July 12, 1999

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The Notre Dame track and field and cross country teams signed eight student-athletes during the spring signing period, including cross country/distance runners Jennifer Handley (Barrie, Ontario), Doug Gunzelmann, (Fairpoint, N.Y.), Kevin Avenius (Novi, Mich.) and Antonio Lopez (Albuquerque, N.M.), sprinter Kymia Love (Memphis, Tenn.), jumper and pole vaulter Jamie Volkmer (Kearney, Neb.), pole vaulter Nathan Cahill (East Lansing, Mich.) and thrower Brian Thornburg (Titusville, Fla.).

Handley is a three-time qualifier to the world junior cross country championships, where she placed 75th in 1999, 36th in 1996 and 32nd in 1995. A graduate of Barrie Central Collegiate Institute, she was fourth last season at the Canadian Junior Cross Country Championships and also runs both the 1,500 and 3,000 meters in track.

Gunzelmann has run a personal best 1:53.60 in the 800 meters and was ranked second nationally in that event. The 5-9, 140-pound Fairport High School graduate will compliment the Irish middle distance corps in track which includes seniors Phil Mishka, Tim Kober, Brian Holinka and Nick Fehring.

Avenius is a three-time all-state selection in cross country out of Novi High School, which won the Michigan team title in 1998. In track, he was the state runner-up in both the 1600 meters (1998) and as a member of the 4X800-meter relay team (1999). He has run a personal-best 4:13 in the mile.

Lopez won three events at this past year’s New Mexico state track meet in the 800, mile and two-mile. A graduate of St. Pius High School, he also excelled in cross country, placing third at the state meet as a senior.

Love is a two-time Tennessee state champion in the 400 meters and was named the state meet’s most outstanding athlete in 1998. She also competed in both the 100 and 200 meters as well as the 4X400-meter relay while at Kirby High School. She has run a personal best 55 seconds in the 400

Volkmer is a multi-event competitor in track, participating in the pole vault, triple jump, high jump and long jump. A 1999 graduate of Kearney Catholic High School, she recently was invited to train in both the triple jump and pole vault at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. for a second year in a row. Her personal bests include 5-7 in the high jump, 19-1 in the long jump, 40-9 in the triple jump and 11-8 in the pole vault.

Cahill, a graduate of Haslett High School in Haslett, Mich., looks to help fill the void left open by former Notre Dame All-American pole vaulter Mike Brown. Cahill was second in the Michigan state meet in the pole vault and has cleared a personal best 16-0.

Thornburg is a 6-5, 265-pound discus, shot put and hammer thrower. He was the Florida state runner-up in the discus in 1999, as well as the Hispanic-American Games champion in discus and hammer. The class valedictorian at Titusville High School, Thornburg has thrown a personal best 60-10 1/4 in the indoor weight throw, which ranks him ninth in the nation.