in the event - proving great potential."
Gottlieb, a middle distance runner from Denmark, should help the program in more ways than  one. Her accolades include competing in the Junior Danish National Championships two years in a row as well as representing Denmark at the Under-18 World Championships and Under-20 Nordic Championships. Gottleib looks forward to joining the Temple squad as  it will prime her for competition on a higher level than possible in Denmark.
"Helene will be able to help us right away scoring points predominantly in the 800-meter and 1500-meter races," said Forde. "Her skill-set as a track athlete will allow her to do well in cross country as well. She has done some pretty special things already in terms of competing in the World Junior Championships so we are looking forward to seeing what she can do here at Temple."
Jones is another overseas find for the Temple women's cross country and track and field program. Throughout high school, she competed under the Charnwood Athletics Club as her school did not sponsor any sports programs, and represented Leicestershire at a number of track and field championships in the area.
"Lucy will be a contribute for our program right off the bat," said Forde. "She's a special track runner that we expect to help in cross country as well. Coach Snyder was very impressed with her during the European Cross Country Championships as she finished with a higher placement than our current freshman Millie Howard who has done outstanding things on the trails and track this year. Lucy is extremely talented and we are excited to have her join us in the fall."
Joyce is a cross country/ distance runner from Pennsylvania. The Stroudsburg native served as team captain during both her junior and senior seasons on the cross country team. Joyce earned First Team All-Conference honors all four years and First Team All-District Honors for the past three along with being a state qualifier.
"Michelle is a young distance runner who we expect to transition into our longer races," said Forde. "Last year we did not do as well at the conference cross country championships because we simply lacked depth. Michelle will aid us in adding that depth we need to score at the conference level; her marks during the cross country season have proved that she can grow as a runner and benefit the program."
Rauscher is distance runner from Franklin, N.J. who is looking forward to joining the Temple program in the fall. She admired the program's coaching staff and team members as well as the University for its location and academics.
"Kaitlyn really wanted to come to Temple for its bio-medical program," said Forde. "The school's academics helped make her decision, but she has great skill and as we are trying to build depth in our cross country program, we see her as a great asset in the longer distances."
Smith, a jumper from Maryland will add to the field. The North Point senior is projected to compete at the long jump as well as some running events for the Owls next season.
"Mallorie is a smooth runner," said Forde. "She specializes in the 200-meter and 400-meter races, but is also pretty good at the long jump. She is another student-athlete that is multi-talented and we are looking to maximize the potential that she is bringing to the table."
Williams will add to track and field's running roster as a hurdler. Â She is a four-time state champion in the 55-meter hurdles, 100-meter hurdles, 300-meter hurdles, and the 200-meter dash. Additionally, she earned MVP in her school's conference during her senior indoor season as well as titles like Best Female Meet Performance and Most Outstanding over her four years at Henry E. Lackey.
"We continue to look for student-athletes that will be able to be a major contributor to the program early on," said Forde. "Sydney is one of those athletes. She specializes in short sprints and hurdles, but also has the depth to branch out an contribute in other events. She'll be a great training partner for Sylvia Wilson and Ebonee Jackson and is one of those student-athletes that will have the mindset that she will qualify for NCAA regionals - that is the kind of sheer talent we need."
Jensen will add to the men's cross country roster in the fall. The Denmark native has won a number of Danish Championships over his four years of high school and has represented the country on the national team seven times (six times for cross country, one time for track and field). Jensen broke the Under-19 national record for the 3000-meter race as a junior and looks forward to enrolling at Temple and joining an ambitious and growing cross country program.
"Kristian is the defending Scandinavian Cross Country Champion and is someone we will rely on right away come fall," says head cross country coach James Snyder. "He has international experience having run in this past year's European Cross Country Championships and we are excited to see what he can do in the cherry and white uniform this season."
Temple cross country and track and field has a big year ahead in hosting the American Athletic Conference Cross Country Championships and with Wichita State joining  the conference. The coaching staff is looking forward to gradually surpass the rankings of previous years with the young talent of the incoming class.Â
"Overall in order to grow our program we have to do a great job as coaches and spread our wings in terms of recruiting," said Forde. "Coach Snyder has done an amazing job at reaching that international pool of talented athletes who are dedicated to the sport and are looking to get a Temple education. Coach Ellison has been instrumental in building our jumping group to help push us over the proverbial top-half of the conference in ranking. The determination for success is what we see in this incoming class; they want to be champions. We have the talent pool coming to show that we are contenders in the conference. The future is bright for Temple cross country and track and field."
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Brown is a jumper from Bristow, Va. During her sophomore season at Patriot, she both tied and broke the school's high jump record. As a junior, Brown was the indoor state champion in the girls high jump and aided in her team's second-place finish in the 4x400-meter relay. The incoming freshman will also join the Temple women's soccer roster this fall.
"Aisha is talented enough to benefit both our program and the soccer program," said head coach Elvis Forde. "She will aid us through her talents in the high jump and has the potential to develop in other events as well. Temple was one of the few athletic departments to allow her to join both a soccer and track program and we are glad we were able to accommodate her as she is a talented athlete all around."
Burks is a jumper from Bowie, Md., whose athletic abilities allow her to also compete in sprint events. In addition to the long jump, Burks has contributed to Bowie's 4x200 and 4x100-meter relay teams.
"Candus is invested in the sport," said Forde. "She wants to get better and learn more and more about her events which is critical to the program's success. We are looking to Candus to long jump and further develop in the triple jump for Temple. We are looking forward for her to join the group and be a major contributor ont he field."
Foering brings more depth to Temple women's track and field as a javelin thrower. With a personal best mark of 136 '9", she shows promise of growth for the program in throwing events.
"Julianne is already throwing over 135 feet which means she will be able to score for us at conferences," said Forde. "In order for us to contend at the conference level, we have to begin to incorporate more field events despite not having a place to throw. We are investing in Julianne because the javelin is her forte and continues to grow in the event - proving great potential."
Gottlieb, a middle distance runner from Denmark, should help the program in more ways than  one. Her accolades include competing in the Junior Danish National Championships two years in a row as well as representing Denmark at the Under-18 World Championships and Under-20 Nordic Championships. Gottleib looks forward to joining the Temple squad as  it will prime her for competition on a higher level than possible in Denmark.
"Helene will be able to help us right away scoring points predominantly in the 800-meter and 1500-meter races," said Forde. "Her skill-set as a track athlete will allow her to do well in cross country as well. She has done some pretty special things already in terms of competing in the World Junior Championships so we are looking forward to seeing what she can do here at Temple."
Jones is another overseas find for the Temple women's cross country and track and field program. Throughout high school, she competed under the Charnwood Athletics Club as her school did not sponsor any sports programs, and represented Leicestershire at a number of track and field championships in the area.
"Lucy will be a contribute for our program right off the bat," said Forde. "She's a special track runner that we expect to help in cross country as well. Coach Snyder was very impressed with her during the European Cross Country Championships as she finished with a higher placement than our current freshman Millie Howard who has done outstanding things on the trails and track this year. Lucy is extremely talented and we are excited to have her join us in the fall."
Joyce is a cross country/ distance runner from Pennsylvania. The Stroudsburg native served as team captain during both her junior and senior seasons on the cross country team. Joyce earned First Team All-Conference honors all four years and First Team All-District Honors for the past three along with being a state qualifier.
"Michelle is a young distance runner who we expect to transition into our longer races," said Forde. "Last year we did not do as well at the conference cross country championships because we simply lacked depth. Michelle will aid us in adding that depth we need to score at the conference level; her marks during the cross country season have proved that she can grow as a runner and benefit the program."
Rauscher is distance runner from Franklin, N.J. who is looking forward to joining the Temple program in the fall. She admired the program's coaching staff and team members as well as the University for its location and academics.
"Kaitlyn really wanted to come to Temple for its bio-medical program," said Forde. "The school's academics helped make her decision, but she has great skill and as we are trying to build depth in our cross country program, we see her as a great asset in the longer distances."
Smith, a jumper from Maryland will add to the field. The North Point senior is projected to compete at the long jump as well as some running events for the Owls next season.
"Mallorie is a smooth runner," said Forde. "She specializes in the 200-meter and 400-meter races, but is also pretty good at the long jump. She is another student-athlete that is multi-talented and we are looking to maximize the potential that she is bringing to the table."
Williams will add to track and field's running roster as a hurdler. Â She is a four-time state champion in the 55-meter hurdles, 100-meter hurdles, 300-meter hurdles, and the 200-meter dash. Additionally, she earned MVP in her school's conference during her senior indoor season as well as titles like Best Female Meet Performance and Most Outstanding over her four years at Henry E. Lackey.
"We continue to look for student-athletes that will be able to be a major contributor to the program early on," said Forde. "Sydney is one of those athletes. She specializes in short sprints and hurdles, but also has the depth to branch out an contribute in other events. She'll be a great training partner for Sylvia Wilson and Ebonee Jackson and is one of those student-athletes that will have the mindset that she will qualify for NCAA regionals - that is the kind of sheer talent we need."
Jensen will add to the men's cross country roster in the fall. The Denmark native has won a number of Danish Championships over his four years of high school and has represented the country on the national team seven times (six times for cross country, one time for track and field). Jensen broke the Under-19 national record for the 3000-meter race as a junior and looks forward to enrolling at Temple and joining an ambitious and growing cross country program.
"Kristian is the defending Scandinavian Cross Country Champion and is someone we will rely on right away come fall," says head cross country coach James Snyder. "He has international experience having run in this past year's European Cross Country Championships and we are excited to see what he can do in the cherry and white uniform this season."
Temple cross country and track and field has a big year ahead in hosting the American Athletic Conference Cross Country Championships and with Wichita State joining  the conference. The coaching staff is looking forward to gradually surpass the rankings of previous years with the young talent of the incoming class.Â
"Overall in order to grow our program we have to do a great job as coaches and spread our wings in terms of recruiting," said Forde. "Coach Snyder has done an amazing job at reaching that international pool of talented athletes who are dedicated to the sport and are looking to get a Temple education. Coach Ellison has been instrumental in building our jumping group to help push us over the proverbial top-half of the conference in ranking. The determination for success is what we see in this incoming class; they want to be champions. We have the talent pool coming to show that we are contenders in the conference. The future is bright for Temple cross country and track and field."
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Sprints/Hurdles
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