OSU Women's Track and Cross Country Sign Three‏

The Lopez twins have only been running for just over a year.

Salem-News.com Sports

CORVALLIS, Ore. - Oregon State women's track and cross country has received three letters of intent for the 2009-2010 seasons as announced by head coach Kelly Sullivan. The incoming class is a unique cast of athletes. Sullivan didn't recruit on gaudy times and accomplishments, but rather on upside, potential and enthusiasm for running.

The first signee was Laura Carlyle, a Canada native and junior college transfer from Whatcom Community College in Bellingham, Wash.

Having only competed one year in the junior college ranks, Carlyle will have three years of eligibility once she arrives at Oregon State. I watched her compete in the NWAACC championships that were held in Battle Ground, Wash. and was really impressed with her upside, Sullivan said. "We are definitely recruiting her based potential. I love finding diamonds in the rough. She definitely fits that category. She is young in this whole thing. She's excited."

Carlyle had never run competitively prior to arriving at Whatcom CC. Just by coincidence Whatcom started the program while she was attending. In her time thereCarlyle won the NWAACC cross country championships during the 2008 season. "I'm really excited. I was sold from the start," Carlyle said.

"It was good to get the letter signed, get it done and make it official. I am really looking forward to running for Kelly and running with the women there."

Shortly after Carlyle's signing Oregon State received two letters of intent from twin sisters Sabrina and Regina Lopez of Sacred Heart High School in Los Angeles, Calif.

"I first saw them at the California state cross country meet. They caught my eye before I even knew who they were," Sullivan said. "They looked impressive just warming up. They are great athletes and have a lot of athleticism. A lot like Laura, they are really new to the sport and are really energetic and enthusiastic."

The upside on these two is just phenomenal. In the 2008 cross country season Sabrina won the California Division-4 state championship while Regina came in 14th. One week following the state track meet, Sabrina finished 17th in the prestigious West Footlocker Championships. I am thrilled to be coming to OSU and running D-1 with my sister because we worked so hard to make it this far and we will continue to work hard, Regina said. My dream was always to compete in D-1 and to gain new sisters in my teammates and we found that at OSU.

The Lopez twins have only been running for just over a year. Prior to beginning their running careers their athletic prowess was focused to other sports such as volleyball and basketball. Sullivan attributes athletes joining the program a lot in part to the welcoming and family nature of the team, as was the case for Sabrina Lopez.

The women at OSU were great to my sister and I during our official visit, and for once I felt as if I had more than one sister, Sabrina said. The team and coach Sullivan made me feel as if I were at home. They treated me with respect and love, and I witnessed the relationship between the team and that made me want to be part of the team.

Sullivan and women's track and cross country are still recruiting and plan to add more signees to this group in the coming weeks.

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