WICHITA, Kan. - The Wichita State University track and field team inked eight more high school athletes to National Letters of Intent for the 2008-09 academic year. Five men and three women are included the most group of signees.

The men's class includes Emporia's Brandon Childs, Jefferson City's (Mo.) Derrick Shepherd, Dodge City's Dylan Hartnett, Clearwater's Spencer Hilley, and Scott City's Trace Kendrick. The women's latest signees include Chanute's Shalee Ratliff and twin sisters Kristina and Jennifer Taylor from Lawrence.

“These are eight more athletes that continue to cause me to feel like this will be a very special recruiting class on both the men's and women's sides,” Wichita State head coach Steve Rainbolt said. “We feel like these athletes can make significant contributions to our team in the Missouri Valley Conference. We are very excited about these young people deciding to become Wichita State Shockers..”

The men's team added two jumpers, a thrower, a sprinter, and a distance runner to its squad.

Childs, a jumper, was the Kansas 5A runner-up in both the high jump and triple jump last season as a junior. In the high jump, he has a personal best of 6 feet, 9 inches, while his PR in the triple jump is 46-1.

“We are excited to have an athlete like Brandon coming to our program,” jumps coach Heidi Yost said. “He will add depth to our young, talented jumps crew in both the high jump and triple jump.”

Sheperd will also join the Shocker jumpers coming off a state fourth-place in Missouri's Class 4 triple jump with a leap of 46-9 as a junior. He also has a personal best of 22-4 in the long jump.

“Derrick is a raw talent that I am excited to develop,” Yost said. “He has great potential and will be an asset during his career at Wichita State.”

Hartnett, a sprinter, placed third as a junior in the Kansas 6A 400-meter dash with a time of 49.34. He also has a personal best in the 200m of 22.3.

“Dylan is exactly the type of long sprinter that Wichita State has had success developing,” sprints coach John Wise said. “He is a hard worker and is very motivated to become better. He will join and learn from a great group of sprinters at WSU.”

Hilley, the only thrower in the group, placed second in the Kansas 4A discus throw with a toss of 166-1. He has a personal best of 53-11 in the shot put also.

“Spencer is one of best shot put/discus athletes to come out of the state of Kansas this year,” throws coach John Hetzendorf said. “He is a great athlete and has a lot of potential. He will be able to come in a learn the hammer, as well as contribute in the shot put and discus.”

Kendrick will join the cross country and distance teams at WSU. In 2007, he was the Kansas 3A state champion in cross country, and in track, placed 4th in the Kansas 3A 800m race.

“I really like Trace because he is a great athlete and has great versatility,” head cross country coach Marc Burns said. “I think he will have a nice range from running 800 meters all the way to cross country races. I like that he knows how to win and am excited to help him win at this level.”

For the women, new additions included a pole vaulter, and two long sprinters.

Ratliff, a pole vaulter, was the Kansas 4A state champion in the event with a vault of 11-7. She was the state runner-up as a sophomore in 2006.

“What Shalee has already done as a junior is impressive, jumping 11-7,” pole vault coach Pat Wilson said. “She is the type of athlete that we like. She shows the mental toughness that we are needing to stay competitive in our conference.”

Jennifer Taylor, an 800m runner, will join the Shockers in 2008-09. She placed sixth in the Kansas 6A 800m with a time of 2:18.59. She was also part of the Lawrence High School runner up 4x400m relay team, as well as the runner-up 4x800m relay team.

“Jennifer's passion is more geared toward middle distance, but her ability to run a good 400 meters will help her become a great MVC performer,” Wise said. “She will join a talented group of middle distance runners at WSU.”

Kristina Taylor, a long sprinter, placed sixth in the 6A 400m with a time of 57.87. She was also part of the Lawrence High School runner up 4x400m relay team, as well as the runner-up 4x800m relay team.

“We are excited to sign Kristina,” Wise said. “She has solid marks coming out of high school and we feel that with a significant focus on speed development she could become a great collegiate quarter-miler.”

This group of eight signees will join the first group of eight which featured five women and three men.

Previous 2008-09 Signees
Women
Emily Ballock, Hurdles, Eudora (HS) Kan.
Brooke Braswell, High Jump, Mannford (HS) Okla.
Chelsey Davis, Sprints, Chelsea (HS) Okla.
Audacia Moore, Sprints, Wichita (Heights HS), Kan.
Witney Sorell, Hurdles/Jumps, Concordia (HS), Kan.

Men
Kevin Pendergast, Distance, Dodge City (HS), Kan.
Chris Ronen, Javelin, Newton (HS), Kan.
Matt Sittenauer, Mill Valley (HS), Kan.