Feb. 3, 2011
The Vanderbilt women’s cross country program has signed four athletes for the 2011-12 school year, head coach Steve Keith announced today.
Rebecca Chandler (Jacksonville, Fla.), Catherine Diethelm (Birmingham, Ala.) Hannah Jumper (Chattanooga, Tenn.) and Grace Orders (Moraga, Calif.) will join a team that set many records in the fall of 2010. The Commodores had program-best finishes of third place at the SEC Championship meet as well as the NCAA Regional meet.
“Coming off of a great cross country season last fall, this 2011 recruiting class is exactly what we need to continue to move the program forward,” said Keith. “The personality, focus and competitive desire of Rebecca, Catherine, Hannah and Grace will add greatly to our team dynamic and chemistry. These are some great kids and they know how to win! Last fall we were in the hunt for an SEC title, only 16 points away, and I know we are all very excited to come back with an even deeper and stronger team.”
Here are the signees for the 2011-12 Commodores:
Rebecca Chandler
Jacksonville, Fla./Bolles School
Personal records:
800m – 2:18.76
1600m – 5:02.29
3200m – 11:23.14
5K XC – 17:57
Prep highlights: Finished fourth individually last fall at the Florida 2A State Cross Country Championships, leading the Bolles School to a runner-up team finish … Has placed sixth (2009, 08) and 25th (2007) in prior state meets … She ran a personal best of 5:02.29 in the 1600m at the 2010 Florida 2A Outdoor State Finals, placing third overall … She also ran a PR of 11:23 in the 3200m, good for fifth overall.
Assistant Coach Rhonda Riley on Chandler: “Becca’s talent, personality and competitive nature are all things we like to see in Recruits. Becca has a bright future here and already fits in well with our strong team chemistry.”
Bolles School head coach Tony Ryan: “Becca is easily one of the best students, one of the most dedicated athletes, and one of the finest young ladies that I have had the pleasure of coaching during my 20 years as a cross country and track coach. She is very much admired and respected by her coaches and teammates – she’s the perfect athlete to coach and the perfect teammate to have.”
Chandler on picking Vanderbilt: “What attracted me to Vanderbilt was that it is in the coolest city in the U.S. and also that everyone is so nice and fun there. I can’t wait to be part of the team.”
Catherine Diethelm
Birmingham, Ala./Mountain Brook HS
Personal Records:
400m – 56.67
800m – 2:11.88
1600m – 4:56.79
Mile – 4:55.82
Prep highlights: Four-time individual Alabama state champion, winning the 800m three times and the 1600m once … Has also helped her team win multiple National HS Indoor Relay titles in the distance medley and 4×800 relays … Has placed top-3 at State in the 400m and contributed on numerous 4x400m and 4x800m relay titles for her Mountain Brook squad.
Riley on Diethelm: “Catherine is an all around athlete who we look forward to having on this team. I can see her having a large impact on the track and being a viable part of our DMR. She is driven to excel academically as well as athletically and has a bright future as a Commodore.”
Keith on Diethelm: “We’re extremely excited to add a runner of Catherine’s caliber to our squad. Catherine is an excellent student and will bring a wealth of middle distance experience to our program. She’s very motivated and focused on getting the most out of her academics and athletics and we welcome her contribution.”
Diethelm on picking Vanderbilt: “I am very much looking forward to the next four years. I know that Vanderbilt can offer me everything I am looking for academically, athletically and socially.”
Hannah Jumper
Chattanooga, Tenn./Baylor School
Personal records:
800m – 2:15.20
1500m – 4:29.70
Mile – 5:00.64
3200m – 11:03.04
5K XC – 17.43
Prep highlights: Two-time state champion in cross country (2009, 2010) … Six-time state champion in track (800m – 2008, 2010, 1600m – 2010, 3200m – 2008, 2009) … In the fall of 2010, she finished fifth with a personal best time of 17:43 at the NXN Southeast Regional, which qualified her for the Nike XC Nationals in Oregon … Helped lead a 1-2-3-4 finish for the Baylor School and a team cross country title with her first place finish at State.
Riley on Jumper: “I love Hannah’s determination to win when she races. She is a very strong individual who loves to compete and will be a tremendous asset to both cross county and our middle distance squad.”
Baylor School head coach Heather Ott: “Hannah Jumper’s presence has been at the literal center of what we (at Baylor) have built over the last five years. She has been a lesson to me as her coach and to all of us as her teammates in what hard work and determination can accomplish. Hannah unconsciously insists on humility about her own significant achievements, committed first and foremost to her team and to supporting her teammates.”
Jumper on picking Vanderbilt: “I fell in love with every aspect of Vanderbilt when I came on my visit. Both the coaches and the girls on the team are great people who are also very talented, and I can’t wait to be a part of the team and school next year!”
Grace Orders
Moraga, Calif./Campolindo HS
Personal records:
5K XC – 17:43
3200m – 10:44.89
1600m – 5:05.58
Prep highlights: Placed third at the 2010 California State Cross Country meet (Division 3) with a personal best of 17:43 … Helped team win state cross country championship … Finished with the 12th ranked performance overall at the State XC meet … Placed 11th at the prestigious Foot Locker West regional, narrowly missing a spot at the national meet by one place … Finished ninth last spring (as a junior) in the 3200m at the California state track meet with a personal best of 10:44.89 … Has progressed from 51st (sophomore year) to 21st (junior) to third (senior) at the state cross country meet.
Riley on Orders: “We are extremely excited about Grace joining the program. She will add quality depth and should be able to contribute right away as a freshman.”
Campolindo HS head coach Chuck Woolridge: “Grace Orders has been the foundation upon which Campolindo has built its girls’ program over the last four years. Her passion for competition and high expectations for her performance has created a culture of success. Simply put, she has made her teammates better. Grace is a clutch performer, possessing a fearless confidence that allows her to race at her best when it matters most. She thrives on pressure.”
Orders on Vanderbilt: “Initially, I liked Vanderbilt because it was something different. I was mostly looking at schools in California, but once I visited, I was sold. I wanted to commit right when I got home from my trip!”
The four recruits will join the team for the annual retreat at the Natchez Trace State Park prior to the start of the 2011-12 school year. Chandler, Diethelm, Jumper and Orders will also compete with the track team in the middle distance and distance events.
“We have been able to rebuild the program over the last four years with a large contribution from the efforts of our first recruiting class led by Rita Jorgensen and Adrienne DiRaddo,” said Keith. “Our squad has evolved to a level where we have quality depth in all four classes (freshman through senior) and now with Rita and Adrienne graduating, the focus is to build on the high level of accomplishment that these two seniors have established. I know that our new recruits are up for this challenge and are very excited to make their mark on the program.”
