NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State Director of Track & Field Kenneth Giles announced Friday the addition of seven newcomers to the Spartan women's track team for the coming year.

The class features three hurdlers, one pole vaulter, one thrower, one jumper and one multi-event athlete.

Following are the newcomers and Giles' comments on each.

D'Nysha Brightful (Tampa, Fla./King HS)
Background: Brightful was a state qualifier in the pole vault her senior year at King High School. She has cleared a PR of 10 feet in her career.
Giles Says: "D'Nysha is a very athletic vaulter who will team with Destiny Hooks to give us a great 1-2 punch in the MEAC in the pole vault."

Tania Dunbar (Virginia Beach, Va./Bryant & Stratton College)
Background: Dunbar was a two-time NJCAA All-American at Bryant & Stratton in 2020-21. She placed seventh at the outdoor nationals in the 100m hurdles and fifth at the indoor championships in the 60m hurdles. She owns PRs of 8.67 in the 60mH, 14.06 in 100mH and 19-1 in the long jump.
Giles Says: "Tanisha is the head of the class. She is very athletic and will make an immediate impact at the regional level."

Zion Smith (Denver, Colo./University of Northern Colorado)
Background: Smith placed third in the 100m hurdles at the 2021 Big Sky Conference Championships as a freshman. She has clocked a PR of 14.17.
Giles Says: "Zion is a transfer we are very excited about who will add to a loaded hurdles crew."

Shelby Sills (Cinnaminson, N.J./Cinnaminson HS)
Background: Sills placed in the top five at the New Jersey state outdoor meet in both the high jump and triple jump as a senior. She owns PRs of 5-4 in the high jump and 37-9 in the triple jump.
Giles Says: "Shelby is a very intelligent jumper with great size who is a diamond in the rough for us."

Alyssa Thompson-Rowe (Lexington, N.C./Lexington Sr. HS)
Background: Thompson-Rowe won multiple North Carolina state titles in the hurdles and relays for Lexington Senior. She owns PRs of 7.99 in the 55 hurdles, 8.64 in the 60 hurdles, and 14.18 in the 100 hurdles.
Giles Says: "Alyssa is loaded with speed. She continues the recent trend of recruiting top talent from the talent-rich state of North Carolina. She will push her older teammates in the hurdles."

Jada Venters (Chesapeake, Va./Bryant & Stratton College)
Background: Venters was a first-team NJCAA All-American in the pentathlon this past season for Bryant & Stratton. She has a personal-best of 3,840 points in the heptathlon.
Giles Says: "Jada is an All-American who brings experience to our team. She should push for conference supremacy in the multi-events."

Leslie Young (Portsmouth, Va./Norcom HS)
Background: Young won state titles in both the shot put and discus during her outdoor senior season. She owns PRs of 47-7 in the shot put and 133 in the discus.
Giles Says: "Leslie is a very technically sound thrower who quickly dominated competition at the high school level in Virginia. She will make an immediate impact in the MEAC in the shot put, weight throw and hammer."

Added Giles: "This is a great class with every need addressed. It's a very athletic and intelligent group and each student-athlete can compete at the conference level immediately. It has the potential to be the best ladies recruiting class since I've been director of track and field at NSU."