The High Point University women's cross country and track & field team has added Kayleigh Perry to its 2010-11 recruiting class, head coach Mike Esposito announced on Wednesday. Perry is a standout distance runner from Eastern Lebanon Country High School in Pennsylvania.
"We're really excited that Kayleigh will be joining us as a late addition," said Esposito. "She is one of the best distance runners coming out of Pennsylvania, which is traditionally a very strong state for distance running. Character-wise, we think she will fit in very well. Athletically, we think she can have an immediate impact in the conference."
Perry was Lancaster Lebanon League Runner of the Year as a junior and senior in cross country and was an All-State honoree those same two seasons. She placed third at the PIAA state championship as a junior and was runner-up as a senior. Perry was a four-time All-League selection in cross country, earning first-team honors her final three years.
On the track, Perry brings career bests of 2:17 in the 800-meter, 4:54 in the 1,600-meter and 10:54 in the 3,200-meter. Her time of 4:54.13 in the mile was the Lancaster Lebanon League record. Perry was one of the top milers in the state of Pennsylvania, taking second at the state championship twice and third once.
A team captain in both cross country and track & field, Perry helped lead Eastern Lebanon County to four Section 3 titles in track & field.
Perry joins eight newcomers to the HPU women's track & field team, including cross country runners
Colleen Hollowood (Saratoga Springs, N.Y./Saratoga Springs) and
Audrey Malloy (Pennsburg, Pa./Upper Perkiomen). The HPU women's cross country team placed fourth at the Big South Championship in 2009 and has a strong group of returners and newcomers.