MILWAUKEE, Wis. (Aug. 27, 2008) - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's track and field has announced the addition of six incoming freshmen to its team for the 2008-09 season.

Head coach Pete Corfeld has announced that Beonca Mitchell of Milwaukee, Wis., Kristine Schuette of Iowa City, Iowa, Shannon Brown of Wilmot, Wis., Erika Hanson of Normal, Ill., Shelby Schaal of Waterford, Wis., and Calanetta Burrows of Menomonee Falls, Wis., have signed National Letters of Intent to attend UWM beginning next month.

Mitchell comes to UWM from nearby Rufus King High School, where she was a teammate of sophomore Tanaiya Fisher. Mitchell ran with the state-champion 4x400m relay as a senior, after third places alongside Fisher on the relay as a sophomore and junior. Mitchell also competed at the state meet in the 4x800m twice.

"Her leg speed applied to a distance base means unlimited possibilities for Beonca. She has marvelous running form," Corfeld said. "She will run distance for us and with the cross country team. She is a great team player and will be an asset to our program."

Schuette joins the Panthers from Iowa City West High School, where her team is the three-time reigning state champions. She was a top-four finisher with four different relays as a senior after three top-six finishes as a junior. At the state indoor meet, she posted state championships with the 4x400m and 4x800m relays. Individually, she has run 2:16.66 in the 800m. Schuette also ran cross country, competing at the state meet as a senior, helping her team to a fifth-place finish by taking 49th, as well as a junior.

"Kristine started with the 400m and added the 800m and cross country to her repertoire," Corfeld said. "She is a real goal-oriented individual and she is looking to do big things at this level. She also has fabulous leadership traits and will help us now and in the future."

Brown is the younger sister of current Panther Laura Ring. She follows in her sister's footsteps from Wilmot Union High School. At WUHS, Brown was a two-time state competitor cross country, as well as in the 1600m. As a senior, she placed 29th at the state cross country meet and 13th in the 1600m in track. Her personal best in the 1600m is 5:10.96.

"Shannon has her sister's determintation to stick with a task until it is done right," Corfeld said. "She is more distance-oriented than Laura, but certainly has the family leg speed. She can do it all, but we will start her in the distance events."

Hanson attended Normal High School in Illinois, where she competed at the state meet in 400m for track, as well as in cross country. Her best track finish was sixth as a junior, while her best time in the event is 57.52. Meanwhile, she ran at the state cross country meet that year, as well.

"With her cross country backround in high school, adding the 800m should be a natural transition," Corfeld said. "Erika is not afraid to go through a good bit of discomfort to achieve a goal. She expects more from herself than the average person. That should make for a great career."

Schaal competed at the state meet in each of her four years at Waterford High School, spanning six different events. Primarily a hurdler, she took sixth in the 100m hurdles, ninth in the 300m hurdles and sixth in the long jump as a senior. In her career, she also competed in the high jump, tying for sixth as a sophomore, as well as the 4x200m and 4x400m relays. She ran the third-best time in the state in the 300m hurdles in 2008 and reached 22nd in state history in the event (44.98). Schaal laso has personal-bests of 15.31 in the 100m hurdles, 18-0 in the long jump and 5-4 in the high jump.

"For Shelby to finish her high school career in the top 25 in state history is tremendous," Corfeld said. "She has a limited background in the hurdles, but to see her progress as she learns the intricacies of the hurdle events is exciting."

Burrows hails from Menomonee Falls High School, where she was a three-time state competitor in the 100m and 300m hurdles. She was state runner-up in both events as a senior after taking second in the 300m hurdles as a junior, as well. She ran the third-best 300m hurdle time in the state as a junior and a senior, while her personal-best time of 44.77 is 14th in state history. She has also run a time of 15.01 in the 100m hurdles. Burrows has also competed at the state meet in the 4x200m relay, taking third as a senior.

"Calanetta is a great all-around hurdler," Corfeld said. "She finished second at the state meet in both events and holds one of the top 15 all-time performances in state history in the 300m hurdles. She will have an immediate impact on our team."

Mitchell is the latest King product to come into the Milwaukee track and field program, following Tenia and Tanaiya Fisher and Timeka Walker. Tenia Fisher and Walker's names figure prominently in UWM's record books.