DALLAS (SMU) ? Nine newcomers will join the SMU Cross Country squad in the fall, coach Rene Sepulveda announced Tuesday, July 30.

Mindaugas Pukstas joins the team as a transfer student from Kaunas, Lithuania, with top times of 8:41 in the 3,000m steeplechase, 13:55 in the 5,000m, 8:03 in the 3,000m and 3:46 in the 1,500m.

Sebastian Hock, a junior transfer from Freiburg, Germany, lists best marks of 3:44 in the 1,500m, 8:08 in the 3,000m and 1:50.2 in the 800m.

Soeren Lindner arrives as a freshman from Hamburg, Germany, with best marks of 8:46 in the steeplechase and 14:26 in the 5,000m.

Amos Skinner, a Mesquite native, transfers in from Lamar with top times of 3:52 in the 1,500m and 1:53 in the 800m.

Stephen Downey comes from Atlanta, where he finished third in the Georgia State Cross Country Championships in 2001. He has best times of 4:17 in the mile, 1:53 in the 800m and 9:35 in the 3,200.

Kelly Harris arrives from Gotha, Fla., where he was a state finalist in the mile in 4:20.

Devin Davis travels from Houston to SMU with a best time of 9:31 in the 3,200m.

Rounding out the signing class are a pair of Dallas natives and All-District cross country runners, Franky Osorio of Samuell H.S. and Zelalem Gebremariam of Hillcrest H.S.

"We're excited to have this group join our program," Sepulveda said. "We expect them to help us continue to improve our squad and challenge for conference championships."