University of Connecticut Athletics
Four Early Signees Include Two High School All-Americans
12/16/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
STORRS, CT (Dec. 16) - Two high school All-Americans are included among the four early signees to the University of Connecticut women’s cross country and track & field program, as announced by interim head coach Bill Morgan. Maxine Davila (Staten Island, NY), Emily Lewek (Scotia, NY), Tamara Highsmith (East Haven, CT) and Meghan O’Conor (Saratoga Springs, NY) are the four who will join the UConn team next fall.
Davila earned All-American status in the 2000-meter steeplechase as a member of the track team at Notre Dame Academy under coach Dom Tringali. Davila’s time of 7:14.69 in the event at the Adidas National Outdoor Championships is a National Catholic High School record. Davila, who will major in education and foreign languages at UConn, has also run a time of 4:47.21 in the 1500-meter.
Lewek earned All-American recognition as the anchor leg of the 4x800-meter relay team that placed fifth at the National Scholastic Championships. Lewek attends Burnt Hills High School where she is coached by Eric Freestone. She plans to major in sports medicine while attending UConn.
Highsmith hails from East Haven High School where she is coached by Marc Aceto, and is a state class champion in the 100-meter hurdles as well as a recent triple-event winner at the prestigious Hartford Public Invitational.
O’Conor has the distinction of being the team captain of the New York State Champion and No. 1 nationally-ranked Saratoga Springs High School cross country team. O’Conor is a three-time All-State selection under head coach Linda Kranick, and plans to major in elementary education at UConn.
Morgan says the "two high school All-Americans will give the team great depth in the middle to long distance area. Davilia, Lewek and O’Connor provide great versatility for our middle and distance programs, while Highsmith represents possibly the finest high school athlete from Connecticut, providing strength in the triple jump and 400-meter hurdles. All four are individuals who are trulty outstanding student athletes."
