Track and Field | |
Aggie early signing class adds 11 to program
COLLEGE STATION – Texas A&M received 11 national letters of intent during the early signing period this fall from student-athletes who will join the Aggie program in the fall semester of 2016.
The group of seven women and four men include six athletes from Texas while the other five are from California, Bahamas, Georgia, and a pair from Illinois. The A&M signing class includes a range of event areas in the sprints, hurdles, middle distance, distance, jumps and throws.
"I kind of like the early signing in some regards," said Texas A&M coach Pat Henry. "In other regards I think it's a negative. There are a lot of high school athletes who think this is the most important time. For me, I still like to watch a high school senior and see what they do since we know lots of changes happen from a junior to senior year.
"To sign people before their senior season of competition I think, in some instances, is rushing it. So we are still working hard with recruiting, but we did have an opportunity to sign some people we feel have shown some consistency in what they have done and I think they will be some good additions to our team."
Distance runners in this signing class include Forney's Lauryn Barrientos, Jon Bishop of College Station, Devin Dixon of Eagle's Landing, Georgia, and Ashton Hutcherson of Flower Mound Marcus. Sprinters joining the Aggies include Cypress Creek's Amber Ivy and Danyel White of Cedar Hill along with jumper/hurdler LaJarvia Brown from Alton, Illinois.
In field events the A&M class includes pole vaulter Augusta Thomason, who currently competes at Cuesta Community College in California and went to high school at Rancho Bernardo. Throwers joining the Aggies are Serena Brown from New Providence, Bahamas, and William Petersson of Centennial HS in Frisco.
Long jumper Will Williams, who joins Texas A&M as a sophomore in January of 2016, competed at Iowa Western Community College and was a prep at Bloom Township in Chicago Heights, Illinois.
"We signed some people who will help us across the board in a number of event areas," noted Henry. "We still have other event areas where we will go after, but at this point we've done pretty well. I'm pleased where we are with the signees we've had and I think we'll be just fine going forward as we continue to look at this senior class."
Texas A&M 2016 Early Signing Class
Lauryn Barrientos (Forney, Texas) – 800: 2:17.43; 1,600: 5:09.50; 3 mile: 17:53.76; 5,000: 18:44.43
Recently finished second in the cross country State 5A Championships after placing third in the 2014 State meet. On the track she finished fifth in the 800m (2:18.85) at the 2014 State 5A meet following a third-place performance in the Region II-5A meet where she set a best of 2:17.43. Also finished seventh in the State 5A 1,600 (5:12.50) after winning the region title (5:13.55).
Jon Bishop (College Station HS) – 1,600: 4:12.17; 3,200: 9:19.24
Runner-up in 2015 State 5A 1,600 (4:16.36) and 3,200 meters (9:19.24), recently finished fourth in State cross country meet after placing 14th in 2014. Set a best of 4:12.17 in 1,600 as runner-up in Texas Meet of Champions. Also a 2014 State 3A finalist in the 1,600 and 3,200m.
LaJarvia Brown (Alton, Illinois) – 300H: 43.78; Long Jump: 19-6 ¼; Triple Jump: 41-9 ¾
Finished seventh in the triple jump at the 2015 IAAF World Youth Championships with a career best 41-9 ¾ which ranks No. 1 in Illinois and eighth nationally. Previous best of 41-7 ¾ placed second in 2015 USATF World Youth Trials where she also finished third in long jump and fourth in 200m. Claimed Illinois State 3A title in triple jump (41-2w), finished sixth in long jump. Also placed fifth in 300 hurdles at 2015 State meet with a 44.31 and recorded a best of 43.78 during the season. Swept long jump and triple jump titles at 2015 Great Southwest Classic and AAU Junior Olympics National Championships. Set a career best of 19-6 ¼ in long jump at AAU competition.
Serena Brown (New Providence, Bahamas / St. Augustine College HS) – Discus: 155-7
Placed fifth in discus at the 2015 Pan Am Juniors and finished 11th in the 2015 IAAF World Youth Championships. Earned bronze medal in discus and placed fourth in shot put competing in the under-18 division of the 2015 Carita Games. Set the Bahamas national junior discus record with a 147-6 effort in Cali, Columbia at the World Youth meet and improved the record with a 155-7 performance at the Pan Am Juniors in Edmonton. Has a best of 42-6 in the shot put and a mark of 49-10 ½ competing with 3kg shot put. A 6-2 athlete who just turned 17 in September, she has also represented the Bahamas internationally in basketball and volleyball.
Devin Dixon (Eagle's Landing, Georgia) – 800: 1:52.11; 1,600: 4:22.24
Won 2014 and 2015 Georgia State 4A titles in the 800 meters with times of 1:55.66 and 1:52.71. Recorded a career best of 1:52.11 racing in the 2015 New Balance Outdoor Nationals. Winner in 800m at the 2015 AAU National Club Championships. Also finished sixth in 1,600 at the 2015 Georgia State meet.
Ashton Hutcherson (Highland Village, Texas / Flower Mound Marcus HS) – 1,600: 5:12.17; 3,200: 11:03.70; 5,000: 18:41.81
Member of 2015 State 6A champion cross country and State runner-up squad in 2014. Fifth finisher for team in both State meets, placing 39th and 44th over 5,000 meters. On the track recorded a best of 18:41.81 for 5,000m to place sixth in the Texas Distance Festival.
Amber Ivy (Houston, Texas / Cypress Creek HS) – 100: 11.75, 200: 23.73, 400: 54.71
State 6A finalist in the 200 and 400 meters as well as finalist in the 100 and 200 meters at the USATF Junior Olympics. Recorded a best of 23.73 to finish third in 2015 USATF Junior Olympics (17-18 division), which ranked No. 4 in Texas. Posted a 54.71 in the 400 for runner-up in 2015 Region III-6A to rank No. 5 in Texas. Advanced to the final of the 400 in the 2015 US Junior Nationals.
William Petersson (Frisco, Texas / Centennial HS) – Shot Put: 51-1, Discus: 181-3, Javelin: 200-1
In the javelin finished second in the 2015 USATF World Trials. Has placed third in the USATF Junior Olympics in 2014 (15-16 division) and 2015 (17-18 division). Earlier in the season became the initial winner of the high school javelin at the Texas Relays. A Region II-5A finalist in shot put, where he produced a best of 51-1. Improved discus mark to 181-3 during summer with a victory at the TAAF Games in Region 4. Son of Stefan Petersson, a two-time All-American in the javelin for the Longhorns.
Augusta Thomason (Rancho Bernardo HS/Cuesta Community College, California) – Pole Vault: 13-4 ¼
Claimed the 2015 California junior college State title and set a career best of 13-4 ¼ to win the 2015 Western State Conference Championships. Finished third in the 2014 California State meet with a mark of 12-4 and set a season best of 12-7.
Danyel White (Cedar Hill, Texas) – 200: 23.60; 400: 55.16
Won 2014 State 5A title in 200 meters with a clocking of 23.60 seconds and finished third in 2015 State 6A final with a windy 23.75. Her 23.60 ranked No. 2 in Texas and ninth nationally. Won the Region I-6A title this past season with a wind-aided 23.67 after posting a 23.98 in the prelims. In 2014 she claimed the Region I-5A title in a windy 23.63. Her best of 55.16 in the 400 meters ranked eighth in Texas for the 2014 season.
Will Williams (Bloom Township HS, Chicago Heights, Illinois / Iowa Western CC) – LJ: 26-4 ¼
Set a personal best of 26-4 ¼ to win the long jump at the Kentucky Relays this past May, which marked his sixth consecutive victory of the season. Claimed the 2015 Kansas Relays long jump title, defending his 2014 victory, with a then PR of 25-8 ¼. During an exhibition event this past summer he also produced a best of 26-8. In 2014 he was the NJCAA runner-up in the long jump during the indoor (25-6) and outdoor (25-0) championships. Then placed third in the USATF Junior Championships (24-11). Won Kansas Relays long jump in 2014 with a wind-aided mark of 25-2 ½. As a senior in high school earned runner-up honors in 2013 Illinois State 3A long jump final.
The group of seven women and four men include six athletes from Texas while the other five are from California, Bahamas, Georgia, and a pair from Illinois. The A&M signing class includes a range of event areas in the sprints, hurdles, middle distance, distance, jumps and throws.
"I kind of like the early signing in some regards," said Texas A&M coach Pat Henry. "In other regards I think it's a negative. There are a lot of high school athletes who think this is the most important time. For me, I still like to watch a high school senior and see what they do since we know lots of changes happen from a junior to senior year.
"To sign people before their senior season of competition I think, in some instances, is rushing it. So we are still working hard with recruiting, but we did have an opportunity to sign some people we feel have shown some consistency in what they have done and I think they will be some good additions to our team."
Distance runners in this signing class include Forney's Lauryn Barrientos, Jon Bishop of College Station, Devin Dixon of Eagle's Landing, Georgia, and Ashton Hutcherson of Flower Mound Marcus. Sprinters joining the Aggies include Cypress Creek's Amber Ivy and Danyel White of Cedar Hill along with jumper/hurdler LaJarvia Brown from Alton, Illinois.
In field events the A&M class includes pole vaulter Augusta Thomason, who currently competes at Cuesta Community College in California and went to high school at Rancho Bernardo. Throwers joining the Aggies are Serena Brown from New Providence, Bahamas, and William Petersson of Centennial HS in Frisco.
Long jumper Will Williams, who joins Texas A&M as a sophomore in January of 2016, competed at Iowa Western Community College and was a prep at Bloom Township in Chicago Heights, Illinois.
"We signed some people who will help us across the board in a number of event areas," noted Henry. "We still have other event areas where we will go after, but at this point we've done pretty well. I'm pleased where we are with the signees we've had and I think we'll be just fine going forward as we continue to look at this senior class."
Texas A&M 2016 Early Signing Class
Lauryn Barrientos (Forney, Texas) – 800: 2:17.43; 1,600: 5:09.50; 3 mile: 17:53.76; 5,000: 18:44.43
Recently finished second in the cross country State 5A Championships after placing third in the 2014 State meet. On the track she finished fifth in the 800m (2:18.85) at the 2014 State 5A meet following a third-place performance in the Region II-5A meet where she set a best of 2:17.43. Also finished seventh in the State 5A 1,600 (5:12.50) after winning the region title (5:13.55).
Jon Bishop (College Station HS) – 1,600: 4:12.17; 3,200: 9:19.24
Runner-up in 2015 State 5A 1,600 (4:16.36) and 3,200 meters (9:19.24), recently finished fourth in State cross country meet after placing 14th in 2014. Set a best of 4:12.17 in 1,600 as runner-up in Texas Meet of Champions. Also a 2014 State 3A finalist in the 1,600 and 3,200m.
LaJarvia Brown (Alton, Illinois) – 300H: 43.78; Long Jump: 19-6 ¼; Triple Jump: 41-9 ¾
Finished seventh in the triple jump at the 2015 IAAF World Youth Championships with a career best 41-9 ¾ which ranks No. 1 in Illinois and eighth nationally. Previous best of 41-7 ¾ placed second in 2015 USATF World Youth Trials where she also finished third in long jump and fourth in 200m. Claimed Illinois State 3A title in triple jump (41-2w), finished sixth in long jump. Also placed fifth in 300 hurdles at 2015 State meet with a 44.31 and recorded a best of 43.78 during the season. Swept long jump and triple jump titles at 2015 Great Southwest Classic and AAU Junior Olympics National Championships. Set a career best of 19-6 ¼ in long jump at AAU competition.
Serena Brown (New Providence, Bahamas / St. Augustine College HS) – Discus: 155-7
Placed fifth in discus at the 2015 Pan Am Juniors and finished 11th in the 2015 IAAF World Youth Championships. Earned bronze medal in discus and placed fourth in shot put competing in the under-18 division of the 2015 Carita Games. Set the Bahamas national junior discus record with a 147-6 effort in Cali, Columbia at the World Youth meet and improved the record with a 155-7 performance at the Pan Am Juniors in Edmonton. Has a best of 42-6 in the shot put and a mark of 49-10 ½ competing with 3kg shot put. A 6-2 athlete who just turned 17 in September, she has also represented the Bahamas internationally in basketball and volleyball.
Devin Dixon (Eagle's Landing, Georgia) – 800: 1:52.11; 1,600: 4:22.24
Won 2014 and 2015 Georgia State 4A titles in the 800 meters with times of 1:55.66 and 1:52.71. Recorded a career best of 1:52.11 racing in the 2015 New Balance Outdoor Nationals. Winner in 800m at the 2015 AAU National Club Championships. Also finished sixth in 1,600 at the 2015 Georgia State meet.
Ashton Hutcherson (Highland Village, Texas / Flower Mound Marcus HS) – 1,600: 5:12.17; 3,200: 11:03.70; 5,000: 18:41.81
Member of 2015 State 6A champion cross country and State runner-up squad in 2014. Fifth finisher for team in both State meets, placing 39th and 44th over 5,000 meters. On the track recorded a best of 18:41.81 for 5,000m to place sixth in the Texas Distance Festival.
Amber Ivy (Houston, Texas / Cypress Creek HS) – 100: 11.75, 200: 23.73, 400: 54.71
State 6A finalist in the 200 and 400 meters as well as finalist in the 100 and 200 meters at the USATF Junior Olympics. Recorded a best of 23.73 to finish third in 2015 USATF Junior Olympics (17-18 division), which ranked No. 4 in Texas. Posted a 54.71 in the 400 for runner-up in 2015 Region III-6A to rank No. 5 in Texas. Advanced to the final of the 400 in the 2015 US Junior Nationals.
William Petersson (Frisco, Texas / Centennial HS) – Shot Put: 51-1, Discus: 181-3, Javelin: 200-1
In the javelin finished second in the 2015 USATF World Trials. Has placed third in the USATF Junior Olympics in 2014 (15-16 division) and 2015 (17-18 division). Earlier in the season became the initial winner of the high school javelin at the Texas Relays. A Region II-5A finalist in shot put, where he produced a best of 51-1. Improved discus mark to 181-3 during summer with a victory at the TAAF Games in Region 4. Son of Stefan Petersson, a two-time All-American in the javelin for the Longhorns.
Augusta Thomason (Rancho Bernardo HS/Cuesta Community College, California) – Pole Vault: 13-4 ¼
Claimed the 2015 California junior college State title and set a career best of 13-4 ¼ to win the 2015 Western State Conference Championships. Finished third in the 2014 California State meet with a mark of 12-4 and set a season best of 12-7.
Danyel White (Cedar Hill, Texas) – 200: 23.60; 400: 55.16
Won 2014 State 5A title in 200 meters with a clocking of 23.60 seconds and finished third in 2015 State 6A final with a windy 23.75. Her 23.60 ranked No. 2 in Texas and ninth nationally. Won the Region I-6A title this past season with a wind-aided 23.67 after posting a 23.98 in the prelims. In 2014 she claimed the Region I-5A title in a windy 23.63. Her best of 55.16 in the 400 meters ranked eighth in Texas for the 2014 season.
Will Williams (Bloom Township HS, Chicago Heights, Illinois / Iowa Western CC) – LJ: 26-4 ¼
Set a personal best of 26-4 ¼ to win the long jump at the Kentucky Relays this past May, which marked his sixth consecutive victory of the season. Claimed the 2015 Kansas Relays long jump title, defending his 2014 victory, with a then PR of 25-8 ¼. During an exhibition event this past summer he also produced a best of 26-8. In 2014 he was the NJCAA runner-up in the long jump during the indoor (25-6) and outdoor (25-0) championships. Then placed third in the USATF Junior Championships (24-11). Won Kansas Relays long jump in 2014 with a wind-aided mark of 25-2 ½. As a senior in high school earned runner-up honors in 2013 Illinois State 3A long jump final.
No comments:
Post a Comment