April 22, 2002

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Samford University has signed four athletes to national letters of intent to begin participation on 2002-03 Bulldog cross country and track and field teams, head coach Glenn McWaters announced Monday.

Scott Maurer (Knoxville, Tenn.), Laura Malnati (Dandridge, Tenn.), Andrew Middleton (College Station, Texas) and Jenny Wottle (Germantown, Tenn.) are part of an impressive class of runners for the Bulldogs that is expected to increase in the coming weeks.

Maurer, from Farragut High School in Knoxville, was a key component of a cross country team that finished the 2001 season ranked No. 6 nationally.

Malnati was the Tennessee state champion in the high jump, jumping 5'8" for Jefferson County High School.

Middleton, who chose Samford over Texas A&M and the University of Texas, was a two-year All-State selection in cross country. He finished fifth in the Texas cross country championships and was a Region II 5A champion for A&M Consolidated High School in 2001. As a junior, Middleton also finished fourth at the state cross country championships.

Wottle comes from an impressive track and field family, as her father Dave was a gold medallist in the 800 meters in the 1972 Olympic Games. In 2001 she was a member of the state championship cross country team and also set the Houston HS record in the 800 and 1600 meters.