Women's Track Adds Four
Wednesday, August 13, 2003 | Cross Country
“This is a pretty balanced group,” said Jones. “Tiandra (Ponteen) is one of the top athletes in the country in her event, and she and the rest of the class will be an asset to this team.”
Ponteen (Glendale, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt HS) was the Maryland state champion in the 100m, 200m, 400m and as a member of the 4x400m relay team. A citizen of St. Kitts, Ponteen has personal bests of 11.80 in the 100m, 23.56 in the 200m and 52.76 in the 400m. Ponteen also won the gold medal in the 200m and the silver medal in the 400m at the Junior Carifta Games in Trinidad this spring.Marie Stringer (Atlanta, Ga./Westminster HS) is currently the No. 2-ranked hammer thrower in the country. Stringer has a personal best of 179-6 in the hammer throw, which is the second-best mark in the country this year. Stringer was ranked third in the country in the indoor weight throw, and finished third at the Nike Indoor Classic with a throw of 53-4.5. In addition to her athletic success, she is also a National Merit Scholar.
Christine Ray (Clermont, Fla./South Lake HS) finished third in the pole vault at the State 4A meet, clearing 11-0 to score six points for her team. Prior to the state meet, she won the pole vault competition at both the 4A District 3 meet and the 4A Region 1 meets. Ray has reached a personal best of 11-1.Elly Kabboord (Cocoa Beach, Fla./Cocoa Beach HS) has been a three-time Florida high school state cross country champion. She holds the all-time fourth fastest high school 5K time in the state of Florida. In addition to her accomplishments on the track and cross country course, Kabboord was a March of Dimes Woman of the Year nominee.
