Aggies receive 16 letters of intent during early signing period
Nov 20, 2014 | Track and Field
COLLEGE STATION – Texas A&M track and field has received 16 national letters of intent during the early signing period this past week from student-athletes who will join the Aggie program in the fall semester of 2015.
The group of eight men and eight women range across the various disciplines in track and field, with event areas of sprinting, middle distance, distance, hurdling, jumping and throwing covered in the signing class. Of the 16 student-athletes joining the Aggie track and field program, 11 are from Texas while others states represented in the signing class include Florida (2), Michigan, and New York (2).
“This new group of signed athletes, along with previously signees that will be with us beginning in January, makes this year's class one that will make our team better,” noted Texas A&M head coach Pat Henry. “Time will tell over the next four years how good this group might be, but on paper we are very pleased with this class of student-athletes.
“For us to be successful in the recruiting of great athletes we need to have a staff that works very hard along with a team that contributes to the process. Our current team is very good at helping in this process. Another important part of recruiting involves our academic services and our academic departments. It takes cooperation from all involved and we have that at Texas A&M.”
The sprint group signing with the Aggies includes teammates Krystal Sparling and Diamond Spaulding from St. Thomas Aquinas in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, along with Glorilisha Carter of Bastrop and Jarra Owens of Ft. Bend Bush. On the men's side the sprint crew includes Fred Kerley of South Plains JC and Taylor, Texas; Bryce Deadmon of Ridge Point HS in Missouri City, Texas; Richard Rose of Boys & Girls High School in Brooklyn, New York; and Dewitt Thomas of Kingwood.
In the middle distance and distance event areas the incoming A&M class includes Donavan Brazier of Grand Rapids, Michigan; Eli Canal of Southlake Carroll, Texas; Jazmine Fray of Kellenberg, New York; Miah Nelson of Odessa Permian and College Station's Kelsie Warren.
Field eventers in the class include pole vaulter Jacob Wooten of Tomball Memorial along with throwers Brody Gowing of Klein and Celine Markert of Yoakum.
Following is a list of the Aggie early signing class with notes on their accomplishments to date.
MEN
Donavan Brazier (Kenowa Hills HS, Grand Rapids, MI / Walker, MI) – 1:48.61 (800) / 4:15.25 (1,600)
Junior season produced career best times of 1:48.61 in the 800 meters and 4:15.25 for the 1,600m as he lowered his previous season best times by six seconds in the 800m and 22 seconds in the 1,600m. Won the Division I state title in Michigan at 800m as he set a meet record of 1:50.24. Posted his personal best of 1:48.61 to claim victory at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals.
Eli Canal (Southlake Carroll HS, Southlake, TX) – 4:20.14 (1,600) / 9:15.79 (3,200) / 15:17.61 (5,000)
Recently placed 20th in the State 6A cross country meet as he finishes as the second runner for Southlake Carroll as they defended their team title. Runner-up in district and 15th in the region race leading up to the state meet. On the track in 2014, posted season best time of 4:20.14 (1,600), 9:15.79 (3,200) and 15:17.61 (5,000). In his Junior cross country season placed sixth in district, 13th at region and 15th in the State 5A final. Placed 14th at the Nike South Regional.
Bryce Deadmon (Ridge Point HS, Missouri City, TX) – 47.64 (400)
Ran a career best of 47.64 to win the 400 meters during the AAU Club Championships in Orlando, Florida. State 4A champion in the 400 meters as a junior with a time of 47.83 after clocking 47.85 to finish second in the Region III-4A final. Ran first leg of 4x400 squad that placed fourth at the State meet.
Brody Gowing (Klein HS, Spring, TX) – 176-1 (Discus)
Threw a career best of 176 feet, 1 inch in the discus during the 2014 season to win The Woodlands Invitational. Finished fourth in Region II-5A. Placed fourth in the discus at the 2014 AAU Junior Olympics and finished seventh in the 2014 USATF National Junior Olympics. Won the 15/16-year-old discus title at the 2013 AAU Junior Olympics Championships.
Fred Kerley (South Plains JC / Hometown – Taylor, TX) – 46.38 (400) / 20.74 (200) / 10.56 (100)
During first season of junior college set a career best of 46.38 in the 400 meters and posted times of 10.56 and 20.74 in the 100 and 200 meters. His range includes a 1:11.39 PR for the 600 yard run indoors. Finished sixth (46.84) in the 400 final at the NJCAA Championships after running 46.38 in the prelims. Ran opening leg of South Plains 4x400 which finished second at the NJCAA Championships in 3:05.86. Anchored the 4x400 when South Plains won the College division at the Texas Relays with a 3:05.06. In 2013 as a senior at Taylor HS, placed third in the State 3A 200m with a time of 21.56.
Richard Rose (Boys & Girls HS, Brooklyn, NY / Jamaica, NY) – 46.38 (400) / 34.07i (300)
Posted a best of 46.38 to win the 400 meters at the Glenn Loucks Memorial Games, in White Plains, NY. Placed fourth at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals (46.93) after winning the PSAL City Championships (47.05). Indoors, ran a best of 47.34 to win New Balance Indoor Nationals after clocking 47.68 in the prelims. A double winner at the PSAL Championships with titles in the 300m (34.07) and 600m (1:18.61) in 2014. Also recorded times of 10.79 in the 100m and 21.39 in the 200m as a junior.
Bruce “Dewitt” Thomas (Kingwood HS, Kingwood, TX) – 36.94 (300H) / 4x400
Anchored the Kingwood 4x400 relay that won the State 5A race (3:13.25) by two seconds to secure a team championship as the 20 points from the relay win gave Kingwood a one-point edge, 39-38, over rival Klein Oak for the team victory. In the 300 hurdles placed second in the State 5A final with a time of 37.57. Posted a career best of 36.94 to win the Region II-5A title.
Jacob Wooten (Tomball Memorial HS, Tomball, TX) – 17-0 (Pole Vault)
Cleared a career best of 17-0 to win the Region III-4A pole vault title in Huntsville. Finished second in district (15-0) and area (16-0) meets. Runner-up at 2014 USATF National Junior Olympics, clearing 16-4 ¾. Finished fourth at Great Southwest Classic (15-6) and placed eighth at Texas Relays (15-9).
WOMEN
Glorilisha Carter (Bastrop HS, Bastrop, TX) – 24.38 (200) / 11.95w (100) / 18-1 (Long Jump)
Won 200 meters in State 4A final with a time of 24.59. Posted a season best of 24.38 in prelims of Region III-4A meet and claimed the final in 24.53. Finished third in the 100 meters at region with a windy 11.95 and placed fourth in the long jump with a mark of 17-10. Produced a best of 18-1 in long jump as a sophomore, placing second in area meet.
Jazmine Fray (Kellenberg, NY) – 2:09.07 (800)
Set a career best of 2:09.07 in the 800 meters as runner-up in the 2013 New York State meet. Also clocked 2:09.48 for fifth place in the 2013 New Balance Outdoor Nationals. Recorded a season best of 2:10.25 at 2014 New Balance Outdoor Nationals and won the NSCHSAA Sectional Championship. In the 1,500 she posted a season best time of 4:39.38 in 2014 and also won the NSCHSAA Sectional title. Indoors she won the New York Indoor State title in the 1,000 meters (2:54.69).
Celine Markert (Yoakum, TX) – 41-7 (Shot Put), 145-0 (Discus)
Defended her State 3A title in the discus in 2014, producing a season best mark of 145 feet. Finished third in the State 3A shot put (41-4 ¾) after placing second in the Region IV-3A meet (41-7). Won the 2013 State 3A discus and placed third in the shot put at the region meet.
Miah Nelson (Permian HS, Odessa, TX) – 2:15.90 (800)
Ran a season best of 2:15.90 for the 800 meters in 2014, placing third in the TAAF Games of Texas. Posted a 2:15.98 during the prelims of the USATF National Junior Olympics. Won her district title and finished fifth in Region I-5A.
Jarra Owens (Bush HS, Richmond, TX) – 54.43 (400)
Posted a season best of 54.64 in the 400 meters to win the Texas Southern Relays in 2014. Placed third in the State 5A final with a 55.09. Won the Region III-5A title after posting wins in district and area meets. Placed fourth at the 2014 USATF National Junior Olympics. As a sophomore she placed third in the region meet (54.43).
Krystal Sparling (St. Thomas Aquinas HS, Ft. Lauderdale, FL / Lauderhill, FL) – 11.34 / 23.34
Posted a best of 11.34 in the 100 meters and 23.34 in the 200 meters, both of which ranked fourth best in the nation. Finished second in the 100m and fourth in the 200 meters at the Florida 4A State meet. Finished fourth in the 100 at the Adidas Dream 100 held in New York. Competing in relay events at Texas Relays, Sparling was member of 4x1 (45.75), 4x2 (1:33.47) and 4x4 (3:38.26) which swept titles in all three events.
Diamond Spaulding (St. Thomas Aquinas HS, Ft. Lauderdale, FL / Plantation, FL) – 11.62 / 23.36
Recorded season best marks of 11.62 in the 100 meters and 23.36 in the 200 meters. Runner-up in the 200 meters at Florida 4A State meet while placing fifth in the 100 meters. Set career best of 23.36 as runner-up in the 200 at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals and won the Golden South 200 in a then PR of 23.47. In the Golden West meet she finished second in the 200 and third in the 100. Won the Great Southwest Classic in a windy 23.00. Also competing in relay events for her school at Texas Relays, Spaulding was member of 4x1 (45.75), 4x2 (1:33.47) and 4x4 (3:38.26) which won all three events.
Kelsie Warren (College Station HS, College Station, TX) – 5:06.87 (1,600) / 10:53.55 (3,200)
Established career best times as a sophomore in 2013, running 5:06.87 in the 1,600 and 10:53.55 in the 3,200 meters to sweep the State 3A titles. Defended her double champion effort in the 2014 State 3A meet, claiming titles in the 1,600 (5:12.53) and 3,200 (11:15.86) meters. Won the 2014 Region III-3A title in cross country with an 18:05.6 time over 5,000 meters. As a junior in cross country she won the 2013 State 3A title with an 11:24.6 over 3,200 meters. She placed third in the Nike South Invitational (18:29.5).
