LEE UNIVERSITY cross country and track coach Don Jayroe, standing right, recently signed Ohio standout Jessica Childers, seated, to join the Lady Flames in the fall. In town for the signing were Childers family, standing from left, sister Caeley, mother Melissa, dad Steve and brother Jordan.
“Jessica is the highest-ranked distance runner we have ever recruited at Lee since the beginning of cross country and track,” said Jayroe. “Not only has she run well at the 1600 and 3200 distances, her 800 times indicate that she has very good potential to run well on the NAIA national level as a freshman.”
Childers is wrapping up a running career at Northmont High School in Englewood, Ohio. Her times are impressive: 5:11 in the 1600 meters; 2:21 in the 800 meters; 11:35 in the 3200; 18:47 in 5K cross country; and 8:03 in the 2000 Steeplechase.
The new recruit said she selected Lee because of the strong cross-country program under Jayroe’s leadership and Lee’s Christian-based environment.
