June 25, 2012
For Immediate Release
Fort Wayne, Ind. – The last area to preview for the upcoming 2012-13 recruiting classes will be the sprints and hurdles.
Starting first with the men, the Warriors continue to bring in both top talent and depth. In the hurdles, the Warriors start out by adding Robert Rose (Ben Davis HS, IN) who redshirted last year. Joining Rose as a former Indiana All-State hurdler is Glenn Powell (Lawrence Central HS, IN), who is transferring from Georgia Tech. These two first-year sophomores are joined by a dynamic freshman duo of Ryan Cavender (FW Carroll HS, IN) and Creig Leu (Lakeland HS, IN). Cavender, Powell, and Rose were all under 14.40 FAT at the high level in the 110’s.
In the 300 hurdles, Cavender leads the group with a 37.87, Leu at 39.03 and Rose at 39.07 were also All-State 300 hurdlers. Others in the hurdle group include Aaron Hooks (Lafayette HS, VA) 59.05 400h, Jacob Drummer (Muncie South HS, IN) 42.0 300h and Antonio Vickery (FW Snider, IN) 15.44 110h.
In the sprints, the Warriors look to build on the great seasons turned in by 200 All-American Dontaey Paige (Ft. Wayne, IN/Heritage) and the efforts of the 4x400 relay. Additions to the short sprint start with local products Quinton Jones (Leo HS, IN). Jones has run 10.52 for 100 meters and has been All-State multiple times in the 100 and 4x100 relay.
Pairing with Jones are Jeff Douglas (Avondale HS, MI) and Marcus Marble (Marion HS, IN). Douglas was part of two state championship relays at Avondale in the 4x100 and 4x200, and owns a career-best of 10.78 and 22.54. Marble, much like Douglas, has been covered up by his relay success. He owns career-bests of 10.94 and 22.49. These three paired with jumpers Isaiah Lintz and Harris Edwards should make a big impact on the short sprint group.
In the long sprints, the Warriors add several athletes at the 50 second mark or below. D’Shawn Marshall (Eastmoor Academy, OH), D ’Andre Harris (New Haven HS, IN), Alex Zolman (Churubusco HS, IN), John White (West Texas JC), and Terry Riley (Marion HS, IN) have all been 50.40 or under for 400 meters.
Coach Edgar on the men’s class: “We really felt that we needed to make some strides in the high hurdles and I think this group addresses that need. Our 400 hurdles were great last year with Brandon Reynard (Muncie, IN/Jay County) becoming All-American for the second time and D’Quan Ruth (Indianapolis, IN/Ben Davis) breaking the freshman record on his way to a Nationals appearance. This group of athletes should continue that area of strength for us. In the sprints, we wanted to get Dontaey some help and we felt like we did that. We feel like with our training Quinton, Jeff, and Marcus are really going to take off. Derrius Carroll (Ft. Wayne, IN/Harding) and Jacob Lindley (Ft. Wayne, IN/Leo) got great nationals experience on our 4x100 relay and should keep that group very deep. Our 400 runners did a great job last year and so many of our guys this year can run the 200/400 and 400/600/800 so we did not target many 400 specialist. Alex Zolman has the potential to be an elite guy for us. He ran 49.87 at his sectional this year and once we get him in the weight room he is really going to take off. We feel blessed that that we will be so deep in these events and expect some real battles at practice day in and day out.”
On the women’s side, once again the Lady Warriors group is much smaller than the men’s, but still has a chance to make a great impact. The group is led by hurdler T’Keyah Birkey (American River JC. CA). Birkey owns a career-best 14.02 100h, 12.23 100, and 60.93 400h. Joining her will be a pair of Virginia sprinters in Malika Rashid (Nasmond River HS, VA) and Marsharika Coleman (Washington Lee HS, VA). Rashid has run 7.31 for the 55, while Coleman has run 12.32 and 25.81. Three Michigan natives round out the group with Bria Jones (Renaissance HS, MI) running a 60.5 400, Patricia Thompson (Lathrup Village HS, MI) a 12.7 100, and Lariah Simpson (Carmen HS, MI) a 15.44 100h.
In addition to the newcomers, the biggest addition for the Warriors should come in the form of returner Katelyn Lewis (Brooklyn Park, MN/Osseo). Lewis was a multiple-time All-American as a freshman before missing last season. Lewis anchored the Warriors 2011 4x100 National Championship squad.
Coach Edgar on the women: “When you have one of the best and deepest sprint programs in the nation you don’t really need to add many people in. We have three seniors this year in Emaryne Watt (Indianapolis, IN/Perry Meridian), Adella King (Detroit, MI/Finney), and Abigail Torian (Cadiz, KY/Trigg County) who were the three that built this program. We get Katelyn and Kemi Doss (Gary, IN/Emerson) back after having to miss time last year. All-American freshmen Andrea Ford (Ft. Wayne, IN/Harding), Kirsten Flake (Muncie, IN/Muncie Central), and Shayne Armbrister (Roseville, MI/Roseville) are a year older and expected to continue to develop. All-American juniors Chloe Brooks (Elkhart, IN/Concord), Zalika Dixon (Bronx, NY/Fashion Design), and Jamela Kimbrough (Columbia, MO/Hichman) should continue to be strong leaders for our program. We also expect huge improvements from National Qualifying freshmen Shayla France (Harrison Twp, MI/Le Anse Cruis), Jewel Thomas (Lathrup Village, MI/Lathrup Village), and Chauntiel Smith (Ft. Wayne, IN/South Side). Then we get to add in someone like T’keyah with National experience and a ton of potential from our other recruits. I think you would be hard pressed to find a group this talented and deep at any school in the Nation right now. It will really come down to their desire to push themselves to the limits and hopefully send our three seniors out on top.”
Tomorrow the Warriors will release their 2012-13 track and field schedules with the cross country schedule coming later in the week.
For more information on Indiana Tech athletics please call the Athletic Office at 260-422-5561 ext. 2262 or visit our website at http://www.indianatech.edu/athletics
