As we noted in the summer, Pat Henry went out and added even more 400 runners, because why not! The reigning 4x400 national champions will only be stronger. Jevon O'Bryant is out of eligibility but we return Auhmad Robinson, Cutler Zamzow, Jaqualon Scott, Kimar Farquharson, Eric Hemphill, Demarco Escobar, Bryce McCray, and now add Antonio Nortje and Hossam Hatib who have PR's of 45.05 and 45.12 respectively, so the competition for our 4x400 squad will be intense! But what I love the most is that maybe if affords the opportunity for Jaqualon Scott to focus on the hurdles! Either way 4x400 will provide massive points!
There was also an emphasis on adding jumpers to the mix! I was hoping Ushan Perera had more eligibility, but I suppose not. We added the junior college national champion in Khybah Dawson who's gone 25'8 and Mason Mangum of Cal who's gone 25'7 to go with John Baker who's gone over 26. Triple jump wise we added Gavin Champ who's gone 51'4, and freshman Jaydon Shields who's right under 50 to pair with Jayden Harris. We also add Jesse Imemba one of the top high jump recruits in the nation, who went 7'0.75 in high school. One of the key additions is Alexsandr Solovev who has vaulted 19'1 in the pole vault and will be an immediate contributor to national championship points! Pole Vault returns Jack Mann, Leo Bowen, Ryley Klefstad, and adds Nico Signorelli!
Sprints wise, we will have the numbers to actually field a 4x100 team this year. It'll be hard to compete at the top of the podium, but a pool of Devantae Mount, Jordan Chopane, Isaiah Teer, Pierre Goree, Keanu Jones, to go with freshman Blake Holland, Iliya Dryaba, and Ernest Campbell will be leaps and bounds better than last year. We won't get points individually in the 100/200, but a strong relay could get us on the board!
800 wise, Sam Whitmarsh can and will be expected to contribute points! He had a long long season last year so hopefully he eases into competition level again smoothly! Same with Kimar Farquharson, both can score. But don't forget about Caden Norris, he had a healthy year and hopefully a healthy offseason, so he could be coming back the strongest he's ever been and he can get into the scoring conversation without a doubt! With these 3 to go with Luca Santorum, Cooper Cawthra, and Ondrej Gajdos we are still 800U
Distance wise, we have to hope Victor Kibiego is healthy. If so, he can score at a national meet, even as distance across the country is improving! Him, as well as, Cooper Cawthra didn't run in cross country so hopefully they're healthy now. Cooper and Gajdos can make regionals and fight for a national spot in the 1500. Chung is a great steepler as well and I hope he gets to run it often in his last year because he too can get to regionals! Our redshirt freshman and sophomores distance wise had an amazing cross country season! And don't forget Luca Santorum who was a monster at the NAIA level in the 800 and 1500! I expect us to field a strong DMR as well!
Throws wise, Sam Hankins is back in the javelin and Ethan Sanders in the discus. Hankins has scored before so I hope he's healthy and ready to let some javelin fly! Ethan Sanders has been improving every single year in the discus so I'm expecting a huge year for him!
Multi wise, we have Blake Harris who is coming off a strong second season and I expect him to have an even better year this year!
So yeah, that's a little preview into what we have on the roster this season! Obviously as the season goes along I'll provide more detail and info! But we race in a few days and I am excited beyond measure!!! Gig'em Aggies!!!! I love track and field!