May 7, 2002

OXFORD, Ohio - The Miami men's track and field program has announced the signing of five student-athletes to its Class of 2006. Among them are a state champion, a state runner-up and a state third-place finisher.

Heading the list of newcomers is Chris Swisher (Milan, Ind./Milan), a transfer from the University of Southern Indiana. Swisher won the 2001 state championship in the 1,600 with a time of 4:16. He has four years of track and field eligibility remaining, as he redshirted the 2002 spring season, and three years of cross country.

The 2001 Illinois state runner-up in the high jump, Ceith Creekmar (Aurora, Ill./Waubonsie) is expected to contribute immediately. His second-place mark of 6-9 would score at nearly every Mid-American Conference Championships.

"It's a real positive to have a state champion and runner-up who ought to be able to come in and impact us right away," head coach Warren Mandrell said.

Another native of the Prairie State, Dan Huling (Geneva, Ill./Geneva) placed third in the 1,600 at the 2002 state indoor championships, crossing the finish line in 4:19. He also will run cross country for the RedHawks.

Providing depth in the long jump for Miami, which already has the 2001 MAC champion in sophomore Nick Somerville (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence Central), is Scott Hudepohl (Cincinnati, Ohio/La Salle), who finished seventh in the state last year with a personal-best leap of 22-5. A multi-eventer, Hudepohl came in fifth in the heptathlon at the 2002 Indoor National Championships.

Rounding out the quintet is Heinz von Eckartsberg (Dublin, Ohio/Scioto), who took eighth in the 200 at the 2001 state meet and whose personal best in the event is 21.9.

"All five of these young men are well-suited for the program and, more important, the school," Mandrell said. "They fill needs for us, and I look for them to have an impact on Miami track and field for years to come."