Coker Women's Track and Field Inks Seven in Inaugural Class

HARTSVILLE, S.C. – Coker College women's track & field coach Benny Morgan has announced the additions of Autumn Walters, Shauntel Smullen, Charity Snelling, Karley Weiner, Noelia Leake, Jalecia Williamson, and Priscah Jemeli to the 2014-15 recruiting class. All seven make up the inaugural recruiting class for the Coker women's track and field team, and they will join the Cobras in the fall of 2014.

"This group of young ladies is a perfect foundation for our new track & field program," said Morgan. "They all come from high-character families and programs and bring that competitive edge a first-year program needs to be successful. I am definitely excited about signing them and cannot wait to get them on campus in the fall."

Walters, a sprinter/high jumper, has the honor of being the first-ever signee in women's track & field history. She attends Westwood High School in Columbia, S.C., where she is a two-sport athlete in track & field and golf.

Autumn will study business administration. She is the daughter of Ronnie and Barbara Walters.

Smullen, a middle-distance runner, hails from Columbia, S.C., where she attends Spring Valley High School. A two-sport athlete, Smullen was named team captain and all-region in both cross country and track & field.

Shauntel is an undecided major. She is the daughter of Ella Smullen and Steven Ware. 

Snelling is a high jumper/sprinter from Franklinton High School in Franklinton, N.C. She is a three-time state championship participant in the high jump, 400 meter and 4X4 relay events. She won the 2014 North Carolina 2-A state championship in the high jump.

Charity will pursue a degree in elementary education. She is the daughter of Benjamin and Vanessa Snelling 

Weiner, a hurdler, is from Becket, Mass. She is a two-sport athlete in track & field and cross country for the Spartans of Monument Mountain Regional High School.

Karley will pursue a degree in biology with a pre-medical concentration. She is the daughter of Gary Weiner and Virginia Beck.

Leake is a sprinter from Clinton High School in Clinton, S.C. She was one of the top sprinters in the state times of 12.4 and 25.8 in the 100 and 200-meter dashes, respectively.

Noelia will major in physical education and sport studies with a concentration in exercise science. She is the daughter of Jennifer Johnson.

Williamson, a sprinter, hails from Florence, S.C., where she attends West Florence High School. She currently ranks as one of the top 400 runners in the state of South Carolina.

Jalecia will double major in art and psychology. She is the daughter of Willie and Felicia Williamson.

Jemeli comes to Coker from Eldoret, Kenya, where she is a track & field standout for Hill School-Eldoret.

Priscah will study biology with a pre-medical concentration. She is the daughter of Rosebellah Chepkwony.

Release written by Coker sports information graduate assistant Sharod Williams.