NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State Director of Track & Field Kenneth Giles announced Thursday the addition of five student-athletes who will join the Spartan women's program for the 2019-20 season.
The signees include one middle distance runner, one pole vaulter, one thrower, and two sprinters who will also compete in the jumps for NSU.
"We feel we have put together a very high-quality recruiting class," Giles said. "Each of these student-athletes will be able to come into the MEAC and be competitive right away."
Below is more on each athlete:
Kara Grant – Kingston, Jamaica
The Skinny: Grant was a standout middle distance runner at Edwin Allen High School in Kingston, Jamaica. She has run personal-best times of 2:10 in the 800 and 4:31 in the 1,500 meters. She took the silver medal in the Jamaica Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association 1,500 meters in 2018.
Giles Says: "Kara comes to NSU from the talent rich track factory of Jamaica. She will eventually help us to replace rising senior All-American middle distance runner, Martha Bissah. Kara has big-time experience and will be an immediate impact runner for cross country and track. She chose NSU over offers from "Power Five" conference schools."
De'Niya Gravely – Martinsville, Va.
The Skinny: Gravely won three state titles as a senior at Martinsville. At the 2A state outdoor meet, she topped the competition in the 100 meters (12.10 seconds), 200 meters (25.29) and triple jump (37 feet). She has a personal-best triple jump of 38-10.75. She also qualified for the New Balance Outdoor nationals in the triple jump, where she placed fourth in the emerging elite division (38-8).
Giles Says: "De'Niya is a very athletic runner who also played basketball in high school. She will have a chance to learn from NSU All-American sprint sensation Kiara Grant, and will team with (fellow signee) Indya Richards to give us a dynamic freshman duo in the sprints."
Destiny Hooks – Norfolk, Va.
The Skinny: Hooks was an indoor and outdoor 5A state meet qualifier in the pole vault as a senior at Maury High School. A relative newcomer to the pole vault, she also sprinted for Maury, but will focus on her new discipline at NSU.
Giles Says: "Destiny was coached by former NSU pole vaulter Ryan Owens and has only been vaulting for a year. We feel she has a high ceiling for success at the college level and will compete for conference titles early on."
Indya Richards – Rochester, N.Y.
The Skinny: Richards was the New York (NYSPHSAA) champion in the 55-meter hurdles as a senior at Gates Chili High School. Richards also qualified for the state indoor meet in the 55 meters and owns a PR of 7.09 seconds at that distance. She qualified for the USATF National Junior Olympics last season in the 100-meter hurdles, and has run a PR of 14.26 seconds.
Giles Says: "Indya is a big-time recruit. She also chose NSU over some Power Five schools. She will also triple jump for us."
Ameya Williams – Portsmouth, Va.
The Skinny: Williams pulled off a sweep of the Virginia 4A indoor and outdoor championships during her senior season at Churchland high School. She won the outdoor state title with a top throw of 41-2.5 in June, and owns a PR of 41-11 in the event. Williams was also a state outdoor championship qualifier in the discus.
Giles Says: "Ameya will team with a young throwing crew at NSU to provide depth. She is a very strong athlete who can step right in at the college level and be very competitive. She was referred to NSU by former hurdler Luis Morales."
The Spartan women are coming off a successful 2018-19 season which included a runner-up finish at the MEAC Cross Country Championship and saw both Bissah (800m) and Kiara Grant (60/100m) earn Division I All-America honors during indoor and outdoor seasons.
