Charlotte, N.C. - Charlotte cross country coach Robert Olesen has announced the signing of four newcomers to the incoming class of 2009 and the graduating class of 2013. Charlotte's incoming class consists of three women and one male with a 50/50 split of in state and out of state athletes including two out of state athletes and two in-state athletes, with one from nearby Hickory Grove Baptist High as the Niners look to improve upon their second and fourth place finishes in the 2008 Atlantic 10 Championships.

Starting with the first male signee in the class of 2013, Danny Stiefvater joins the Niners from Stephens City, Virginia where he was an all-state performer at this past year's Virginia State Cross Country Championships. Stiefvater, a cross country captain at Sherando High School during his senior season, boasts a top 5K time of 15:57.

"Daniel really made nice improvements during his senior year of cross country. He is a hardworker and understands the amount of work it will take to reach the next level. We feel Daniel will come in and contribute right away in any race from the mile to the 5K," said Brad Herbster distance / cross country coach about his first male signee of the 2009 year.

At the top of the incoming class on the women's side is highly talented Garden State native, Maria Ruiz. Ruiz was victorious in the 2008 South Jersey Open while she finished ninth in the 2008 New Jersey State Championships. A Williamstown, N.J. native, Ruiz placed third at the 2009 New Jersey State Indoor meet in the 3200 meter run with a time of 10:59.40, while finished out the double with a fifth place finish in the mile run. Ruiz ran her top mile time in 2008 at the Meet of Champions when she turned in a 5:00.70 time in the mile.

"Maria is a great athlete and one of the top runners out of New Jersey. She has enormous range with the capability of running any race from a fast 1600 meter to a fast 5,000 meter race. She's just one of those student-athletes who can make an immediate impact for us," said Herbster of Ruiz.

From nearby Hickory Grove Baptist High School, Alyssa Bradley will join the Niners after a successful 1st cross country season. Bradley was an All-State performer in 2008 while also earning All-Conference honors following an undefeated dual meet season. Bradley also was the team captain at Hickory Grove Baptist.

"Alyssa has been running for less than a year and has shown tremendous talent. Alyssa's work ethic and attitude is that of a high caliber distance runner. We are looking forward to developing her into a quality distance runner at Charlotte. Alyssa will be a tremendous asset in the 3K and 5K events," said Herbster on the local product.

Another North Carolina native will join the 49ers next year is Sarah Willingham comes to the Niners from North Henderson High School in Henderson, N.C. Willingham is another talented recruit who turned in her best 5K time with a performance of 18:46. The Hendersonville, N.C. native also was the winner of the 2008 Wendy's Invitational Cross Country meet, while also picking up a victory in the 2008 3A West Regional meet.

"Sarah has shown that she can compete at a high level, by winning the Wendy's Invitational race and of course the 2008 region race. She is not afraid of doing the things it takes to become a great runner, Sarah will be able to compete from the mile run to the 10K," said Herbster of the North Henderson High School product.

The three women signees will join conference champion and NCAA qualifier Amanda Goetschius as well as fellow returning All-Conference performer Keara Thomas. Danny will join a talented men's team which returns conference champion and NCAA All-Region performer, Adu Dentamo, as well as the likes of talented returners Chase Eckard, Dakota Lowery, Jordan Rickard and redshirt-freshman Will Taylor.