July 20, 2004
DURHAM, N.C. - Director of Track & Field Programs Norm Ogilvie announced the incoming Blue Devil freshmen class of track & field athletes. Joining the women's squad for the 2004-05 campaign are:
Mercedes Anderson (North Palm Beach, Fla.): Anderson finished her senior season in stride, winning the 2004 Florida 1A state 400m championship. Her personal best time in the event was 58.89.
Christina Daniels (New York, N.Y.)-Middle Distance
Tiare Ferguson (Kula, Hawaii): Ferguson brings an impressive list of accomplishments with her to Duke. She won the USATF Junior Championships in the 3,000m with a person-best mark of 9:44.54, in addition to being the Hawaii state champion in 800m, 1,500m and 3,000m, rounding her state championship total to seven awards. Ferguson also finished the fourth in the 2004 adidas Outdoor Championship two-mile and 11th I the 2003 Foot Locker Cross Country West Regional. Her personal best times are 2:15.1 (800m), 4:38.10 (1,500m), 4:54.74 (mile) and 10:28.54 (2-mile).
Lindsey Havko (Fairview, Pa.): Havko finished fourth in the 2002 Pennsylvania 3A 1,600m race and holds a personal-best time of 5:01.69 in the mile.
Kristen Howell (San Clemente, Calif.)-Distance
li> Katie Hutcheson (Xenia, Ohio)-Distance
Lara Jones (Seattle, Wash.): Jones continually made an impressive showing at the Washington state 3A championships, earning second place in the pole vault three years in a row. Her highest vault, a remarkable 12-4 effort, broke the 3A state record. Jones also placed third at the Oregon Washington Meet of Champions during her high school career.
Daina Pucurs (Demarest, N.J.): Pucurs was the 2004 national high school champion in the javelin after finishing first at the adidas Outdoor Championships and the New Jersey state championships. Her top throw for the year, and impressive 155-8, was the fourth-best in the nation amongst high school girls in 2004. Pucurs was also a standout volleyball and basketball player throughout high school.
Amber Sayer (Amherst, Mass.): Sayer flew past the competition on route to Durham after winning the 2003 Massachusetts state and New England region championships in the 2-mile. She also represented the United States in the 5,000m at the 2003 Pan American Junior Championships. Sayer placed 15th and 18th at the 2002 and 2001 Foot Locker Cross Country Championships. Her personal best times include 10:45.15 (2-mile) and 17:07.77 (5,000m).
Allison Stankavage (Syracuse, N.Y.): Stankavage finished first in her division and second overall in the 400m hurdles at the New York state championships. She owns a personal best of 1:01.15 in the event and 58.88 in the open.
Leslie Voorhees (Portland, Ore.): Voorhees' personal-best vault is 11-feet.
