Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Add 13 to Cross Country/Track and Field Program
June 20, 2023 | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country, Women's Track and Field
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Bowling Green cross country/track and field program has announced the addition of 13 newcomers who will compete during the 2023-24 season. The class features nine athletes who will compete for the women's cross country/track and field program, as well as four who will compete for the men's cross country program. The women's class features four distance/middle-distance runners, four sprints/jumps athletes, and one thrower. Below is information on each student-athlete.
Distance/Middle Distance
Rachael Withrow
Winfield High School
Winfield, West Virginia
1600 – 5:06
5K – 17:36
3200 – 10:51
"Rachael epitomizes the ideal Student-Athlete. She is a highly decorated high school harrier having won many state titles in West Virginia and run an impressive set of times," said head coach Lou Snelling. "She is also phenomenal in the classroom evidenced by being awarded the highly selective Presidential Scholarship by the BGSU Honors College. I am looking forward to Rachael making both an immediate impact in the true distances and developing into a major player in the MAC with time."
Withrow's MileSplit profile
Clare Valenza
Gilmour Academy High School
Gates Mills, Ohio
5K – 18:55
"Clare is a young runner who quickly showed success in cross country. Her All-Ohio performance and positive attitude make her a great fit for our program," said assistant coach Kelly Leatherman. "We are excited to see how Clare develops in her career at BGSU and the energy she can bring to our team environment!"
Valenza's MileSplit profile
Nora Ritting
Pennridge High School
Perkasie, Pennsylvania
1600 – 5:08
5K – 18:54
"Nora is another young runner who quickly showed success and has made an impact on her high school program. She has been an integral runner in her team's 4x800 relay and 1600," said Leatherman. "We are excited to see the impact Nora can make in our middle distances!"
Ritting's MileSplit profile
Keely Moore
Springboro High School
Springboro, Ohio
1600 – 5:15
2K Steeplechase – 7:27
5K – 18:48
"Keely comes to us with a background in steeplechase and an eager personality to achieve at the next level. Her experience in this event can help her to develop into a MAC contender and push our steeple group to the next level," said Leatherman. "We are excited to welcome Keely into our Falcon Family!"
Moore's MileSplit profile
Sprints/Jumps
Jaden Carey
Huron High School
Huron, Ohio
High Jump – 5' 4"
Long Jump – 17' 8.25"
"Jaden is a talented jumper with championship experience competing not only at the state level, but also nationally," said associate head coach James Gildon. "Jaden also has a background in competitive dancing which plays a major role in her kinesthetic awareness. Jaden will add depth to both the high jump and long jump groups."
Carey's MileSplit profile
Kiera Bonds
Westland High School
Galloway, Ohio
Long Jump – 18'5"
"Kiera is a versatile athlete that will concentrate on the short sprints and horizontal jumps," said Gildon. "Kiera will be a key asset to a strong jumps group."
Bonds' MileSplit profile
Sydney Burrs
Olentangy High School
Lewis Center, Ohio
200 – 25.75
300 Hurdles – 44.17
"Sydney is an incredible athlete with a lot of potential," said Gildon. "Sydney was a dual sport athlete in high school playing soccer and running track. Sydney is a hurdler by trade but will add depth to our relay pool."
Burrs' MileSplit profile
Reagan Campbell
Licking Valley High School
Newark, Ohio
200 – 25.39
400 – 56.62
"Reagan is a fierce competitor with sprint range (100m-400m)," said Gildon. "That said, I think Reagan has the ability to make an immediate impact in the 400m. Reagan knows what it takes to win having been a state champion in Ohio."
Campbell's MileSplit profile
Throws
Ava Wojciechowski
Walled Lake Central High School
Commerce Township, Michigan
Discus – 137' 3"
Shot Put – 39' 9"
"Ava comes from a strong high school program that has instilled values and standards that align with our culture here at BGSU," said throws coach Marcus Myers. "We are excited to see how Ava adds to this culture and her future performances inside the ring!"
Wojciechowski's Athletic.Net profile
Men's Cross Country
Micah Bentley
Stow Munroe Falls High School
Stow, Ohio
1600 – 4:24
3200 – 9:42
5K – 15:58
"Micah epitomizes the ideal Student-Athlete. His ambitious and hardworking personality have gotten him many accomplishments in his high school career, both academically and athletically," said Leatherman. "We are excited for the immediate impact Micah can make at the MAC Championships while also pushing the team to achieve highly in the classroom."
Bentley's MileSplit profile
Ben Myers
Fairview High School
Fairview Park, Ohio
1600 – 4:23
5K – 15:52
"Ben is a highly self-driven individual with a lot of untapped potential. He comes to us from BGSU legend Sid Sink's high school where he has chased after Sid's high school records these past few years," said Leatherman. "We are excited to see what Ben can do in his time as a Falcon!"
Myers' MileSplit profile
Anthony Sweet
Ohio State University (Graduate Transfer)
Cleveland, Ohio
5K – 15:24
8K – 25:25
"Anthony comes to us as a decorated running club member at the Ohio State University. Completely self-trained, Anthony has achieved great success without having a strong team around him," said Leatherman. "He has great leadership skills and is eager to join our program and make an immediate impact at the MAC Championship. We are excited for him to join our Falcon Family!"
Sweet's MileSplit profile
Luke Woolard
Olentangy Orange High School
Westerville, Ohio
3200 – 9:41
5K – 16:10
"Similar to Micah, Luke epitomizes the ideal Student-Athlete. He brings strong leadership skills and a superior work ethic to positively add to the team environment," said Leatherman. "His diversity in events throughout his track career brings a unique element to our program. He is one that we can see develop into a strong MAC competitor while also pushing the team to achieve highly in the classroom!"
Woolard's MileSplit Profile
Follow the Falcons
Be sure to follow the Falcons track and field team throughout the season on social media.
Twitter – @BGSU_Athletics and @BGSUXCTF
Instagram – 'bgfalcons' and 'bgsuxctf'
Facebook – 'BGSU Athletics'
YouTube – 'Falcon Athletics'
Distance/Middle Distance
Rachael Withrow
Winfield High School
Winfield, West Virginia
1600 – 5:06
5K – 17:36
3200 – 10:51
"Rachael epitomizes the ideal Student-Athlete. She is a highly decorated high school harrier having won many state titles in West Virginia and run an impressive set of times," said head coach Lou Snelling. "She is also phenomenal in the classroom evidenced by being awarded the highly selective Presidential Scholarship by the BGSU Honors College. I am looking forward to Rachael making both an immediate impact in the true distances and developing into a major player in the MAC with time."
Withrow's MileSplit profile
Clare Valenza
Gilmour Academy High School
Gates Mills, Ohio
5K – 18:55
"Clare is a young runner who quickly showed success in cross country. Her All-Ohio performance and positive attitude make her a great fit for our program," said assistant coach Kelly Leatherman. "We are excited to see how Clare develops in her career at BGSU and the energy she can bring to our team environment!"
Valenza's MileSplit profile
Nora Ritting
Pennridge High School
Perkasie, Pennsylvania
1600 – 5:08
5K – 18:54
"Nora is another young runner who quickly showed success and has made an impact on her high school program. She has been an integral runner in her team's 4x800 relay and 1600," said Leatherman. "We are excited to see the impact Nora can make in our middle distances!"
Ritting's MileSplit profile
Keely Moore
Springboro High School
Springboro, Ohio
1600 – 5:15
2K Steeplechase – 7:27
5K – 18:48
"Keely comes to us with a background in steeplechase and an eager personality to achieve at the next level. Her experience in this event can help her to develop into a MAC contender and push our steeple group to the next level," said Leatherman. "We are excited to welcome Keely into our Falcon Family!"
Moore's MileSplit profile
Sprints/Jumps
Jaden Carey
Huron High School
Huron, Ohio
High Jump – 5' 4"
Long Jump – 17' 8.25"
"Jaden is a talented jumper with championship experience competing not only at the state level, but also nationally," said associate head coach James Gildon. "Jaden also has a background in competitive dancing which plays a major role in her kinesthetic awareness. Jaden will add depth to both the high jump and long jump groups."
Carey's MileSplit profile
Kiera Bonds
Westland High School
Galloway, Ohio
Long Jump – 18'5"
"Kiera is a versatile athlete that will concentrate on the short sprints and horizontal jumps," said Gildon. "Kiera will be a key asset to a strong jumps group."
Bonds' MileSplit profile
Sydney Burrs
Olentangy High School
Lewis Center, Ohio
200 – 25.75
300 Hurdles – 44.17
"Sydney is an incredible athlete with a lot of potential," said Gildon. "Sydney was a dual sport athlete in high school playing soccer and running track. Sydney is a hurdler by trade but will add depth to our relay pool."
Burrs' MileSplit profile
Reagan Campbell
Licking Valley High School
Newark, Ohio
200 – 25.39
400 – 56.62
"Reagan is a fierce competitor with sprint range (100m-400m)," said Gildon. "That said, I think Reagan has the ability to make an immediate impact in the 400m. Reagan knows what it takes to win having been a state champion in Ohio."
Campbell's MileSplit profile
Throws
Ava Wojciechowski
Walled Lake Central High School
Commerce Township, Michigan
Discus – 137' 3"
Shot Put – 39' 9"
"Ava comes from a strong high school program that has instilled values and standards that align with our culture here at BGSU," said throws coach Marcus Myers. "We are excited to see how Ava adds to this culture and her future performances inside the ring!"
Wojciechowski's Athletic.Net profile
Men's Cross Country
Micah Bentley
Stow Munroe Falls High School
Stow, Ohio
1600 – 4:24
3200 – 9:42
5K – 15:58
"Micah epitomizes the ideal Student-Athlete. His ambitious and hardworking personality have gotten him many accomplishments in his high school career, both academically and athletically," said Leatherman. "We are excited for the immediate impact Micah can make at the MAC Championships while also pushing the team to achieve highly in the classroom."
Bentley's MileSplit profile
Ben Myers
Fairview High School
Fairview Park, Ohio
1600 – 4:23
5K – 15:52
"Ben is a highly self-driven individual with a lot of untapped potential. He comes to us from BGSU legend Sid Sink's high school where he has chased after Sid's high school records these past few years," said Leatherman. "We are excited to see what Ben can do in his time as a Falcon!"
Myers' MileSplit profile
Anthony Sweet
Ohio State University (Graduate Transfer)
Cleveland, Ohio
5K – 15:24
8K – 25:25
"Anthony comes to us as a decorated running club member at the Ohio State University. Completely self-trained, Anthony has achieved great success without having a strong team around him," said Leatherman. "He has great leadership skills and is eager to join our program and make an immediate impact at the MAC Championship. We are excited for him to join our Falcon Family!"
Sweet's MileSplit profile
Luke Woolard
Olentangy Orange High School
Westerville, Ohio
3200 – 9:41
5K – 16:10
"Similar to Micah, Luke epitomizes the ideal Student-Athlete. He brings strong leadership skills and a superior work ethic to positively add to the team environment," said Leatherman. "His diversity in events throughout his track career brings a unique element to our program. He is one that we can see develop into a strong MAC competitor while also pushing the team to achieve highly in the classroom!"
Woolard's MileSplit Profile
Follow the Falcons
Be sure to follow the Falcons track and field team throughout the season on social media.
Twitter – @BGSU_Athletics and @BGSUXCTF
Instagram – 'bgfalcons' and 'bgsuxctf'
Facebook – 'BGSU Athletics'
YouTube – 'Falcon Athletics'
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