University of Georgia Athletics
Georgia Track & Field Announces Additional 2008 Signees
February 19, 2008 | Track & Field
ATHENS, Ga. --- Georgia's track and field program has inked four more signees as well as a pair of highly-regarded transfers for the upcoming seasons, according to an announcement from head coach Wayne Norton on Tuesday.
Miles Svoboda (Marietta, Ga.), Libby Clarke (Tasmania, Australia), who graduated from high school in December 2007 and is enrolled at UGA, Matt Cleaver (Marietta, Ga.) and Alex Giacomin (Palos Verdes, Ca.) have all sent in their National Letter of Intent and are planning to suit up for the Bulldogs.
"Matt, Miles and Alex fit in with our desire to build a solid men's team by bringing in athletes in all event areas and giving them an opportunity to develop," said Norton. "These three should be contributors with some good, structured collegiate training."
In addition, McKayla Plank (Los Gatos, Ca.) and Chris Hill (Sulphur, La.) have recently transferred to Georgia from other collegiate programs.
"We were fortunate to have Chris, Libby and McKayla join the program in January because they first of all should have an immediate, positive effect on the team and second, they will get a head start on next year as far as making the transition to (Southeastern Conference) competition," Norton said. "They will be good in 2008 and a lot better in 2009."
Norton and his staff have already announced the signing of Kristie Krueger (Argyle, Texas), Eve Machovec (Dacula, Ga.), Daniel Black (McDonough, Ga.)
and Baron Brown, a Lithonia, Ga., native who enrolled at UGA in January and is already competing for Georgia.
Svoboda, a senior at Pope High School, finished third in the 1600 at the 2007 GHSA AAAAA state meet and took 14th in the 2000 steeplechase at the 2007 Nike Outdoor Nationals. In addition, the Marietta, Ga., native clocked a 16:23.10 to finish seventh at the 2007 GHSA AAAAA State Cross Country Championships. Svoboda has personal-best times of 15:45.97 (5000), 6:17.04 (2000 steeplechase), 4:16.31 (1600), 1:55.87 (800) and 9:25.73 (3200).
Clarke, who attended Scotch Oakburn College in Tasmania, enrolled at UGA in January and is training for the 2008 outdoor season. Clarke jumpstarted her prep career by winning the National Youth Championship (under-16) in the 2000-meter steeplechase. In addition to competing for the Australian team at the Cross Country World Schools' Championships in Italy in 2006, Clarke finished third place or better as a sophomore and a junior in the National All Schools' 3000 steeplechase. She has personal-best times of 10:38 (3000 steeplechase), 9:52 (3000) and 17:42 (5000).
Cleaver, a senior at Wheeler High School, won the 2007 GHSA Region 6-AAAAA Cross Country Championships after clocking a personal-best 15:48.91 in the 5000 and finished second in the 1600 at the 2007 Region 6-AAAAA Track & Field Championships. He also crossed the finish line at the 2006 AAAAA state cross country championships in third place (15:52.13). Cleaver has posted top times of 4:21.85 (1600) and 9:24.93 (3200).
Giacomin, who attends Palos Verdes High School in California, is a prospect for Georgia in the decathlon, according to Bulldog assistant and multi-events coach Shawn Wilbourn. Giacomin has personal-best efforts of 6-5 in the high jump and 22-6 in the long jump.
Plank, who comes to Georgia from Iona College, was a 2006 NCAA cross country All-American for the Gaels. Plank also finished ninth in the prelims of the 1500 at the 2007 NCAA Outdoor Championships with a personal-best time of 4:19.29. She also captured the 800 and 1500 titles at the 2007 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC).
Plank began competing almost immediately for Georgia and has already broken into the Lady Bulldog record books. The sophomore clocked a 9:40.68 in the 3000 to finish second at the Tom Jones Memorial Classic, which was the 10th-best time in school history.
Hill, who arrives in Athens after throwing the javelin for McNeese State, has a personal-best mark of 238 feet, 10 inches, which is the American junior record. Hill won the 2006 USA Junior Outdoor Championships after recording a top effort of 226-9 and finished second at the Pan-American Junior World Championships in Sao Paulo, Brazil, after his javelin reached 235-7.75.
Georgia returns to action for the SEC in Fayetteville, Ark., on February 20, March 2.
Miles Svoboda (Marietta, Ga.), Libby Clarke (Tasmania, Australia), who graduated from high school in December 2007 and is enrolled at UGA, Matt Cleaver (Marietta, Ga.) and Alex Giacomin (Palos Verdes, Ca.) have all sent in their National Letter of Intent and are planning to suit up for the Bulldogs.
"Matt, Miles and Alex fit in with our desire to build a solid men's team by bringing in athletes in all event areas and giving them an opportunity to develop," said Norton. "These three should be contributors with some good, structured collegiate training."
In addition, McKayla Plank (Los Gatos, Ca.) and Chris Hill (Sulphur, La.) have recently transferred to Georgia from other collegiate programs.
"We were fortunate to have Chris, Libby and McKayla join the program in January because they first of all should have an immediate, positive effect on the team and second, they will get a head start on next year as far as making the transition to (Southeastern Conference) competition," Norton said. "They will be good in 2008 and a lot better in 2009."
Norton and his staff have already announced the signing of Kristie Krueger (Argyle, Texas), Eve Machovec (Dacula, Ga.), Daniel Black (McDonough, Ga.)
and Baron Brown, a Lithonia, Ga., native who enrolled at UGA in January and is already competing for Georgia.
Svoboda, a senior at Pope High School, finished third in the 1600 at the 2007 GHSA AAAAA state meet and took 14th in the 2000 steeplechase at the 2007 Nike Outdoor Nationals. In addition, the Marietta, Ga., native clocked a 16:23.10 to finish seventh at the 2007 GHSA AAAAA State Cross Country Championships. Svoboda has personal-best times of 15:45.97 (5000), 6:17.04 (2000 steeplechase), 4:16.31 (1600), 1:55.87 (800) and 9:25.73 (3200).
Clarke, who attended Scotch Oakburn College in Tasmania, enrolled at UGA in January and is training for the 2008 outdoor season. Clarke jumpstarted her prep career by winning the National Youth Championship (under-16) in the 2000-meter steeplechase. In addition to competing for the Australian team at the Cross Country World Schools' Championships in Italy in 2006, Clarke finished third place or better as a sophomore and a junior in the National All Schools' 3000 steeplechase. She has personal-best times of 10:38 (3000 steeplechase), 9:52 (3000) and 17:42 (5000).
Cleaver, a senior at Wheeler High School, won the 2007 GHSA Region 6-AAAAA Cross Country Championships after clocking a personal-best 15:48.91 in the 5000 and finished second in the 1600 at the 2007 Region 6-AAAAA Track & Field Championships. He also crossed the finish line at the 2006 AAAAA state cross country championships in third place (15:52.13). Cleaver has posted top times of 4:21.85 (1600) and 9:24.93 (3200).
Giacomin, who attends Palos Verdes High School in California, is a prospect for Georgia in the decathlon, according to Bulldog assistant and multi-events coach Shawn Wilbourn. Giacomin has personal-best efforts of 6-5 in the high jump and 22-6 in the long jump.
Plank, who comes to Georgia from Iona College, was a 2006 NCAA cross country All-American for the Gaels. Plank also finished ninth in the prelims of the 1500 at the 2007 NCAA Outdoor Championships with a personal-best time of 4:19.29. She also captured the 800 and 1500 titles at the 2007 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC).
Plank began competing almost immediately for Georgia and has already broken into the Lady Bulldog record books. The sophomore clocked a 9:40.68 in the 3000 to finish second at the Tom Jones Memorial Classic, which was the 10th-best time in school history.
Hill, who arrives in Athens after throwing the javelin for McNeese State, has a personal-best mark of 238 feet, 10 inches, which is the American junior record. Hill won the 2006 USA Junior Outdoor Championships after recording a top effort of 226-9 and finished second at the Pan-American Junior World Championships in Sao Paulo, Brazil, after his javelin reached 235-7.75.
Georgia returns to action for the SEC in Fayetteville, Ark., on February 20, March 2.
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