Duke Adds To Solid Signing Class With Addition Of Rylee Bowen

Nov 16, 2017

The Duke University women's program is quietly building a program for the future in the ACC and beyond.

The Blue Devils received one of their best recruits just before the early period for the National Letter of Intent closed, signing Sonoma Academy (CA) senior Rylee Bowen, who owns an 800m best of 2:11.91 and 4:43.92 in the 1600m.

Bowen, ranked No. 26 on MileSplit's big board of the top 50 girls recruits in the class of 2018, has finished fourth in consecutive years in the 1600m at the CIF championships and has competed in three straight years at Brooks PR in the 1-mile, finishing as high as seventh as a freshman.

I could not be more excited to join this amazing family. Blue Devils! @dukewomensdistance @rhondariley35 @danielcgoetz @starmstrong1 @brittaveni_7 @sophiapw_runs @starmstrong1 @sampeterman7 @liz_lansing @amandabeachh @kimhallowes @livigwynn @lindsay_billings @bigmacrun1 @saraplatek @veronica_brtek @sheridan_wilbur @helen.audrey @_grandtorino_ @gabriellerichichi @milesplit @milesplitca

A post shared by Rylee Bowen (@rylee.bowen) on Nov 14, 2017 at 2:19pm PST

Rounding out the versatile class are distance talents Clara Savchik of North Allegheny (PA), Elizabeth Reneau of Argyle Liberty (TX), and accomplished sprinter Kelcie Simmons of Leonard (TX).

Simmons, who's PB'ed a long jump of 18-10.25, has run an all-conditions best of 11.50 seconds in the 100m and has a wind-legal 23.84 (+1.4) in the 200m on her resume as well. She finished second in Class 3A in Texas in the 100m, posting an 11.53 (+2.4).

The Blue Devils also earned the signature of Issy Wakefield, a heptathlete from England whose marks stack up among some of the best American prospects of 2018.

The quality signing class comes after a pretty big haul in 2017, which included the likes of Battlefield (VA) graduate and 400m hurdler Lauren Hoffman, Lexington Catholic (KY) distance recruit Michaela Reinhart, and The Weber School (GA) pole vaulter Becky Arbiv.