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BLACKSBURG, Va. – The women’s track and field team signed seven athletes, including six from Virginia, for the 2009-10 season, the squad announced on Thursday.

“I am very happy with this class of students,” Tech Director of Track and Field Dave Cianelli said. “We have signed a great group of middle distance runners, along with the top 400-meter runner in the state. All of these athletes have the ability to come in and help us immediately at the conference level.”

Yvonne Amegashie is a native of Dumfries, Va., where she runs at Potomac High School. An honor roll member at Potomac High, Amegashie finished runner-up in the 400-meters at the 2008 Virginia AAA Outdoor meet, and followed that up with a third-place effort at the 2009 Virginia AAA Indoor meet in the 300-meters. She is the top-ranked returning 400-meter runner in the state of Virginia in 2009, with a prep best of 55.19 in the 400-meter dash, and also holds a personal best of 24.74 in the 200-meter dash. Amegashie’s older brother, Ebenezer, is a sophomore sprinter and hurdler for the Hokies.

“Yvonne is a wonderful athlete, a great student and most importantly a great person,” Tech sprints and hurdles coach Manny Daux said. “She is a hard worker with a great upside and we are looking forward to having her here to contribute to the program.”

Frances Dowd comes to Tech out of Fairfax High School in Farifax, Va. Dowd was the 2007 Northern Region champion and the Virginia AAA state runner-up in the 800-meters. Dowd also received first-team all-region recognition in cross country in 2007. She holds personal records of 2:13.43 in the 800-meters, and 18:33 in a 5,000-meter cross country race. An academic honor student at Fairfax High, she also swam on the Rebels’ state champion 4x200-meter relay squad.

“Frances has good basic foot speed and has range to do well in cross country,” Tech distance and cross country coach Ben Thomas.

Kelly Kavanaugh, also a native of Fairfax, Va., runs for James Robinson High School. Kavanaugh is a 10-time state qualifier, and the 2008 district champion in the 1,000-meters, 1,600-meters and the 4x800-meter relay. She also was a district champion in 2006 and 2008 in cross country. Kavanaugh earned all-region in the 1,000-meters in 2008 and 2009. The Scholar-Athlete Award winner posted personal bests of 2:57.44 and 5:04.10 in the 1,000- and 1,600-meters, respectively.

“Kelly has been a late bloomer, who has really come on strong in her senior year. We are excited about her,” Thomas said.

Julianna Levy is the lone athlete in the class from outside of Virginia, hailing from San Ramon, Calif., and running for California High School. Levy claimed all-league honors in 2008 in the 800-meter run, and finished third in the California North Coast Section in the 800-meters. Levy earned personal bests of 58.81 in the 400-meter dash, and 2:17.96 in the 800-meter run. A strong soccer player as well, Levy played on the 2008 League and State Federation Cup championship squad.

“Julianna is a great all-around track athlete,” Thomas said. “She has been doing everything from jumps to hurdles. I think when she starts focusing on middle-distance she will compete at a high level.”

Anne Vaughan signs with Tech out of St. Catherine’s School in Ashland, Va. Vaughan won the Junior/Senior Footlocker South Region in cross country, crossing the 5,000-meter race finish line in 18:27. She also achieved all-state and all-LIS honors in cross country. Vaughan helped St. Catherine’s School to a state runner-up finish with a fifth-place effort at the VISAA Division I State Meet.

“Anne just started running her senior year in high school, and went out and won the Junior/Senior Footlocker South Region in cross country,” Thomas said. “She is an exceptional raw talent and as she gets more consistent, will be a good long runner.”

Erika Weidman comes to Tech from Alexandria, Va., and T.C. Williams High School. At T.C. Williams High, Weidman received All-Northern Region accolades in the 500- and 800-meters and was a four-time district champion. Weidman registered prep bests of 1:17.70 in the 500-meters and 2:16.15 in the 800-meters. A National Honor Society member, Weidman was named honorable mention All-Metro team in soccer in 2007.

“Erika is another middle-distance prospect, who has good speed from 400 to 800-meters,” Thomas said. “We are excited about her prospects in the middle-distance races.”

Natalie Woodford, a native of Roanoke, Va., runs at Patrick Henry High School. Woodford was a three-time Virginia AAA all-state selection, a seven-time All-Northwest Region honoree and a four-time all-district runner in cross country. She was named All-Timesland-Roanoke Times from 2006-08, and also earned MVP honors at the 2008 Cosmopolitan Invitational Track and Field Meet. Woodford recorded personal records of 56.84 and 1:15.49 in the 400- and 500-meter dashes, respectively, as well as a personal-best 2:17.72 in the 800-meters.

“Natalie is another girl with a 56-second 400-meters,” Thomas said. “When she starts focusing on the middle distances she can be good in the 800- and 1,500-meters.”

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