July 14, 2016
LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. -- Siena Cross Country/Track Head Coach John Kenworthy announced the addition of 14 incoming freshman to join the program in the fall. The incoming freshman class consists of 10 who have signed their National Letters of Intent along with an additional four student athletes who are set to walk on and round out the Saints' roster.
"This group of recruits is extremely exciting for the future of Siena XC and Track," said Kenworthy. "We're coming off great fall cross country seasons, and our first ever track seasons. With one month to go until these athletes arrive on campus, I can already see where they will fit in to improve our team next fall and beyond. They are all fantastic students academically. The group as a whole are all selfless teammates who are looking to make their own individual mark, and also continue the upward team progression that our current student athletes have already started."
On the men's side, Jonathan "Stosh" Davis, Evans Kibet, Devin Laudenschlager, Michael Rautter, and Michael Stoker will be the five signees to the cross country and track programs.
Davis makes his way to Siena from New Milford, Connecticut. At New Milford High School, he was a member of both the cross country and track program. Davis was a two-time First Team Southwest Conference, two-time All-Class and two-time All-State cross country runner. He finished 4th in the Class L State Championship in both 2014 and 2015 as well as being the Southwest Conference Individual Cross Country Champion in 2014. Davis took 2nd at the 2016 Indoor Class L State Championship with a personal record 9:39.66 in the 3200m. He then took 5th at the Connecticut Indoor State Open in the 3200m which qualified him for the Indoor New England Championship. Davis was named to the All Southwest Conference Academic Team for outdoor track in 2015.
"Stosh is one of the best true cross country runners in Connecticut and I can't wait to see how he grows and develops as he embraces longer race distances at the college level," Kenworthy stated. "He is going to bring a lot of experience with him, coming out of a very successful New Milford program, and he will be a contributor in our front group immediately in the fall."
A native of Nandi Hills, Kenya, Kibet is a product from Meteitei Boy's School. He finished 3rd in the Nandi Hills Junior Cross Country Championship in 2015. In 2012, Kibet was named the Tinderet Regional Champion in the 1500m. Then, in 2013, he was the Tinderet Regional Champion in both the 1500m and 800m. At the Eldoret West Regional Championship Kibet ran 3:48 in the 1500m.
"Evans brings a completely new element to our team," noted Kenworthy. "In cross country, I think he has the potential to win a MAAC Championship and qualify for the NCAA Championships as he progresses over 4 years. Having a low stick, somebody in the top 10 at the MAAC Championships, will help our team score tremendously. Evans is also a great student, and I expect him to contribute to the high academic standard our teams have set throughout the years. I expect Evans to push our entire group to improve and bring our program to a new level."
Laudenschlager was a two-time All-League and one-time All-State in cross country from St. John the Baptist. The Bayshore, New York native ran a 15:50 at the Brown Invitational in the 5K for a 6th place finish. He placed 40th with a time of 16:43 to help St. John the Baptist finish 8th at the New York Federations which is the highest placement in school history. Laudenschlager finished in 16:43 which is the second fastest time in school history. During spring track, he was a three-time All-League selection. Laudenschlager placed 2nd at the CHSAA Championship in the 3K steeplechase with a time of 9:50. At the Indoor CHSAA Championship, he took 4th in the 3200m with his 9:31-mark.
"Devin comes from a very successful St. John the Baptist program and has experience contributing on a high level in all three season at a variety of different distances," Kenworthy said. "I think he has a lot of room to grow in college, and his range and versatility will continue to be an asset for us through all three seasons."
A six-time captain, Rautter hails to Siena from New Fairfield, Connecticut. He was part of the New Fairfield High School cross country program that was undefeated in all five Southwest Conference meets. Rautter was named All-Conference and All-State after his impressive 2015 cross country season. He finished 2nd at the 2015 Southwest Conference meet with a time of 16:37. Rautter followed that up with a 5th place finish at the State Class meet and then 22nd at the Connecticut State Open Championship which qualified him for the New England Cross Country Championship. At the New England Cross Country Championship, he finished 53rd with a time of 17:15. Rautter took the Southwest Conference Indoor Championship title in the 3200m his junior year and was then named All-Conference. He followed that up by finishing second at the Connecticut Class MM State Championship during outdoor season. During his senior year, Rautter took the gold at the Southwest Conference Indoor Championship in the 1000m and silver in the 1600m. He was the 3200m Connecticut Class M State Champion in indoor track. Rautter placed 3rd at the Connecticut State Open followed by a 6th place finish at the Indoor New England's in the 3200m. For the outdoor season, he finished 22nd at the prestigious Glenn Loucks Games in the 3200m with his time of 9:18.23. Rautter was the Connecticut Class MM Champion in the outdoor 3200m. He was an honor student all four years at New Fairfield High School.
"When we were recruiting Mikey, I knew that we hadn't quite seen all of his potential yet," Kenworthy stated. "In the last few months he has run faster and faster, getting himself up to a whole new level of performance. My main goal now is to work to keep that momentum going once he arrives in Loudonville this August. Mikey has a great attitude about training and about getting involved into a bigger program with talent around him, and that kind of attitude is infectious and something I think our program certainly thrives with, he's going to be a great addition both on the track and off."
Stoker comes to Siena from South Windsor, Connecticut. He was a team captain for the cross country and track teams at South Windsor High School. Stoker was a four-time cross country All-Conference (CCC) member. In 2015, he was the Class L State Champion in cross country. At the Cross Country New England Championship Stoker would finish 28th. Stoker's time of 8:51.15 in the 3000m at the 2016 Yale Invite gave him a 10th place finish. At the 2016 CCC Indoor Championship, he would receive silver in the 3200m while also taking bronze in the 1600m. He holds the South Windsor school record in the indoor 3200m. Stoker took the Class L Indoor 2016 State Championship with his 9:37.32 time in the 3200m. He followed that up with a bronze at the Connecticut Class M State Championship in the 3200m during outdoor season.
"Michael has shown great versatility from the cross country course to the track," noted Kenworthy. "He's a big time competitor, having some of his best performances in championship settings, and having two Connecticut state titles to his name so far. He is a fantastic student and will add to the academic success our program prides itself on."
On the women's side, Kenworthy adds signees, Jenna Borenkoff, Camryn Johnson, Sydney Johnson, Carolyn Pellegrini, and Anya Schmitt.
Jenna Borenkoff
Borenkoff has been All-League every track season as well as All-League and Second Team All-County in cross country her senior year. The Suffern, New York native has been a part of the Suffern High School indoor/outdoor track & field teams since she was in eighth grade. Borenkoff qualified for the New York State Cross Country meet with the team her junior year and then became team captain senior year. At the Rockland County Cross Country Championship, she finished 13th. Borenkoff finished 6th in the 3000m at the Rockland/Northern County Indoor Championships in 2015, while also being on the 1st place 4x800m relay team. She took 4th at the NYSPHSSA Section 1 AA Championship in the 3000m before taking 12th at the NYSPHSSA Section 1 State Qualifier. Borenkoff came in 9th at the Rockland County Outdoor 2015 Championship in the 3K when she set a personal best time of 10:48.10. She set a personal record 7:22.86 in the 2K steeplechase to finish 4th at the Outdoor 2015 Section 1 State Qualifier. Borenkoff took 4th in the 1500m and fifth in the 3000m at the 2016 Indoor Section 1 League 2B, 2A, 3B Championship. At the Section 1 Rockland County Championship she took 7th in the 1500m. Her 4x800m relay team finished 6th at the NYSPHSSA Section 1 State Qualifier while she finished 15th in the 1500m and 13th in the 3000m. Borenkoff finished 3rd in both the 3000m and 4x800m relay at the Outdoor 2016 League 2B Championship. She finished 6th in the 2K steeplechase at the Section 1 State Qualifier.
"Jenna has a ton of untapped potential," Kenworthy said. "She has shown she's a very good track runner, but I think she has a lot of room to grow in cross country as well. Even with her limited experience with the fall season I can see her stepping up and adding some depth to our top 7 right away. From there the sky is the limit and she will continue to be an asset for us in many different distances on the track."
Camryn Johnson was a five-time State Championship qualifier and four-time Section 9 Second Team All-Star from Monticello, New York. With her best time of 18:47 at Bear Mountain in the fall, Johnson placed 9th at the 2015 Orange County Cross Country Championship. At the Section 9 Cross Country Championship she finished 5th and followed that up with a 66th place finish at the New York State Class B meet. Johnson was the 2012 OICAA Outdoor Champion in the 1500m. She had three top-three finishes at the OICAA Championships over her four-year career. Johnson finished 5th in 1500m, 4th in the 3000m and 5th in the 4x800m relay at the 2016 Outdoor Section 9 State Qualifier. She was part of the National Honor Society as well as the Class Vice President at Monticello High School.
"Camryn is a great addition to our women's team, we have a hole to fill in our top five with the graduation of Christie MacFarlane and Camryn is somebody who we are going to count on to start that process," Kenworthy stated. "Her personal bests are at a level that can help us develop some depth in our front pack, and she's going to be a contributor right away for us."
Like her sister, Sydney Johnson was a scholar athlete from Monticello, New York. She was a two-time Cross Country State qualifier. At the 2015 Section 9 Cross Country Championship she finished 18th. Johnson was the 2014 Outdoor OICAA Javelin Champion. She has seven top-five finishes in the OICAA Championships. At the 2016 Indoor OICAA Championship, Johnson finished 4th in the 1500m while also coming in 9th with the 4x800m relay team. At both the 2016 Indoor Section 9 A Championship and NYSPHSAA Section 9 State Qualifier she came in 11th in the 1500m. In the Section 9 State Qualifier, she finished 5th in the 4x800m relay and 8th in the 3000m run. Johnson was ranked 11th in her graduating class at Monticello High School. She was also part of the National Honor Society and was class Treasurer.
"Sydney is another addition that is going to help develop our front pack depth right away," Kenworthy noted. "That lack of depth has been a weakness for our women in the past and that was the primary goal of this recruiting class. The only person Sydney has ever trained with is her sister, Camryn, so I'm excited to get her here and in a group that can both push her and support her strengths day in and day out."
Pellegrini has picked up 15 scholar-athlete awards as a cross country/track athlete at Colonie High School. The Colonie, New York native has participated in three New York Federation Meets including the most recent with a time of 20:03 that put her 12th on the Colonie All-Time List for Bowdoin Park. At the 2015 New York State Cross Country Federation Championship she finished 77th. Pellegrini was a two-time Suburban Council All-Star as well as the Cross Country team captain. In both 2015 and 2016, she finished 5th in the 1000m at the Indoor Section 2 Championship. Pellegrini came in 7th in the 1500m at the Section 2 Indoor Championship and then took 9th at the Section 2 Outdoor Championship. She has been a part of 4x800m relays, 4x1600 relays, sprint medley relays and distance medley relays.
"Carolyn comes from a very successful program right down the road at Colonie High School," Kenworthy said. "Her times and performances are certainly going to help us get better immediately, and her experience in championship races through all three seasons is one of the many reasons I think she's ready to make an immediate impact on this team next year. She will help us in cross country, and at almost any distance on the track as well."
Schmitt holds the East Islip High School record in the 2000m steeplechase with a time of 7:20.93. She was also part of the 4x800m relay team that owns the school record of 9:48.83. Schmitt was a three-time All-County, one-time All-Division and one-time All-League in cross country. She has also been an All-Division and All-League member for track. Schmitt has been a part of the track team since she was in eighth grade. She has two Most Valuable Runner plaques to her name. From East Islip, New York, Schmitt has been on the honor roll and team captain for both her junior and senior year.
"Anya will be another addition to the front group of our team right away," stated Kenworthy. "She has shown she can run both cross country and a variety of track races well, and I can see her making big steps forward once she gets into our program. I don't think we have quite seen Anya's ceiling yet, especially in the longer races and the steeplechase."
Kenworthy signs five men to a cross country program that comes off a fifth place MAAC Championship finish which was tied for the program's best finish. The five women are additions to the cross country program that finished eighth at the MAAC Championship which was the best finish since the 2011 season. Both the men and women will be a part of the track program that is in just its second year of existence at Siena. He also welcomes four walk-on student athletes this fall. Grant Norton from Scotia, New York and Matt Jacques from Clifton Park, New York will make two extra additions for the men's team, while Agnes Eigo from Warwick, New York and Karli Murphy from Farmingville, New York round out the women's roster.
