MOREHEAD, Ky. -- The Morehead State cross country and track and field programs are excited to announce the class of 2019 fall signees. The men's squad inked three of the top Kentucky runners while the women's team has four new additions from Kentucky and Ohio. All have signed National Letters of Intent.
 
The latest additions for the men include Jared Jefferson, Kyle Embry and Garrett Watts. Mary Alice Thornburg, Rileigh Owens, Abbey Mohan and Kendall Hayes will join the women's program.

Jefferson (Bracken County [Ky.] High School) has been a dominant force in the Class A Division for Kentucky over his high school career. Jefferson has placed as high as third at the KHSAA Class A state meet, as well as being runner-up for the 3200 meter race at the Class A state track meet. He has several all-state accolades to his name as well.

Embry (Ohio County [Ky.] High School) has recently developed into one of the top runners in the state. Embry scored in the KHSAA Class AAA state track meet in 2018, placing seventh overall for 1600 meters. He continued his success into his senior cross country season by placing seventh out of 300 of the best runners in the state. This was a 40-place improvement over his junior year at the state cross country event.

Watts (Madisonville-North Hopkins [Ky.] High School), as with Embry, has developed into one of the best runners in the state in 2018. He has been one of the most consistent and top placing athletes in the state his senior cross country season. Watts placed sixth individually at the Class AAA KHSAA state meet, helping his team place eighth against the top teams in the state.

Thornburg (Ashland Paul Blazer [Ky.] High School) has emerged as one of the top distance runners in the Class AA division. She has placed in the top 25 in the KHSAA Class AA state cross country meet every year in high school, with her highest placing coming her senior season (11^th). Her success continues on the track as well, qualifying in all individual distance events from 800 meters to 3200 meters.

Owens (Daviess County [Ky.] High School) has been part of one of the best teams in the state of Kentucky in recent years. In Owens' cross country career, the Daviess County team has not placed outside of the top three teams in the Class AAA division. She has also qualified individually for the KHSAA state track meet her sophomore and junior seasons in the 800 meters.

Abbey Mohan (Zane Trace [Ohio] High School) is a two-time qualifier for the OHSAA state cross country meet and also a qualifier in the open 800 meters for OSHAA state track meet. She brings range to the MSU squad, having competitive times from 200 meters and 800 meters on the track to the 5,000 meters on the cross country course. She is a two-time Scioto Valley Conference champion in cross country.

Hayes (Lexington [Ky.] Christian Academy) has qualified for the KHSAA state cross country and track meets numerous times over her decorated high school running career. She is a state champion in the 3200 meters for Class A and has placed as high as third in the Class A state cross country meet. Over the course of Hayes' career, she has qualified for the Kentucky Dream Mile, which includes the top 16 mile runners in the state, regardless of class or division.

Head coach Stephen Picucci and his staff are continuing to recruit for the 2019-20 season and expect to add more signees this spring.