Dec. 6, 2001

University of Notre Dame women’s cross country head coach Tim Connelly has announced the signing of 2001 Pennsylvania AAA State Champion Stephanie Madia (Wexford, Pa.) to a national letter of intent to enroll at Notre Dame next year and run for the Irish during the 2002 season.

“Stephanie is a great talent who is excited to be a part of Notre Dame,” Connelly says.

“She is a great student, as she ranks in the top 10 in a class of almost 700 students. She also will be able to step in right away and be among out top eight runners.”

In addition to her 2001 state championship, Madia qualified for the 2001 FootLocker National Cross Country Championships in Orlando, Fla., which will be run on Dec. 8. The FootLocker race brings together the top 32 high school runners from around the country.

Madia highlighted her junior track season at North Allegheny High School with a state championship in the 1,600 meters and also was the state runner up at the cross country championships in 2000.

Madia will join an Irish cross country team that qualified for the 2001 NCAA Championship and finished 19th at the meet. Notre Dame will return all seven of its competitors from that race for the 2002 season.