USC Track & Field Announces Stellar Recruiting Class

Trojans ink 8 athletes to NLIs





Alex Collatz had a national high school best discus throw of 180-9 last season.




Feb. 14, 2011


The USC track and field team has signed for the women's team hurdler Melia Cox, discus thrower Alex Collatz, 400m runner Vanessa Jones, and 200m/400m runner Akawkaw Ndipagbor and for the men's team 800m runner Myles Andrews, hurdler Aleec Harris, sprinter/jumper Jovante Slater and sprinter Davonte Stewart, it was announced today (Feb. 14) by Director of Track and Field Ron Allice.

Cox, from state champion Long Beach Poly HS, has a best time of 13.67 in the 100m HH and placed fifth in the event at the 2010 California State Meet with a time of 13.91w after running 13.75 in the prelims. She also has a best time of 43.72 in the 300m IH. Cox won the triple jump at the 2010 Arcadia Invitational with a leap of 41-2.50 (11.41m). She also took first place in the 100m HH at the Nike Track Nationals and placed second in the triple jump (the top U.S. mark) at the 2010 Penn Relays.
Melia Cox



Collatz from Stockdale HS in Bakersfield, Calif. had the top high school discus throw in the country last season of 180-9 and won the California State Meet with a throw of 170-9. Collatz also placed fifth in the shot with the top mark by a non-senior with a throw of 43-7. She had a best shot put mark of 45-9.50 earlier in the year to win the South Area Meet. Collatz enters the 2011 season less than 10 feet off the high school record in the discus held by Anna Jelmini. Collatz was unbeaten by prep athletes and went on to place fourth at the USTAF Juniors.



Jones of Etiwanda HS placed fifth in the 400m race at the California State Meet with a time of 53.97. She had a best 400m time of 53.58 in placing second at the CIF Southern Section Masters Meet. Jones won the 400m CIF Southern Section Division I finals with a time of 54.12. Jones also placed fouth in the 400m at the 2009 California State Meet.
Vanessa Jones



Ndipagbor, also of state champion Long Beach Poly, took third place in the 400m race with a season-best time of 53.49 at the 2010 California State Meet. She has a PR of 53.12 in the 400m which she ran in placing second at the 2009 California State Meet. She also took third in the state meet in the 200m with a time of 23.87, between current Trojans Jessica Davis (2nd, 23.70) and Jenna Puterbaugh (4th, 23.99). Ndipagbor's best 200m time is 23.72w.
Akawkaw Ndipagbor



Andrews, also of Long Beach Poly, placed fourth in the 800m race at the 2010 California State Meet with a PR of 1:51.28 and has the fastest returning time in the state. Andrews also has a best time in the 1600m race of 4:24.40. In his first year of running cross country, he won the Moore League title and helped his team place seventh at the California State XC Meet with a time of 15.44.
Myles Andrews



Harris from Barton Community College was the 2010 Junior College champion in the 110m HH with a time of 13.95. He has a PR of 13.75 in the 110m HH. As a high school senior in 2009, Harris won the USATF Georgia Association state title in the 110m HH with a time of 13.77. He also placed fifth in the hurdles at the 2008 Junior Olympics and second in 2009. He currently has the fastest time in the country in the 60m hurdles for a junior college athlete with a time of 7.78.
Aleec Harris




Slater of Vista Murrieta HS in Murietta, Calif., helped lead his team to the national title at the Nike Track Nationals by winning the 100m dash with a time of 10.56 and placing second in the long jump with a career-best leap of 23-5.25. Slater finished 8th in the 100m dash at the 2010 California State Meet with a time of 10.56 after running a PR of 10.45 in the prelims. He also has a best time of 21.11 in the 200m dash.
Jovante Slater



Stewart of AB Miller HS in Fontana, Calif., won the 100m dash at the CIF Southern Section Division I finals with a time of 10.64, after running a PR of 10.59 in the prelims. He also won the 200m in the Division I finals with a time of 21.38 after setting a PR of 20.84 in the prelims. Stewart placed second in the 200m with a time of 20.99 at the California State Meet. It was his first year of running track as he is a three-sport athlete competing in football, basketball and track.
Davonte Stewart

Courtesy USC