Strong middle-distance corps features five in-state student-athletes

BLACKSBURG, Va. - Virginia Tech director of track and field and cross country Dave Cianelli has announced six more members of his 2004 recruiting class with the signing of six student-athletes, all middle-distance runners.

The incoming signees feature five in-state athletes, including Heather Fisher and Kristin Hart of Herndon, Lindsay Traudt and Billy Berlin of Midlothian and James Scheiner of Chantilly. The lone recruit from outside of Virginia, Rider Clauss, hails from talent-rich Madison, Wis.

"We're very excited that these individuals have decided to come to Virginia Tech," said Cianelli. "The in-state recruits represent the best middle-distance talent in the commonwealth of Virginia. They will be the cornerstone for the future of our middle-distance program."

Heather Fisher and Kristin Hart led Herndon High School to the 2003 AAA Virginia State Cross Country Championship with both earning all-state honors as Hart finished ninth, while Fisher was 13th. Hart also finished third at the 2001 AAA State meet and holds personal bests of 5:11.18 in the 1,600 meters and 11.08.84 in the 3,200 meters.

Fisher was the 2003 AAA Indoor state runner-up in the 800 meters and was sixth in the 800 metes at the 2003 AAA Outdoor State Championships. Fisher holds personal bests of 2:18.40 in the 800 meters, 2:57.10 in the 1,000 meters and 5:02.94 in the 1,600 meters.

Lindsay Traudt was sixth at the 2002 AAA State Cross Country Championships, leading James River High School to the team title. Traudt earned cross country All-State honors in 2003 with an 11th place finish and was fourth in the 1,600 meters at the 2004 AAA Indoor State Championships. Traudt has personal bests of 5:09.87 in the 1,600 meters and 18:44.00 for 5k cross country.

The men's recruits boast equally impressive credentials as Billy Berlin was a member of the 2002 and 2003 National Scholastic Invitational Champion 4x1,600-meter relay teams. This past fall, Berlin led Midlothian High School to the AAA State Cross Country Championship with his 11th-place finish and was the co-champion of the Southeast Region Footlocker Senior Cross Country race with a personal best 5k time of 15:51.00. Berlin holds personal bests of 1:08.84 in the 500 meters, 2:31.17 in the 1,000 meters, 4:24.00 in the 1,600 meters and 9:29.38 in the 3,200 meters.

Joining Berlin is Westfield High School's James Scheiner who finished eighth in the 2003 AAA State Cross Country Championships. Scheiner had an outstanding 2004 AAA Indoor meet running a 1:55 leg on the state champion and record-setting 4x800-meter relay team. He also earned all-state honors in the 3,200 and 1,600 meters with fourth and seventh-place finishes, respectively. Scheiner holds personal bests of 4:17.03 in the 1,600 meters and 9:20.73 in the 3,200 meters.

Rounding out Tech's most recent signees is Rider Clauss from Madison West High School in Madison, Wis. Clauss finished fourth at the 2003 Wisconsin Large Schools State Cross Country Championships, leading Madison West to a runner-up finish. Clauss holds personal bests of 4:22.00 in the 1,600 meters and 9:41.00 in the 3,200 meters.