CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Citadel cross country and track and field teams signed six cadet athletes for the 2017-18 seasons, announced by head coach Jody Huddleston.

"This year's early signing class will certainly be a big boost for our cross country program and distance events on the track," Huddleston said. "Five of the six are distance runners with the sixth a solid high jumper who will fill the void that will be left from the graduation of both Jack Nosbisch and Mick Noel."

Harrison Mansell | High Jump | Roswell, Ga. | Fellowship Christian
Mansell competed for both the track and field and basketball teams at Fellowship Christian School. He was the regional, sectional and state champion in the high jump after hitting a personal best of six feet and four inches. On the court, he led his team in blocks and rebounds his first three years on the team. He will major in business at The Citadel.

Jeremy Shipley | Middle Distance | Hillsborough, N.J. | Hillsborough HS
Shipley has run three years of cross country and four years of track and field at Hillsborough High School. When he joins The Citadel in 2017, Shipley will continue to run cross country while competing in middle distance events in track and field. He had a PR of 1:57 in the 800 meters and 16:32 in the 5K. Shipley plans to major in criminal justice at The Citadel.

Austin St. John | Distance | Indian Land, S.C. | Indian Land HS
St. John has run distance and middle distance at Indian Land High School, competing in both cross country and track and field. In the 5K, St. John finished with a top time of 16:30 his sophomore year. In track and field, he competed in various events such as the 800 meters, the mile and 3,200 meters.

"Both Austin St. John and Jeremy Shipley have run very competitive high school 5K times and will be in our top seven right out of the gate," Huddleston said. "Jumping 6'4" will put Harrison Mansell on our top ten all-time list both indoor and outdoor so he will certainly have an opportunity to help us in his freshman year."

Casey Miller | Distance | Johnson City, Tenn. | Science Hill HS
Miller has lettered in cross country and track and field all four seasons at Science Hill High School where she has been selected all-state the past two years. Miller ran her top time in cross country of 20:20 in the 5K. In track and field, Miller ran various events such as the 8000 meters, 3,200 meters and the steeple chase. The team plans to have her run middle distance in indoor season followed by the steeple chase in outdoor. Miller intends to major in criminal justice at The Citadel.

Amber Opp | Distance | Morgantown, N.C. | Draughn HS
Opp has received numerous postseason awards as a member of the Draughn High School cross country and track and field teams. She was named all-county, all-conference and all-region each of the last four years in cross country and all-conference and all-region the last three seasons in track and field. Opp has a top time of 19:17 in the 5K, 5:43 in the 1,600 meters and 2:40 in the 800 meters.

Kenslee Padgett | Distance | Landrum, S.C. | Landrum HS
Padgett runs distance on both the cross country and track and field teams at Landrum High School. She lettered all four years in cross country, where her team was a two-time region champion and state champion when she was a freshman. Padgett finished with a personal best time of 20:06 in the 5K, 6:09 in the 1,600 meters and 13:29 in the 3,200 meters. She plans to major in biology at The Citadel.

"At this year's SoCon cross country championships, we had four women run times that are in the top 25 all-time at The Citadel with freshmen Dana Duggan and Jordan Neeley each running 20:07," Huddleston said. "With Amber Opp having posted a time of 19:17 in the 5K, Kenslee Padgett running 20:06 and Casey Miller at 20:20, all three will add quality and depth that we will need with the graduation of Caillian Colquitt."

For more information on The Citadel cross country and track and field, follow @CitadelOlympic or visit CitadelSports.com.