Track & Field | 11/24/2015 3:10:00 PM
ABILENE – Abilene head cross country and track and field coach
Keith Barnier today announced the signings of current high school seniors Drew Cummings and Sophie Morrow to a National Letter of Intent.
Cummings is a middle-to-long distance runner at Hebron High School and native of Lewisville, Texas, while Morrow is a 2A state champion pole vaulter from Hico (Texas) High School.
"Drew and Sophie are both perfect fits for the program, in that they possess a high level of character and are supremely talented," said Barnier, who recently guided the women's cross country team to its first-ever Southland Conference championship this November. "Sophie is absolutely going to thrive in the culture of success created by our coaches Cory and
Angie Aguilar."
Morrow comes to ACU with a top vault of 11-feet-9 inches and will join a deeply talented crew that already features Kami Berryhill, Reagan Mabery and
Kenzie Walker.
In addition to winning last spring's 2A state title, Morrow also has captured consecutive district, area and regional championships and was a Meet of Champions qualifier. She won the Texas Amateur Athletic Federation pole vault crown in 2014, an event that she's qualified for in each of the past three years.
Morrow's team championships include back-to-back district and area titles from 2013 to 2014 as well as the 2013 regional title.
Away from the track, Morrow is a member of the National Society of High School Scholars and serves as a National Honor Society Vice President. She also is heavily involved in the theater arts and was a two-time Academic UIL regional finalist in prose.
Morrow plans to major in occupational therapy at ACU and hopes to work with disabled children.
Cummings can compete in every race from the 800-meters to the 5K and has recorded personal bests of 1:57 (800m), 4:20 (1600m), 9:35 (3200m) and 15:31 (5000m). He has guided his high school team to a pair of district championships in 2013 and 2015 as well as one appearance at the Nike Cross Country Nationals.
"Drew will be a key factor in our move to bring the men's team to a new level within the conference," added
Ray Walker, ACU's assistant coach in charge of distances. "He ran 4:20 in the 1600m during his junior year and hopes to go even faster during his senior season. He is a smart and intelligent individual who is ready to go to the next level, and I believe his talents will contribute to the success we hope to have on the men's side in the coming years."
The last two seasons Cummings has earned first team all-region and district honors in addition to the title of academic all-state. He plans to study business marketing at ACU.
