March 3, 2011
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame men’s and women’s track and field head coach Joe Piane has announced the signing of eight student-athletes to national letters of intent. The signees will be eligible to begin competition at Notre Dame in the fall of 2011.
The 2011-12 Notre Dame cross country/track and field signing class are: sprinter/hurdles Jade Barber (Middleburg Heights, Ohio/Midpark), hurdler/sprinter Michelle Rotondo (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City), hurdler/sprinter Kaila Barber (Middleburg, Heights, Ohio/Midpark), cross country and middle distance runner Karen Lesiewicz (Schaumburg, Ill./Schaumburg), multi-event specialist Fiano Paladino (Skillman, N.J./Montgomery), cross country and middle distance runner Johnny Fuller (Glenwood, Iowa/Glenwood), middle distance runner Kevin Byrne (Millstone, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) and sprinter Chris Geisting (Batesville, Ind./Batesville).
“For the women, we have five very good student-athletes joining our 2011-12 roster, while the men have added three more student-athletes in the three different events,” Piane says. “I am very pleased to welcome each one of the newcomers to the program.”
JADE BARBER SPRINTER/HURDLER MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS, OHIO MIDPARK
Personal Records: 400 meters – 54.35, 200 meters – 24.75, 60-meter hurdles – 8.71
Three-sport athlete (volleyball, basketball and track) … 2010 indoor state champion in the 400 meters in 55.46 and 60-meter hurdles in 8.71 … twin sister, Kaila, is also set to run for the Irish beginning in 2011.
MICHELLE ROTONDO SPRINTER/HURDLER GARDEN CITY, N.Y. GARDEN CITY
Personal Records: 400-meter hurdles – 1:00.44, 800 meters – 2:15
Two-sport athlete (soccer and track) … assisted her soccer team to a state championship in 2010 … No. 4 returning 400-meter hurdler from the senior class in the country … finished seventh in the 400-meter hurdles in 1:01.15 at the New Balance High School National Track and Field Meet … member of the state and national champion relays … 2010 All-American.
KAILA BARBER SPRINTER/HURDLER/JUMPER MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS, OHIO MIDPARK
Personal Records: 60 meters – 7.69, 100 meters – 11.84, 200 meters – 24.50, 300-meter hurdles – 40.88, long jump – 19-8.25
Three-sport athlete (volleyball, basketball and track and field) … sprinter, hurdler and jumper in track and field … No. 1 returning 300-meter hurdler in the country … No. 3 returning 400-meter hurdler in the nation’s senior class … 2010 indoor state champion in the 60 meters … 2010 outdoor state champion in the 300-meter hurdles and long jump … third-place finisher in the 400-meter hurdles in 1:00.08 at the New Balance High School Outdoor National Track and Field Meet … 2010 Ohio’s Gatorade Female Track and Field Athlete of the Year … track and field All-American … twin sister, Jade, is also set to run for the Irish beginning in 2011.
KAREN LESIEWICZ CROSS COUNTRY/MIDDLE DISTANCE SCHAUMBURG, ILL. SCHAUMBURG
Personal Records: 800 meters – 2:13.75, 1,600 meters – 4:54.98, three miles – 16:55.00
No. 1 runner on the 2010 state championship team … finished seventh overall in the three-mile race in 16:55.00 … anchored her 4×800-meter relay to a state championship … 2009 second-place finisher in the 800 in 2:13.75 … the first-place finisher was Notre Dame freshman McKinzie Schulz … 2010 state champion in the 1,600 in 4:54.98.
FIONA PALADINO MULTI-EVENTS SKILLMAN, N.J. MONTGOMERY
Personal Records: High Jump – 5-10, 100-meter hurdles – 14.76, 100 meters – 12.90, pentathlon – 3,075
2010 indoor national high jump second-place finisher (5-8.5) … 2010 outdoor national high jump second-place finisher … indoor New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association pentathlon sixth-place finisher … multi-time New Jersey state champion … three-time All American.
JOHNNY FULLER DISTANCE GLENWOOD, IOWA GLENWOOD
Personal Records: 3,200 meters – 9:12.34, 1,600 meters – 4:15.66
2010 Drake Relays champion in the 3,200 in 9:12.34 … also won the 1,600 in 4:15.66 … named the Outstanding High School Track Performer at the Drake Relays … Iowa Association of Track Coaches’ top-ranked runner in Class 3-A … Iowa State Cross Country Champion.
KEVIN BYRNE MIDDLE DISTANCE MILLSTONE, N.J. RED BANK CATHOLIC
Personal Records: 800 meters – 1:52.81, 1,000 meters – 2:26
2010 Shore Athlete of the Year … first-place finisher in the 1,000 in 2:26.78 at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational … non-public A state title in the 800 in 1:55.73 … first place in the Meet of Champions in the 800 in 1:55.10 … champion at the New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association Group Championships in 1:52.81.
CHRIS GEISTING SPRINTS BATESVILLE, IND. BATESVILLE
Personal Records: 400 meters – 47.69
2010 state third-place finisher in the 400 meters in 47.69.
–ND–