Cougars sign 36 athletes to 2018 recruiting class

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PROVO, Utah – BYU’s track and field and cross country programs announced a total of 36 student-athletes have signed National Letters of Intent to complete the Cougars’ 2018 recruiting class.

The men’s program will add 14 signees that include the 2017 Nike Cross Nationals champion and six state champions. The remaining 22 members of the class, including 12 state champions, will join the women’s program. The signing class represents 13 states from around the country. 

Four signees will delay enrollment to serve LDS church missions. Along with this signing class, the Cougars will welcome one transfer and 10 athletes returning home from missions this year.

“Quality is always our number one goal, but it seems like we got both quality and quantity with this recruiting class,” said BYU head coach Ed Eyestone. “The coaches worked hard and signed a lot of talented athletes. I think it is going to be one of our better freshman classes.”


Men’s Team

BEN BARTON – Multis | Birmingham Seaholm HS | Birmingham, Michigan
Personal Bests: 14.62 (110m hurdles), 37.66 (300m hurdles), 6-9 (high jump)

  • Runner-up in both the 300m hurdles and high jump at the 2018 MHSAA DI State Championships

EASTON BIANCHI – Sprints | Newman Central Catholic HS | Sterling, Illinois
Personal Bests: 6.84 (60m), 10.52 (100m), 21.73 (200m)

  • Won back-to-back IHSA 1A state titles in both the 100m and 200m (2017-2018)

LUCAS BONS – Distance | Dublin Coffman HS | Dublin, Ohio
Personal Bests: 1:53.91 (800m), 4:09.25 (1600m), 9:08.60 (3200m)

  • Runner-up in the 1600m at the 2018 OHSAA DI State Championships
  • Will enroll after serving LDS mission

DANNY BRYANT – Throws | West Ranch HS | Valencia, California
Personal Bests: 60-3.25 (shot put), 181-1 (discus)

  • Fourth-place finish in the shot put and fifth-place finish in the discus at the 2018 CIF DII State Championships
  • Will enroll after serving LDS mission

AUSTIN CARTER – Throws | Beaver HS | Beaver, Utah
Personal Bests: 65-5 (shot put), 168-0 (discus)

  • Three-time UHSAA 2A state champion in the shot put (2016-2018)
  • 2018 UHSAA 2A state champion in the discus

DALLIN DRAPER – Sprints | Delta HS | Delta, Utah
Personal Bests: 6.76 (60m), 10.49 (100m), 20.96 (200m), 47.04 (400m)

  • Three-time UHSAA 2A state champion in the 100m (2016-2018)
  • Two-time UHSAA 2A state champion in the 200m (2017-2018)
  • 2018 UHSAA 2A state champion in the 400m
  • Will enroll after serving LDS mission

BRANDON GARNICA – Distance | Springville HS | Springville, Utah
Personal Bests: 4:16.21 (1600m), 8:57.25 (3200m)

  • Helped lead Springville HS to win the 2017 UHSAA 5A Cross Country State Championship with a third-place finish in the championship race
  • 20th-place finish at the 2017 Nike Cross Nationals

HARRISON GOULD – Throws | Great Oak HS | Temecula, California
Personal Bests: 184-9 (discus throw), 61-1 (shot put)

  • Third-place finish in the shot put at the 2018 CIF DI Track and Field Championships

JAKE GRIMSMAN – Jumps | Vista Del Lago HS | Folsom, California
Personal Bests: 7-3 (high jump)

  • Took fifth in the high jump back-to-back years at the USA Track and Field Junior Championships
  • Runner-up in the high jump at the 2017 CIF Track and Field Championships
  • Will enroll after serving LDS mission

DYLAN KAY – Jumps | Snowflake HS | Snowflake, Arizona
Personal Bests: 6-11.25 (high jump)

  • Two-time AIA 3A state champion in the high jump (2016, 2018)

MATT KITCHEN – Javelin | Dixie HS | St. George, Utah
Personal Bests: 200-7 (javelin)

  • Runner-up in the javelin throw at the 2018 UHSAA 4A State Championships

KENNETH ROOKS – Distance | College Place HS | College Place, Washington
Personal Bests: 1:53.56 (800m), 4:11.40 (Mile), 9:20.86 (3200m)

  • Two-time WIAA cross country state champion (2015, 2017)
  • 2017 WIAA 1A state champion in the 1600m
  • Broke the 1A state record in the 800m (1:53.56)

AIDAN TROUTNER – Distance | Timpview HS | Provo, Utah
Personal Bests: 4:11.09 (1600m), 9:03.50 (3200m)

  • 2017 Nike Cross Nationals champion
  • 2017 UHSSA 5A cross country state champion
  • Two-time UHSAA state champion in the 3200m (2017-2018)
  • Will enroll after serving LDS mission

WORTHY UKO – Jumps | McKinney HS | McKinney, Texas
Personal Bests: 46-7.75 (triple jump), 22-8.50 (long jump), 6-2 (high jump)

  • Seventh-place finish in the long jump at the 2018 UIL 6A State Championships


Women’s Team

ADARA CHRISTENSEN - Pole Vault | Westlake HS | Eagle Mountain, Utah
Personal Bests: 12-11.50 (pole vault)

  • First place in the pole vault at the 2017 USATF Utah State Association Championships

KAELA CLEARY - Distance | San Marcos Senior HS | Santa Barbara, California
Personal Bests: 2:17.96 (800m), 5:00.30 (1600m), 11.25.2 (3200m)

NICOLE CRITCHFIELD - Sprints/Jumps | Corner Canyon HS | Draper, Utah
Personal Bests: 12.56 (100m), 24.98 (200m), 56.09 (400m), 17-5 (long jump)

ALISSA FIELDING - Distance | Mountain View HS | Orem, Utah
Personal Bests: 57.43 (400m), 2:10.60 (800m), 4:57.35 (1600m), 10:57.89 (3200m)

  • Placed 39th at the 2017 Foot Locker Nationals
  • Won the 2017 UHSAA 4A cross country state championship title
  • 2018 UHSAA 4A state champion in the 800m and 1600m 

NICOLE FREESTONE - Throws | Jordan HS | Sandy, Utah
Personal Bests: 138-2 (Javelin Throw)

  • Second-place finish in the javelin throw at the 2018 UHSAA 5A state championships

AUBREY FRENTHEWAY - Distance | Cheyenne Central HS | Cheyenne, Wyoming
Personal Bests: 2:16.22 (800m), 4:57.81 (1600m), 10:27.49 (3200m)

  • Placed 25th in the 5000m championship race at the Nike Cross Nationals 2017
  • 2018 WHSAA 4A state champion in the 1600m and 3200m 

JASLYN GARDNER - Sprints/Jumps | Enterprise HS | Enterprise, UT
Personal Bests: 11.69 (100m), 23.69 (200m), 19-2.25 (long jump)

  • Back-to-back UHSAA 2A long jump state champion (2017-2018)
  • Won UHSAA 2A state titles in the 100m and 200m all four years (2015-2018)
  • Holds the long jump 2A state record (19-2.25)

JANICE HALL - Sprints/Jumps | Star Valley HS | Afton, Wyoming
Personal Bests: 12.60 (100m), 26.02 (200m), 18-4.50 (long jump)

  • Three-time WHSAA 3A state champion in 300m hurdles (2016-2018)
  • 2016 WHSAA 3A state champion in the 100m and 200m

HEATHER HANSON - Distance | Anacortes HS | Anacortes, Washington
Personal Bests: 2:13.82 (800m), 5:02.18 (1600m), 11:15.22 (3200m)

  • 2018 WIAA 2A state champion in the 800m

SABRINA HARTMANN - Throws | Mission Viejo HS | Mission Viejo, California
Personal Bests: 131-3 (discus throw), 40-3 (shot put)

TAEGAN KEEP - Throws | Kauai HS | Lihue, Hawaii
Personal Bests: 135-7 (discus throw)

  • Two-time HHSAA state champion in the discus throw (2017-2018)

SOPHIE LASSWELL - Distance | Conroe Oak Ridge HS | Conroe, Texas
Personal Bests: 5:02.50 (1600m), 9:56 (3000m) 10:24.52 (3200m)

  • 2018 UIL 6A state champion in the 3200m

MCKENNA LEE - Distance | Weber HS | North Ogden, Utah
Personal Bests: 2:15.37 (800m), 4:56.72 (1600m), 11:02.80 (3200m)

  • 2018 UHSAA 6A cross country state champion
  • Placed 17th at Foot Locker Nationals 2015

LINDSEY MIDDLETON - Hurdles | Timpview HS | Provo, Utah
Personal Bests: 14.30 (100m hurdles), 44.86 (300m hurdles)

  • 2018 UHSAA 5A state champion in the 100m hurdles

MADISON MOFFITT - Distance | Timpanogos HS | Orem, Utah
Personal Bests: 2:14.05 (800m), 5:03.06 (1600m), 11:16.92 (3200m)

  • Third-place finish at the UHSAA 5A state championships in the 800m and 1600m (2018)

RACHEL MORRIN - Distance | Madison High School | Rexburg, Idaho
Personal Bests: 5:07.72 (1600m), 11:02.17 (3200m)

SAMI OBLAD - Sprints | Stansbury HS | Stansbury, Utah
Personal Bests: 12.48 (100m), 25.29 (200m), 56.14 (400m), 5-7 (high jump)

  • UHSAA 3A 2017 state champion in both the 200m and 400m
  • Won back-to-back UHSAA 3A state titles in the high jump (2016-2017)  

KAYLA PERRY – Sprints/Jumps | Bolingbrook HS | Bolingbrook, Illinois
Personal Bests: 12.08 (100m), 25.97 (200m), 18-2 (long jump)

SADIE SARGENT - Distance | North Summit HS | Coalville, Utah
Personal Bests: 2:10.78 (800m), 4:50.04 (1600m), 10:32.82 (3200m)           

  • Took seventh at the 2017 Nike Cross Nationals
  • Won back-to-back UHSAA 2A cross country state titles (2016-2017)
  • Three-time UHSAA 2A state champion in the 1600m and 3200m (2016-2018)
  • Two-time UHSAA 2A state champion in the 800m (2017-2018)
  • Broke the 2A state record in the 3200m (10:32.82) and the 800m (2:10.78)

KATE THOMAS - Sprints | Torrey Pines HS | San Diego, California
Personal Bests: 14.84 (100m hurdles), 43.52 (300m hurdles)

  • Eighth-place finish in the 300m hurdles at the 2018 CIF state championships

JESSICA THOMPSON - Throws | Plains HS | Plains, Montana
Personal Bests: 135-7 (discus throw), 126-4 (javelin throw), 40-10 (shot put)

  • Won back-to-back MHSA Class C state titles in the shot put throw (2017-2018)
  • 2017 MHSA Class C state champion in the discus throw 

ALYSSA WORKMAN - Throws | Tualatin HS | Tualatin, Oregon
Personal Bests: 135-6 (discus throw), 135-6.75 (hammer throw), 39-2.50 (shot put), 45-4.25 (weight throw)

 

Athletes transferring to BYU:

  • Sophie Baird - Distance (Colorado/UCLA)

Athletes returning from LDS missions:

  • Cameron Bates - Javelin
  • AJ Beynon - Jumps
  • August Carlson - Jumps
  • Ben Craig - Hurdles
  • Will Handley -  Distance
  • Logan Mackay - Distance
  • Hunter Nielsen - Jumps
  • Michael Whittaker - Javelin
  • Rachel Cannon - Distance
  • Lauren Ellsworth - Distance