Track & Field
STARKVILLE , Miss. - Mississippi State University Associate Head Track and Field Coach Steve Dudley has announced the signing Jaurice Dye of Elkhart, Ind. to a national letter-of-intent. Dye will begin competing for the Bulldogs during the 2007-08 season.
Dye, one of the top distance runners from the state of Indiana will bring more depth in the distance and cross country squad on the men's side. He posted a personal-best time of 15:33 during his senior season at Elkhart Memorial High School. His time ranks second all-time at EMHS. At the Indiana State Cross Country Finals, he led the Chargers of EMHS with an individual finish of 22nd, crossing the line at 16:40.7. The finals are held in Terre Haute, Ind. and contested on the same course that is used for the NCAA Championships.
Prior to the state finals, Dye won the Northern Lakes Conference ( 15:47) and both the sectional and semi-state meets with times of 15:42 and 15:44 respectively. He was tabbed Second Team All-State 5A honors which were recognized by the Indiana Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches. Dye recorded a time of 15:37.3 to claim second place in the New Prairie High School Cross Country Invitational. As a sophomore, he competed in the 2004 Indiana State Meet, finishing 12th in the field after a time of 16:26.6.
"We are pleased to have signed Jaurice (Dye) in the early signing period," said Dudley. "Jaurice (Dye) will add depth to our cross country team as well as bring talent to our track team. He had a very bad fall at his semi-state meet that not only did he get up from but also put himself back into contention to win. I look forward in coaching someone that races in this fashion."
In track he competed in the 3,200 and 1,600-meter runs on the prep level. In the 3,200 event, he tallied a time 9:52.67 while recording a time of 4:25.65 in the 1,600 competition. The track team at EMHS claimed both the city and sectional championships in 2005-06.
"It was a lovely visit when I came on my official visit. It felt like a second home," said Dye. "There are plans for a new track and I am getting a good education. I want to thank my coaches Chris Sclise and Dave Bussard along with my future coaches Dudley and Houston Franks for giving me an opportunity to run and I will do my best to make them proud."
He is the son of Jack'ee Cerise Dye and step-father Eugene Caruthers.