Simmons headlines 2024 men's track and field, cross country signing class

BYU men's track and field and cross country announced the signings of Landon Heemeyer, Tyler Mathews and the nation's No.1 ranked cross country runner, Daniel Simmons, on Tuesday.

Author Zach Hunter
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PROVO, Utah — BYU men's track and field and cross country announced the signings of Landon Heemeyer, Tyler Mathews and the nation's No.1 ranked cross country runner, Daniel Simmons, on Tuesday.

“I think we’ve had an excellent recruiting cycle,” said BYU Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Ed Eyestone. “You can’t be too disappointed when you sign two of the fastest cross country runners and one of the best 800-meter athletes in the nation. I think Coach Ryan Waite has done an excellent job in making sure that we talk with the best guys in the country. Recruiting is a constant need, which can get neglected. I feel like through this cycle we've done an excellent job with maintaining and establishing those relationships.”

Below is notable information about each member of the 2024 signing class, as well as quotes about each student-athlete from BYU assistant coach/recruiting coordinator Ryan Waite.

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Daniel Simmons
Distance | American Fork High School | American Fork, Utah

  • 1600m - 4:07.51 (at altitude)
  • 3200m - 8:34.14
  • 2023 New Balance Outdoor Nationals 2-Mile Champion
  • 2022 NXN Runner-Up
  • No. 1 Ranked XC runner in the Class of '24

"As the top junior nationals runner last year, he was obviously very highly recruited by everybody in the country, so it was really exciting when he chose us over some really good schools. He's a guy that looks like he could come and be an immediate player for us his freshman year, which is really hard to do. In men's cross country, you move up from 5k distance in high school to the 10k at the collegiate level, and he's the kind of guy that looks like he can handle that jump immediately. We have hopes he'll be a big part of what we do, right from the get go."

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Landon Heeymeyer
Distance | Rocky Mountain High School | Meridian, Idaho

  • 1600m - 4:10.65
  • 3200m - 8:59.57
  • Finish ninth at 2022 Footlocker XC National Championships
  • Runner-up at 2023 NXR Northwest Regional

"Landon comes from a really, really strong program that has a great history of producing great athletes. We're really excited to continue that tradition of bringing guys in from Rocky Mountain.  He's just tough as nails. When he took ninth at Footlocker Championships his junior year, there were many guys went out in that front pack with him and couldn't hold that crazy pace. He just kept digging and digging and digging in. He did the same thing this weekend at the Nike Cross Regional meet, where he finished second. He has a really, really bright future. He's gonna do well on the collegiate level and especially in the BYU system."

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Tyler Mathews
Mid-distance | Red Mountain High School | Mesa, Arizona

  • 400m - 48.88
  • 800m - 1:48.72
  • 1600m - 4:12.11
  • No.1 Ranked 800m runner in the Class of '24

"Tyler is so versatile. He's got incredible 400-meter speed. He's a state champion in the mile. He was the number one 800-meter runner for the class of 2024. He's a guy that is going to have a huge impact, especially as we're entering the Big 12 where there's a lot of middle distance events during indoor season. It's going to be really, really big for our team to have somebody that can come in and be pretty versatile in events they will potentially run at the conference championship. He's a guy that has Olympic aspirations long term, and we're excited that he chose us."