Several of Virginia\'s elite cross country and track and field high school prep stars have signed their National Letters of Intent in the early signing period which lasts from November 9th to 16th. Multi-event track star Michael Morrison of Great Bridge, two-time All-American Katie Doswell of St. Catherine\'s, and state record pole vault holder Ashley of Western Albemarle were just a few of many top Virginians to finalize their college decisions early.
Michael Morrison is considered by many in and out of the state of Virginia and one of this year\'s top returning pole vaulters and mult-event in the entire nation. Morrison has earned numerous All-American honors and is the Virginia indoor state record holder in the pole vault. Morrison has decided to try his luck in the very competitive conference of the SEC as he signed his NLI with the University of Florida. The future Gator has plenty left to accomplish in his senior year as he is coming off a sensational junior year. At last year\'s outdoor state meet, Morrison put on an impressive show by tallying 40 points individually in five events. Morrison also won the US Junior National title last summer and competed in the Pan Am Junior Games.
The #1 ranked college women\'s cross country team in the nation currently, Duke University, just got richer in landing one of Virginia\'s most talented middle distance runners in Katie Doswell of St. Catherine\'s. Last indoor season as a junior, Doswell broke out on the national scene by running a 2:47.21 at the Armory Collegiate Games in New York. Her time ranks as the third fastest in US high school history. Doswell also set the Virginia state indoor record at 800 meters in a 2:08.66 at the USA Indoor Track & Field Championships.
Like Morrison, Western Albemarle\'s Ashley Early is a indoor state record holder in the pole vault, but also owns the outdoor state record as well. Early has a personal best of 12-6.25 and has won numerous state titles to go along with her four All-American honors. Early has decided to state in-state as she signed her NLI with Virginia Tech, which has had great recent results with their pole vaulting crew as shown with an All-American performance last spring from Brian Mondschein.
Francena McCorory, Bethel\'s star sprinter has decided to stay close to home as she signed with Hampton University. The Hampton native will be close to home in becoming a Lady Pirate. McCorory has been the state\'s most dominant sprinter over the last few years. McCorory posted the #2 US All-Time 300 last winter with a 37.60 clocking at th New York Armory. Since winning the Group AAA state titles, 300 meter dash indoors and 100 and 200 meter dashes outdoors, McCorory has went onto winning a total of 11 individual state titles as well be a member of state championship relays and teams. McCorory also has proved herself on the national with four individual All-American honors.
Last week was a good week for Chantilly senior Brad Siragusa. After signing his NLI with Northern Arizona University in the middle of the week, Siragusa capped it off with a Group AAA state individual title as he outkicked West Springfield junior Mike Spooner for his first state title. Siragusa\'s high school career has been well chronicled since his freshmen year when he ran a 4:21 1600 and 9:36 3200. With great promise in his freshmen year, he was unable to follow through with a state title until this past Saturday with a state title. However, with the state title monkey off his back, expect big things from Siragusa for the remainder of his senior year and his future college career at the national caliber Northern Arizona program with his 2:32 1000, 4:17 1600, 9:17 3200, and 15:21 5K bests.
While distance star Siragusa decided to take his running west, E.C. Glass senior Patterson Wilhelm went east, but not that far east as he stayed in-state at the state\'s premier distance college program in William & Mary. While coming off a disappointing senior cross country season that included a bout with the flu, Wilhelm is still a great pickup for Coach Gibby\'s squad as he has ran a 4:14 1600, 9:17 3200, and 15:31 5K.
Virginia Tech certainly picked up some proven winners in their early recruiting class as to go along with multiple state champion Ashley Early, the Hokes also had 2003 Group A state cross country champion Kelly Clark sign with them. While Clark took second in this past weekend\'s Group A race, she has had a sensational senior season and holds track bests of a 5:10 1600 and 11:27 3200.
If you know of any athletes that have already signed or committed early in their college decision, please contact MileStat.com at milestat@yahoo.com, so the athlete can be added to our 2006 college signings list. Also if you have any photos of athletes signing their NLI\'s, please email them to us to get posted on MileStat.com.
John Handley thrower Alex Ball signed with the College of William & Mary. Ball finished third at last spring\'s Group AA State Meet in the discus throw. He has personal bests of 50-5 in the shot put and 150-11 in the discus throw.