GREENVILLE— Kate DeGeorge wasted little time making her mark on the Thiel College women's track and field team.

She's made quite a few of them, in fact.

The Butler graduate recently completed her sophomore season with the Tomcats and already owns the school's indoor records in the 500 and 600 meters.

DeGeorge is part of two indoor and three outdoor school relay records as well.

"I was hoping to do well, but I am kind of surprised I've done this well,"DeGeorge said. "Coming from a big high school has made a difference, I think.

"Coach (Clyde)Morgan has recruited a lot of athletes and we have a pretty decent- sized team. I was accustomed to that."

Morgan has been Thiel's track and field coach for five years. During that time, he has coached six President's Athletic Conference MVPs, 96 conference champions and 156 all-conference performers.

"Butler has always had a lot of numbers in its track program,"Morgan said. "Anyone we've recruited from that program has done well here. The athletes are used to competing for spots, so there's little adjustment for them."

DeGeorge teamed with Moniteau graduate Haley McFeaters to form half of the Tomcats' 1,600-meter indoor relay team that broke the school record this year.

"Haley's one of my best friends here,"DeGeorge said. "She was a freshman this year and she's one of the more talented runners we have."

DeGeorge ran the first leg of the team's outdoor 1,600 relay team that broke the school record and qualified for NCAADivision IIInationals with a provisional time of 3 minutes, 54.12 seconds.

That marked the first relay in school history to qualify for the national meet — but the quartet didn't get to go.

"There was a last-chance meet in Wisconsin and Thomas More ran one second better than us,"DeGeorge said. "They only took 16 teams to nationals and we were the 17th.

"We got bumped three days before the meet. It was discouraging, but we know we can get back there."

They will have to do so with two new runners. Thiel's women's track squad is losing only four seniors, but the middle two runners on that 1,600 relay — Diana Schell and Ashley Williams — are transferring to other schools for academic pursuits.

"We'll miss them, but it's OK,"DeGeorge said. "I'm confident Coach Morgan will bring in some freshmen we can count on. He stresses academics first and he's a great recruiter. He's the main reason I came here."

DeGeorge also considered Washington &Jefferson, Westminster and Allegheny before deciding on Thiel. She is majoring in psychology.

Morgan said he and DeGeorge hit it off almost immediately when he was recruiting her.

"We talked on the phone about academics, life, family. ... It's not just track,"Morgan said.

DeGeorge's versatility on the track has impressed her coach. She's already run the 200-, 400-, 500-, 800- and 1,600-meter events.

Next season, she likely will run the 800.

"We needed someone in the 800 late this year and I didn't hesitate to ask Kate to step up,"Morgan said. "She holds our indoor records in the 500 and 600, but the 800 might be her best event yet.

"I don't think she's through breaking records here. Not at all."

Butler graduate Kate DeGeorge recently completed her sophomore women's track and field season at Thiel College and was part of seven indoor or outdoor school records:<B>Indoor</B>• <B>500 meters: </B>Kate DeGeorge, 1:25.35 (2007)• <B>4x400 meter relay: </B>Ashley Williams, Kate DeGeorge, Haley McFeaters, Cara Riffe 4:01.56 (2007)• <B>600 meters: </B>Kate DeGeorge, 1:50.48 (2006)• <B>4x160 meter relay: </B>Kandiace Gibson, Chavonne Green, Kate DeGeorge, Ashley Alexander, 1:27.89 (2006)<B>Outdoor</B>• <B>4x400 meter relay: </B>Kate DeGeorge, Diana Schell, Ashley Williams, Cara Riffe, 3:54.12 (2007)• <B>4x100 meter relay: </B>Chavonmne Greene, Fontella Jones, Kate DeGeorge, Kandiace Gibson, 49.40 (2006)• <B>4x200 meter relay: </B>Chavonne Green, Kate DeGeorge, Ashley Alexander, Kandiace Gibson) 1:48.02