UDPride has learned through a reliable source that former Vanderbilt track star Kristen Jumer has transferred to the University of Dayton and will be eligible after the conclusion of the fall semester for Head Coach Lefty Martin’s program. Jumer, who ran for Centerville HS, was one of the Midwest’s most talented track athletes, winning the Division-I 1600M title at the Ohio High School Track and Field Championships in 1999. Her winning time placed her in the Top 10 all time in the state of Ohio. In 1999, she also posted one of the top 10 times in the nation for high schoolers. She also helped anchor the Elks to the state title in the 4x800M relay.

At Centerville, she also excelled in the individual 800M, placing in the Top-10 in the state her senior year, including several thrilling battles with current college track star and 1999 Ohio HS 800M state champion Kameisha Bennett (Meadowdale). Over the course of her senior season, she posted nearly identical times to Bennett.

Jumer ran Cross Country for Centerville in 1998, finishing 6th at the state tournament. She also competed at the USA Track and Field Junior Nationals last summer and missed qualifying for the Pan American Games by a single finish.

In her only season at Vanderbilt, she competed well in the SEC against perennial national behemoths Arkansas, LSU, and Tennessee. By coming to Dayton, she joins former track rivals Tara and Kara Storage, two runners she competed hard against as Centerville and Beavercreek fought it out in the gritty Western Ohio League.

Lefty Martin’s program finished sixth of nine teams at last year’s Atlantic-10 outdoor championships — second place among the five competing private institutions. The Flyers claimed Atlantic-10 titles in the 5000M (Tara Storage), 400M Hurdles (LeBren Martin), Discus (Jodi Borges), and Shot Put (Jodi Borges). Tara Storage finished 2nd in the 3000M. All of these athletes have at least two years of eligibility remaining.