UNCG signs two male track and field student-athletes to NLI’s

GREENSBORO NC – UNC Greensboro head track and field coach Linh Nguyen announced Tuesday the commitment of two male athletes to National Letters of Intent .Jermaine Coore (Somerset,NJ/ Franklin HS) and Joey Thompson (Columbia, MD/ Howard HS)  will compete in both cross country and track and field and will enroll at UNCG next fall.

"I am very excited to be adding both Joey and Jermaine to our program for 2008,” said Nguyen. “Our goal this year was to add high-level talent that could make an immediate impact on our team and in the Southern Conference. Joey and Jermaine both fit that bill and have the ability to contend with the best runners in the SoCon in cross country and on the track as freshmen. They are not only talented, but extremely driven to be the best, both on and off the track.”

Coore brings impressive high school credentials with him from Franklin HS in Somerset, NJ and was named the Home News Tribune Athlete of the Year after taking home the 2007-08 1600 meters indoor state championship. He was also named to the All-State Star Ledger second team in the indoor 1600 meters. 

"Jermaine has had a breakout senior year and has proven himself to be one of the best runners in New Jersey,” said Nguyen  “I expect him to be in the running for SoCon Freshman of the Year honors in cross country and think he could be a threat for the conference title in the 1500 as a freshman."

Thompson was the Gatorade High School Player of the Year for Maryland in cross country during the 2007-08 season and was also named to the Washington Post All-Meet first team and earned Baltimore Sun All-Meet Runner of the Year honors. He has won six state titles including running a 16:16 5K to win the cross country state championship this season, in his first and only season of cross country. His time at the state meet was the seventh fastest time in meet history.  Thompson also placed 19th at the Foot Locker Northeast Regional with a time of 16:02. 

"Joey is arguably the best all-around runner in the state of Maryland,” Nguyen said. “He dominated the state in his first season of cross country and has won numerous state titles on the track. I think he can contend for SoCon Freshman of the Year honors in cross country and will be a threat in any event he runs on the track."

AGATE:

Jermaine Coore’s PR’s: 

Track:
800m: 1:57
12000m: 3:10
1600m:4:13
3200m: 9:18 

Cross Country:
5K: 15:47

Joey Thompson’s PR’s: 

Track:
800m: 1:57
1600m:4:17
3200m: 9:19

Cross Country:
5K: 15:47