BLUFFTON, SC- USCB Head Cross Country and Track Coach Larry Kimball announced on Friday the signing of three new Sand Shark cross country and track athletes who will begin competing for USCB this fall.
 
HENRY CALLIS-A transfer from Spartanburg Methodist, Callis will bring immediate help to both the middle distance corps and cross country team. Callis, a native of Varnville, SC is a graduate of Wade Hampton High School in 2009 where he was a All Regional runner placing second at the Lower State XC meet his senior year. Callis went on to place 16th at the SC State Cross Country Championship in 2008.
 
During his one year at Spartanburg Methodist, Callis ran a personal best of 27:40.28 for five miles at the Southeast XC Classic in Louisville, KY. On the track this past spring, he ran a best of 1:57.55 for 800 meters to win the Augusta State Distance Challenge.
 
Kimball on Callis—“We certainly look forward to having Henry join us this fall. He is a very tough runner who will step right in and be a factor for us. His speed as an 800 meter runner will certainly help him as he grows stronger.” 

KARI LAVOIE-Lavoie is a recent graduate of Stratford (SC) HS who has a personal xc best of 20:06 as a member of the Stratford HS team that finished as the SC 4A State XC runners-up in 2009. This spring, she ran primarily the 800 meter event and was on both the 4 x 400 and 4 x 800 relay teams that qualified for the state 4A Championships.
 
Kimball on Lavoie---“Kari comes to USCB from an excellent high school program and I expect she will be able to take her running to the next level. She is has great range and will help us immediately in both cross country and on the track.” 

VANNICA WILLIAMS—Williams is a 2010 graduate of Bluffton High School who should make an immediate impact in cross country for the Sand Sharks. She was 17th in the 2009 SC State 3A XC Championships in a time of 19:58. She also had placed sixth a week earlier in the 3A Lower State meet. On the track, Williams had a best time of 2:28.14 for the open 800 meters this spring while also splitting 2:24 on Bluffton's 4 x 800 meter relay team.
 
Kimball on Williams—“The first time I saw Vannica run was at the Beaufort County meet on the USCB campus when she was a sophomore at Battery Creek HS. She showed no fear going right to the front and battled the whole race. She has the kind of determination that will push our whole team.”
 
Kimball expects to be able to announce more signings in the next couple of weeks.