LAWTON, Oklahoma (February 20) – Cameron Head Cross Country Coach Matt Aguero announced the signing of two prized recruits today. Runners Jasme Calzada and Mohamed Khelalfa will join the Aggie cross country team this spring to compete in the non-championship portion of Cameron’s season. Both runners are transfers from Virginia Intermont College where Aguero is a former head coach.

“I am very excited to have these guys on the team,” Coach Aguero said. “They have run some really impressive times in the past and can step in and be very productive to the team.”

Cameron is coming off of a very strong 2006 season that saw freshman David Chirchir competing in the NCAA National Meet. Coach Aguero believes the addition of Calzada and Khelafa can help to push the team over the top.

“Both (Calzada and Khelafa) have the potential to make the national meet and could possibly be All-Americans,” Coach Aguero said. “They have the ability to get us to the next level we have been pushing for: to make Nationals as a team.”

Calzada is a 5’8” marathon runner originally from Havana, Cuba and will be studying physical education and Spanish at Cameron. A track, cross country, and soccer star in high school, Calzada actually has the opportunity to break the national marathon record (2:24) in Cuba, where he is a dual citizen.

“I think he (Calzada) could break the Cuban marathon record rather easily,” Coach Aguero said. “Maybe not on his first try, but eventually.”

Khelalfa is a 6’0” 5000-meter specialist hailing from Algeria. Studying business management and accounting at CU, Khelalfa is a former Maryland state champion in both the mile and two-mile runs.

The Aggie cross country team is in its second season of existence at Cameron and has already made a name for itself on a national level.

“There is big time excitement with our program,” Coach Aguero said. “Now we have the team to push us over the top.”

The Aggies are currently competing in various track competitions that will allow the runners to gain experience. The championship portion of Cameron’s season does not begin until next fall.