CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. --- University of Tennessee at Chattanooga head coach Bill Gautier announced the addition of five student-athletes to the 2016-17 Mocs cross country and track and field programs.
 
Gautier signed Hannah Caldwell, Julia Henderson and Kennedy Thompson to run for the women and Nathan Watson will join the men's cross country team. Also joining the team is Brianna Nelson, a transfer from Wisconsin- Eau Claire.
 
Caldwell and Henderson are both from the Nashville area. Caldwell prepped at Brentwood High School and Henderson comes from Ravenwood.
 
"We're very excited to get Julia and Hannah," Gautier said. "They come from very established programs that are traditionally top programs in the state."
 
Caldwell is a two-time all-state cross country performer and a three-time track athlete for Brentwood. She was the Midstate track Runner of the Year in 2013 and holds the school record for the 5,000-meter with a time of 18:13.
 
Henderson holds the record for the third fastest 5K time in Ravenwood history at 18:51. She is a two-time team captain and is a track and field state qualifier in multiple events. She was a member of three school-record setting relay teams (4x400m, 4x800m and DMR) as well an integral part of the 2012 state championship cross country team.
 
"With such a strong veteran team returning next year, there will be no pressure on them," Gautier said. "They will both give a lot of support and have the opportunity to shake things up."
 
Thompson comes to the Scenic City from Canada and plans to enroll in UTC's nursing program. She claimed the Southern Ontario Secondary Schools Association senior girls title, adding that to the junior SOSSA title she won in her sophomore year at Sir Winston Churchill.
 
"Kennedy is the best Canadian runner we've ever recruited,"Gautier said. "At this time in her career, her times are faster than Emily [Drouin – Verona, Ontario] and Teghan [Henderson – Pickering, Ontario].
 
"She fits in with our team that is close knit, competitive and share a common goal. She wants to be like Teghan and Lanni [Marchant – London, Ontario].
 
Also joining the team in transfer from Wisconsin­ Eau Claire, was named the Jefferson High School Female Athlete of the Year in 2014. She is a three-­year letterwinner in cross country and lettered one year with the track and field team. Nelson received all-­area honorable mention in 2013 and was named All­Conference First Team. She earned All­Conference Second Team honors in 2012 and was Honorable Mention in 2011. In track, she holds the school record for the 800m and was on the school record­holding 4x800m team.
 
Nathan Watson, brother of UTC runner Drake Watson, joins the Mocs from Station Camp.
 
"Nathan is coming to Chattanooga for his degree," Gautier said. "He likes the camaraderie of the team and the academics of the university. He's a good fit for the team and will add depth along with this year's freshmen."
 
Watson was named to the All-Mid-State Association First Team and placed 11^th at the TSSAA Class AAA state championships. He took first at the Austin Peay Governors High School Cross Country Festival and finished runner-up at the Sumner County Public School Championship last fall. He has been named to the All-County team in each of the last three years.
 
The Mocs open the 2016 Indoor Track and Field season in later this month.