Temple University Athletics
Women’s Cross Country, Track & Field Ink Seven for 2020-2021
5.27.20 | Women's Cross Country, Women's Track and Field
PHILADELPHIA – Temple head track and field coach Elvis Forde has announced the signing of seven recruits to the Owls' cross country and track and field programs. The signees include Léa Kerbiriou, Emily Schuler, Chidumga Nkulume, Lauren Greig, Maya Scott, Nicole Castor and Emma Gee.
"This group will help continue to build our program and we are looking forward to them training with us," expressed Forde. "These ladies are going to have to start real fast because we are going to expect them to jump in and help us right off the bat."
Running cross country, indoor and outdoor track are both Léa Kerbiriou and Emily Schuler. Kerbiriou hails from College Pyrenees in Tarbes, France. She has an impressive middle distance background, as she collected the 2019 U18 Vice National title in the 800m (outdoor) and was the 2020 National Champion in the 800m (indoor).
Schuler, a York, Pa. native, is another skillful distance runner that will bring a lot to the table for the Owls. The three time All-State cross country runner finished in the top 25 at the PIAA AAA Cross Country State Championships each of her four years of high school, including a fifth-place mark in 2017. Schuler was a three time runner-up at the YAIAA League meet, while finishing first her junior season. The Dallastown High runner won the PIAA District 3 Meet in 2018 and finished in the top-3 at the same race the other three years. On the track, Schuler broke the school record with her eighth-place finish in the 3200m at the District 3 AAA meet her junior year. At the YAIAA League Championships her sophomore and junior years, Schuler finished second in both the 1600m and the 3200m.
The Cherry and White boost their indoor and outdoor track and field rosters with the additions of Chidumga Nkulume, Lauren Greig, Maya Scott and Nicole Castor.
Nkulume is a sprinter from Union, N.J., where she earned All-American honors on five different relay teams with her Union Catholic High School team. In March of 2019, Nkulume ran the 400 on the winning sprint medley relay at the New Balance National Indoor Championships, which ran the second fastest time in New Jersey state history. She also ran the 400 on the distance medley that reached the podium and broke the Union County record, along with the 4x400 fifth-place relay squad. In the spring of 2019, Nkulume earned All-American status in both the 4x200 and 4x400 relays at the New Balance Nationals. She won her first-ever individual county title during the 2019-20 indoor season by capturing the 400 title, where she holds the third-fastest time in the state. Nkulume intends to pursue a career in Physical Therapy when she arrives on Broad Street.
Lauren Greig is a sprinter out of Galston, Scotland. Greig has an impressive resume that includes multiple top-three finishes at both the Scottish Schools Athletics Association Championships and the Scottish Age Group Championships. She has won six gold medals in the 200m at the Scottish Schools Championships (three in the outdoor event, three in the indoor event), along with two golds in the 60m and another gold-medal finish in the 100m. Greig collected one gold in the outdoor 200m and two in the indoor 200m at the Scottish Age Group Championships. She adds two gold medals in both the 100m and the 60m at the same meet. Greig will pursue a degree in Business Management at TU.
Pennsylvania native Maya Scott will join the Temple squad after a decorated career at nearby Bensalem High School. The sprinter holds school records in the 4x100, 4x200, 4x400 and 400m. Scott's 400m time of 55.65 landed her a fourth-place finish at the 2019 PIAA Outdoor Track and Field State Championships. Earlier that year, she earned a ninth-place mark at the indoor state championships in the same event. Before COVID-19 inevitably claimed her outdoor track season, Scott was able to run at the 2020 indoor state championships, where she finished ninth in the 200m. Once on campus, Scott will work towards a career in Physical Therapy.
Nicole Castor is another Pennsylvania runner from Lower Moreland High School. Castor was named the MVP of her outdoor track team in 2018 and 2019 and added an indoor MVP accolade in 2020. During her junior year outdoor season at the Bicentennial Athletic League Championships, Castor finished first in the 100m hurdles, 300m hurdles and the triple jump. She also collected a second-place finish in the high jump at the same meet. The Huntington Valley, Pa. native was able to cap off her senior year with an impressive pentathlon mark of 2982, which ranks 18th in the country. Castor will study Kinesiology when she arrives on Broad Street.
The Owls' polished off the signees with Emma Gee, a transfer from Brigham-Young University who will compete during the outdoor season. Gee has seen much success in the steeplechase event, particularly in the spring of 2019. The Broomfield, Colo. native finished 15th, just three spots outside of qualifying for the national meet, in the 3000m steeplechase at the NCAA West Preliminary with her personal best time of 10:04.84. Gee will look to reach the national meet as she competes in the Cherry and White in the spring of 2021.
"When I look at the overall depth of this class, we have not brought in a group of this caliber since my second year at Temple," reflected coach Forde. "We're looking forward to getting this group on the track and training together."
"This group will help continue to build our program and we are looking forward to them training with us," expressed Forde. "These ladies are going to have to start real fast because we are going to expect them to jump in and help us right off the bat."
Running cross country, indoor and outdoor track are both Léa Kerbiriou and Emily Schuler. Kerbiriou hails from College Pyrenees in Tarbes, France. She has an impressive middle distance background, as she collected the 2019 U18 Vice National title in the 800m (outdoor) and was the 2020 National Champion in the 800m (indoor).
Schuler, a York, Pa. native, is another skillful distance runner that will bring a lot to the table for the Owls. The three time All-State cross country runner finished in the top 25 at the PIAA AAA Cross Country State Championships each of her four years of high school, including a fifth-place mark in 2017. Schuler was a three time runner-up at the YAIAA League meet, while finishing first her junior season. The Dallastown High runner won the PIAA District 3 Meet in 2018 and finished in the top-3 at the same race the other three years. On the track, Schuler broke the school record with her eighth-place finish in the 3200m at the District 3 AAA meet her junior year. At the YAIAA League Championships her sophomore and junior years, Schuler finished second in both the 1600m and the 3200m.
The Cherry and White boost their indoor and outdoor track and field rosters with the additions of Chidumga Nkulume, Lauren Greig, Maya Scott and Nicole Castor.
Nkulume is a sprinter from Union, N.J., where she earned All-American honors on five different relay teams with her Union Catholic High School team. In March of 2019, Nkulume ran the 400 on the winning sprint medley relay at the New Balance National Indoor Championships, which ran the second fastest time in New Jersey state history. She also ran the 400 on the distance medley that reached the podium and broke the Union County record, along with the 4x400 fifth-place relay squad. In the spring of 2019, Nkulume earned All-American status in both the 4x200 and 4x400 relays at the New Balance Nationals. She won her first-ever individual county title during the 2019-20 indoor season by capturing the 400 title, where she holds the third-fastest time in the state. Nkulume intends to pursue a career in Physical Therapy when she arrives on Broad Street.
Lauren Greig is a sprinter out of Galston, Scotland. Greig has an impressive resume that includes multiple top-three finishes at both the Scottish Schools Athletics Association Championships and the Scottish Age Group Championships. She has won six gold medals in the 200m at the Scottish Schools Championships (three in the outdoor event, three in the indoor event), along with two golds in the 60m and another gold-medal finish in the 100m. Greig collected one gold in the outdoor 200m and two in the indoor 200m at the Scottish Age Group Championships. She adds two gold medals in both the 100m and the 60m at the same meet. Greig will pursue a degree in Business Management at TU.
Pennsylvania native Maya Scott will join the Temple squad after a decorated career at nearby Bensalem High School. The sprinter holds school records in the 4x100, 4x200, 4x400 and 400m. Scott's 400m time of 55.65 landed her a fourth-place finish at the 2019 PIAA Outdoor Track and Field State Championships. Earlier that year, she earned a ninth-place mark at the indoor state championships in the same event. Before COVID-19 inevitably claimed her outdoor track season, Scott was able to run at the 2020 indoor state championships, where she finished ninth in the 200m. Once on campus, Scott will work towards a career in Physical Therapy.
Nicole Castor is another Pennsylvania runner from Lower Moreland High School. Castor was named the MVP of her outdoor track team in 2018 and 2019 and added an indoor MVP accolade in 2020. During her junior year outdoor season at the Bicentennial Athletic League Championships, Castor finished first in the 100m hurdles, 300m hurdles and the triple jump. She also collected a second-place finish in the high jump at the same meet. The Huntington Valley, Pa. native was able to cap off her senior year with an impressive pentathlon mark of 2982, which ranks 18th in the country. Castor will study Kinesiology when she arrives on Broad Street.
The Owls' polished off the signees with Emma Gee, a transfer from Brigham-Young University who will compete during the outdoor season. Gee has seen much success in the steeplechase event, particularly in the spring of 2019. The Broomfield, Colo. native finished 15th, just three spots outside of qualifying for the national meet, in the 3000m steeplechase at the NCAA West Preliminary with her personal best time of 10:04.84. Gee will look to reach the national meet as she competes in the Cherry and White in the spring of 2021.
"When I look at the overall depth of this class, we have not brought in a group of this caliber since my second year at Temple," reflected coach Forde. "We're looking forward to getting this group on the track and training together."
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