By: Hunter McKay
KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State Director of Track and Field and Cross Country
Cale McDaniel announced the Owls' 2024 signing class on Tuesday.
KSU welcomed 19 men and 17 women to campus on Aug. 12.
The class is highlighted by multiple state champions, a Gatorade Athlete of the Year and an Adidas Outdoor National Champion. The class features athletes from Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma, Kenya, Alabama, Florida, South Carolina and Ohio.
"I am fired up about this group of young people joining our program," McDaniel said. "We have people from across the country and other countries all committed to our vision and trusting in what we want to build at KSU. Our staff did a nice job working year-round to fill out this group and there are some greats pieces in every event group. This group will absolutely make an immediate impact in CUSA. It sounds cliche I know, but I cannot wait to get started."
Men
Evan Martinez
Throws
Arlington, Tx.
Lamar High School
- Shot Put PR: 21.10m (69'2.75")
- Discus PR: 60.45m (198'4")
- Hammer Throw PR: 67.71m (222'1")
- US Under 20 National Outdoor Participant
- 2024 Texas State champion in the shot put and discus
- Third at U20 Nationals in Hammer Throw and Shot Put
Noah Sybert
Distance/XC
Richmond Hill, Ga.
Richmond Hill High School
- 3200m PR: 9:36.14
- 5K (XC) PR: 15:23.33
Ali Dargan
Sprints
Lithonia, Ga.
Miller Grove High School
- 100m PR: 10.36
- 200m PR: 20.86
- 2023 and 2024 GHSA Class 4A State Champion in the 100m and 200m
Connor Proffitt
Distance/XC
Gainesville, Ga.
Gainesville High School
- 3200m PR: 9:36.14
- 5K (XC) PR: 15:23.33
- 800m PR: 1:53.32
- 2024 GHSA 800m State Champion
Braden Garrison
Throws
Dewey, Okla.
Dewey High School
- Shot Put PR: 19.62m (62'2.75")
- 2024 Gatorade Oklahoma Track and Field Athlete of the Year
Collins Kipkemboi
Distance/XC
Elderot, Kenya
Half Marathon PB: 61:34
Diego Fernandes
Distance/XC
Cumming, Ga.
West Forsyth High School
- 3200m PR: 9:27.37
- 5K (XC) PR: 16:02.90
Finn Herlihy
Distance/XC
Douglasville, Ga.
Chapel Hill High School
- 3200m PR: 9:33.37
- 5K (XC) PR: 15:36.52
Jeremiah Louis
Sprints
Alpharetta, Ga.
Denmark High School
Kenyatta Bennett
Jumps
Atlanta, Ga.
Drew Charter High School
- High Jump PR: 2.06m (6'9")
- 2024 GHSA 2A State Champion in high jump
- 2024 Adidas National Participant
Almar Clarke
Sprints
Covington, Ga.
Newton High School
- 100m PR: 10.52 seconds
- 200m PR: 21.35 seconds
Darris Roberts
Hurdles
Valdosta, Ga.
Valdosta High School
- 300m Hurdles PR: 37.43 seconds
- 400m Hurdles PR: 54.29 seconds
- 2023 GHSA 7A Runner-up in the 300m hurdles
- Third in 300m hurdles at Adidas Outdoor National Championship
Christian Johnson
Sprints
Alpharetta, Ga.
Newton High School
- 200m PR: 21.22 seconds
- 400m PR: 47.33 seconds
Lloyd Hill
Jumps
Hoover, Ala.
Purdue
- Triple Jump PR: 15.64m (51' 3.75")
- Long Jump PR: 7.48m (24'6.5")
- Third in long jump at 2023 Big Ten Indoor Championship with a mark of 7.48m
Takoda Brown
Jumps
Orange Park, Fla.
Oak Leaf High School
- Long Jump PR: 7.03m (23'0.75")
- Triple Jump PR: 14.42m (47'3.75")
Cameron Guadiano
Hurdles
Atlanta, Ga.
Southeastern University
- 110m Hurdles PR: 13.88 seconds
- 60m Hurdles: 7.97 seconds
- 400m Hurdles: 52.52 seconds
- 2024 SUN Conference Indoor and Outdoor high hurdle champion
Chinedum Ike
Jumps
Sandy Creek, Ga.
Sandy Creek High School
- Triple Jump PR: 15.24m (50'0")
- Long Jump PR: 7.29m (23'11")
- Ranks No. 1 in Georgia and No. 7 in US in Triple Jump
Justin Warner
Mid-Distance
Fayetteville, Ga.
Fayetteville High School
- 400m PR: 47.10 seconds
- 800m PR 1:53.84
Rickey Robbins
Throws
Monroe, Ga.
Monroe Area High School
- Discus PR: 58.79m (192'10")
- 2024 Adidas National Discus champion
Gavin Horton
Pole Vault
Alabaster, Ala.
Virginia Tech
- Pole Vault PR: 4.95m (16'2.75")
Women
Miah Johnson
Distance/XC
Greer, S.C.
Riverside High School
- 1600m PR: 5:03.30
- 800m PR – 2:14.34
- 5000m XC PR – 18:13.64
- 2024 SCHSL 4A 800m champion
- 2024 Nike Indoor Nationals participant
Aminah Jabbie
Sprints
Suwanee, Ga.
Lambert High School
- 100m PR: 11.94 seconds
- 200m PR: 25.09 seconds
Salima Jabbie
Sprints
Suwanee, Ga.
Lambert High School
- 100m PR: 11.88 seconds
- 200m PR: 24.50 seconds
Jadyn Bolden
Sprints
Atlanta, Ga.
Druid Hills High School
- 100m PR: 12.24 seconds
- 200m PR: 25.08 seconds
- 400m PR: 55.27 seconds
- 2024 GHSA 4A State Champion in the 400m
Hannah Cheek
Hurdles
Flowery Branch, Ga.
Cherokee Bluff High School
- 100m Hurdles PR: 14.31 seconds
- 60m Hurdles PR: 8.94 seconds
- 2024 GHSA 4A Finalist in 100m hurdles and 300m hurdles
- Fifth at adidas Indoor Nationals in the 60m hurdles
Annalise Leitner
Throws
Cumming, Ga
- Hammer Throw PR: 39.85m (130'9")
Brooke Jordan
Hurdles
Hepzibah, Ga.
Cross Creek High School
- 100m Hurdles PR: 14.58 seconds
- 300m Hurdles PR: 43.83 seconds
- 2024 Runner-up in the 100m and 300m hurdles at GHSA 3A State Championships
May Humpert
Distance/XC
Cincinnati, OH.
McCauley High School
Harley Martz
Distance/XC
Atlanta, Ga.
Druid Hills High School
- 5000m PR: 19:50.67
- 1600m PR: 5:10.49
Kelly Miles
Distance/XC
Woodstock, Ga.
River Ridge High School
- 5000m PR: 18:36.18
- 1600m PR: 5:14.18
Madson Maxey
Hurdles
Chamblee, Ga.
Chamblee High School
- 100m Hurdles PR: 14.35 seconds
- Sixth at Nike Indoor Nationals in the 60m hurdles
MaLea Wiggins
Throws
Athens, Ala.
- Shot Put PR: 12.87m (42'3")
- 2024 AHSA Indoor Track and Field State Champion in the shot put
Francie Butts
Distance/XC
Douglasville, Ga.
Chapel Hill High School
- 5000m PR: 19:05.78
- 3200m PR: 11:19.85
Akerah Jones
Hurdles
North Texas
Oakland Park, Fla.
- 100m Hurdles PR: 14.17 seconds
- 60m Hurdles PR: 8.86 seconds
- 400m Hurdles PR: 1:04.25
- 2023 FHSAA 2A State Runner-up in 100m hurdles
Mary Gill
Throws
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Manhattan College
- Hammer Throw PR: 58.70m (192'7")
- Weight Throw PR: 18.70m (61'4.25")
Ella Kulniszewski
Pole Vault
Jefferson, Ga.
Jefferson High School
- Pole Vault PR: 3.65m (12'0")
- 2024 GHSA 5A State Champion in Pole Vault
Aliya McBryde
Jumps
Adairsville, Ga.
Adairsville High School
- High jump PR: 1.63m (5'4")
- 2024 GHSA State Finalist in the long jump and 100m hurdles
