STATESBORO – Georgia Southern head track and field and cross country coach David Neville announced the addition of a trio of signees to grants in aid for the 2025-26 season. 

The three signees are Aaliyah Barnes (Sprints, Killeen, Tx), Katie Casto (Distance, Columbus, Ga) and Elizabeth Stamey (Distance, Roswell, Ga.). 

Read more about the signees below: 

Aaliyah Barnes 
Sprints | Killeen HS | Killeen, Tx. 
Three-time first team all-district under head coach Dominique Ziegler at Killeen HS… Two-time state qualifier… Placed second in the 5A 4x100 as a sophomore… Owns school record in the 4x100 relay… Placed 4th in the 200m at the state championship as a junior. Ran club for Leander Spartans. 

"We are thrilled to have Aaliyah as part of our program. She will come in and be an immediate difference maker and contributor to this program. As the number 3 returning 60m sprinter and number 16 national hs returner in the 200m dash, our sprints program is in great hands for the future." - head coach David Neville

Katie Casto 
Distance | Brookstone School | Columbus, Ga. 
Three-time state champion under head coach Traci Kalish at Brookstone School… Four-time cross country MVP award… Three-time GIAA All-State cross country honoree… Three-time All-Region cross country team… Two-time All-State track and field team… Three-time All-Region track and field team… Five-time first team All-Chattahoochee Valley honoree… 2024 Nike Outdoor Track National Qualifier… Holds school records for 4x800 and 2k Steeplechase… Personal Best 5k is 19:18. 

"We are so excited to have Katie as a part of our program. Her success as being the number one returning senior in the state of Georgia for the steeplechase will help us fill an area that will immediately come with great impact for our program." - head coach David Neville

Elizabeth Stamey
Distance | Roswell HS | Roswell, Ga. 
Four-year letterwinner under head coach Robert White at Roswell High School… Named All-State cross country in 2021-24… Named 2023-24 All-State track and field… Two-time cross country region champion… Also competed in swimming and soccer…Ran for Multisport Explosion High Performance Team…  Personal best 5k time is 18:39 | 1600 - 5:13 | 3200 - 11:18. 

"Elizabeth will continue to add great depth to our distance program specifically within our cross country team. I'm excited to have her a part of what we're doing, and I believe she will have great success here at Georgia Southern." - head coach David Neville