AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Head Coach Adam Ward has announced that the Augusta State cross country team has signed three new runners – Savannah Sutton, Shelby Sutton and Kathleen Kennedy -- for the 2008 fall season.

Savannah Sutton will come to ASU as a freshman from Evans High School. Her personal best for the 5k in 2006 was 21:18 and she improved in 2007 with a time of 20:11. Sutton finished 12th in her 2007 state track meet and has booked two varsity letters as well as the 2007 Gatorade Player-of-the-Year.

"Savannah is going to be an excellent runner for us," Ward said. "I believe she will be an impact runner for us in the fall. She has only been running at the high school level for the past two years and has so much potential to grow and develop as a distance runner here at ASU."

Shelby Sutton, sister of Savannah also comes from Evans High School. Her personal best 5k time is 23:42 in her senior year. "Heart," Ward said. “That is what I think of when someone asks me about Shelby. She is a hard worker and her times are not indicative of the dedication she puts into this sport. With a great team atmosphere and solid encouragement, I think she will flourish at the college level. Again, she has only been running for a short time like her sister, so good things are on the horizon for this young lady."

Kennedy will graduate from Camden County High School and attend ASU in the fall as a freshman. Her personal record is 20:17 in the 5K achieved in her senior year. She was part of the 2006 and 2007 3-AAAAA cross country state champions as well as part of the Senior Beta Club and a member of the National Hispanic Honor Society.

"Kathleen is one of those rare individuals who's completely driven to succeed, academically and athletically," Ward said. “That trait will serve her well in college and I believe she has the opportunity to be one of the finest distance runners we have ever had at ASU. She loves to run and has worked hard to get where she is now. We are very lucky to have her become a part of this program."