CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Citadel track and field and cross country teams will bring on eight newcomers to start the 2018-19 season.
 
The incoming class of freshmen is comprised of three field athletes, two sprinters and three distance runners. The members of the 2018 signing class are Thorin Cardente, Demi Lasisi, Lane Johnson, Devon Heisler, Mya Dollard, Rebekah Earhart, Shannon Ziccarello and Chelsi Smalls.
 
"We have worked very hard as a staff to bring this class together. Our ultimate goal was to add depth to the existing team and find cadet-athletes that will stand the course of what The Citadel has to offer," said head coach Jody Huddleston. "We have several newcomers that will make an immediate impact and have a chance to break school records out of the gate."

Chelsi Smalls
Sprinter | Charleston, S.C. (R.B. Stall HS)
 
A local product of Charleston, South Carolina, Chelsi Smalls joins The Citadel after spending four years at R.B. Stall high school. While at R.B. Stall, Smalls broke the school record for the 100m, 200m, 4x100, 4x200 and 4x400. 
 
Demi Lasisi
Sprinter | Lagos, Nigeria (Riverside Military Academy)
 
Demi Lasisi will join the Bulldogs after spending four years at the Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville, Georgia. Lasisi will look to add depth to the sprinters and participate in the 4x400 meter relay team. 
 
Lane Johnson
Distance | Mechanicsville, VA (Lee Davis HS)
 
Lane Johnson originates from Mechanicsville, Virginia where he was a member of the cross-country and track and field teams at Lee Davis high school. Johnson earned a varsity letter in each of his four years and was named All-Region three times. 
 
Devon Heisler
Distance | Mechanicsburg, PA (Cumberland Valley HS)
 
Devon Heisler has spent the past four years at Cumberland Valley High School in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. Heisler received three varsity letters and was named team captain in two consecutive years. Heisler will compete for the cross-country team and in the steeplechase for track and field. 
 
Mya Dollard
Jumper | Johnsonville, S.C. (Johnsonville HS)
 
Mya Dollard is a product of Johnsonville, South Carolina and comes to The Citadel after spending four years at Johnsonville high school. A three-time state champion in the high jump, Dollard has been named All-State and All-Region all four years of her high school career. 
 
Rebekah Earhart
Distance-Sprinter | Salida, CO (Salida HS)
 
Rebekah Earhart is a native of Salida, Colorado and spent four years at Salida high school as a dual-sport athlete, participating in track and field and cross country. Earhart will add depth to the Bulldogs' cross country team, as well as play a role on the track and field relay teams.  
 
Shannon Zicarello
Thrower | Whippany, N.J. (Whippany Park HS)
 
Shannon Zicarello comes from Whippany, New Jersey where she attended Whippany Park high school and was a four-year letter winner in track and field. Zicarello will come to The Citadel after winning the Emerging Elite Javelin at the New Balance Outdoor Championships this summer. 
 
Thorin Cardente
PV | North Myrtle Beach, S.C (North Kingston HS)
 
Thorin Cardente currently resides in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and attended North Kingston high school in Rhode Island. Cardente spent four years on the track and field team and will look to make an immediate impact in the pole vault.

For more information on The Citadel track and field teams, please visit CitadelSports.com or follow @CitadelOlympic or @CitadelSports on twitter.