WICHITA, Kan. – Wichita State's track and field team welcomes 27 newcomers to the program this fall, including 16 men and 11 women.
Nine different states and one other country represent the 2018 signing class. 12 athletes decided to stay in-state signing with the Shockers, while five athletes hail from Oklahoma and two from each Texas and Illinois. The Shockers were able to sign one athlete from each of the following states Iowa, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska and Ohio.
Hope Saunders is the lone athlete traveling overseas to join the Shockers from Ireland.
"I am super excited about this recruiting class joining Shocker track and field," said head track and field director
Steve Rainbolt. "Both the men's and women's classes are full of terrific athletes that I am confident will make significant contributions during their career at Wichita State. I am pleased that we have added some balance and depth in all areas, it's always exciting to see how a group of young athletes like this will develop."
Of the 27 newcomers, five are transfers from other schools, including two from power five conferences. Saunders transfers in from the University of Florida after having spent the 2016-17 season with the Gators and
Aleenah Marcucci transfers from Iowa State University, where she competed with Cyclones during the 2017-18 season. Other transfers include graduate student
Cory Martens (Chadron State),
Clayton Duchatschek (Lindenwood University) and
Michael Bryan (Hutchinson CC).
Men
Michael Bryan (Throws)– Wamego, Kan. (Hutchinson CC)…Was a two-time NJCAA DI National Championship qualifier for the Blue Dragons…As a freshman he finished 10th in the hammer throw and his sophomore year he placed 11th in the discus and seventh in the hammer throw. – Personal bests: Shot Put – 13.82m/45-4.25, Weight Throw – 15.92m/52-2.75, Discus – 45.43m/149-0, Hammer – 51.83m/170-0
Josh Cable (Distance) – Rochester, Ill. (Rochester HS)…Earned three IHSA All-State honors in his high school career, including a third place finish in the 800m as a junior…Earned cross country All-Conference his junior and senior seasons. Personal bests: 800m – 1:53.75, 1600m – 4:27.23
Clayton Duchatschek (Distance)– Washington, Mo. (Lindenwood, University…Was an All-MIAA runner and helped Lindenwood win the MIAA Championship…Finished fifth in the 3000m steeplechase (9:34.90) at the 2018 MIAA Outdoor Championships. Personal bests: 1500m – 3:59.10, Mile – 4:17.85, 3200m – 9:19.49, 3000 steeplechase – 9:23.90
Clay Eckert (Multis)– Buhler, Kan. (Buhler HS)… Was a five-time state qualifier and five-time league champion…Won the KSHSAA 4A 110m hurdles state title as a senior…Set a Buhler school record in the 110m hurdles …As a senior he helped his team win the KSHSAA 4A state title. Personal bests: 110m hurdles – 14.74, 300m hurdles – 40.00, Pole vault - 3.97m/13-0
Dowdy Elazarig (Jumps)– Richardson, Texas (Richardson HS)…Was the top point scorer his junior and senior seasons…Voted team MVP in 2017 and 2018… Finished seventh in the triple jump at the 2018 UIL 6A state championships…Personal bests: 100m - 10.72, 200m - 21.98, Long Jump - 7.39m/24-3, Triple Jump - 14.76m/48-5.
Jed Helker (Distance)– Edmond, Okla. (Edmond Memorial HS)… Was an eight-time OSSAA 6A state qualifier in cross country and track and field...Won the OSSAA 6A state cross country championship with a time of 15:47.0 on the 5K course...Was a three-time state champion in track and field his senior season, winning the 800m, 1600m and 3200m...Personal bests: Mile – 4:13, 3000m – 8:57, 3200m – 9:43
Joseph Holthusen (Hurdles)– Wichita, Kan. (Bishop Carrol HS)…Helped his team win the 2018 KSHSAA 5A state team title in track and field and football… Was a KSHSAA 5A state champion in the 110m hurdles and 300m hurdles as a senior…Personal bests – 110m hurdles – 14.23, 300m hurdles – 38.42
Kieron Hunter (Hurdles)– Wylie, Texas (Wylie East HS)… Finished third in the 110m hurdles as a junior (14.37) and senior (14.34) at the UIL Region II 5A Championships…Won the 110m hurdles with a time of 14.88 at the UIL 5A District 15 Championships as a senior…Personal bests: 110m hurdles 14.20
Jason Landon (Distance)– Carlinville, Ill. (Carlinville HS)… Won the team's MVP award for cross country in 2016 and 2017…Was part of the Carlinville HS cross country team that qualified for state as a junior and senior…Was all-state in the 800m…Won the school's track MVP award his junior and senior season…Personal bests: 800m – 1:57.35, 1600m – 4:31
Cauy Lindsay (Throws)– Eisenhower, Kan. (Goddard HS)… Was a two-time KSHSAA 5A state championship qualifier in the javelin...Won the 5A Region 8 championship...Finished second at the 2018 KSHSAA 5A state championship with a personal best throw of 56.25m/184-6…Personal best 56.25m/184-6 in the javelin.
Slayde Little (Pole Vault)– Purcell, Okla. (Purcell HS)… Won the OSSAA 3A state title in pole vault as a junior and finished runner-up as a senior…Was part of the cross country team that qualified for state his freshman, junior and senior seasons…Personal best: 4.88m/16-0 in the pole vault.
Jack Lowry (Distance)– Cincinnati, Ohio (Moeller HS)… Lettered two years in cross country and track and field…As a senior he finished 11th at the OHSAA D1 Region 4 cross country meet…Personal bests: 1600m – 4:24, 3200m – 9:53
Chonnor Ludolph (Multis)– Leroy, Kan. (Southern Coffey County HS)… Was a four-time KSHSAA 1A state championship qualifier...Recorded three top-five finishes at the state meet during his career, including two second place finishes in the 110m hurdles as a junior and senior...Personal bests: 110m hurdles – 14.88, 300m hurdles – 42.22, Long Jump – 6.22m/20-5
Cory Martens (Throws)– Newton, Kan. (Chadron State University)… Placed 16th in the discus (48.58m/159-4) at the 2018 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships...Finished third in the weight throw (18.27m/59-11.25) and fourth in the shot put (15.82m/51-11) at the 2018 RMAC Indoor Track and Field Championships…Personal bests: Shot Put – 16.67m/54-8.25, Weight Throw – 18.86m/61-10.5, Discus Throw – 54.19m/177-9, Hammer – 59.19m/194-2
Tate McDonald (Pole Vault)– Norman, Okla. (Norman HS)… Was awarded the newcomer of the year award as a freshman…Won the most valuable player award…Won the OSSAA 6A pole vault title with a height of 15'2", finished second as a junior and sixth as a freshman…Personal best: 4.88m/16-0 in pole vault
Bryce Merriman (Distance)– Wichita, Kan. (Maize South HS)… Helped his team to a 4A KSHSAA state cross country championship his junior season…Finished 14th at the 2018 KSHSAA 5A cross country meet…Was part of the 4x800m relay team that won state in 2017…Personal best: 800m – 1:58
Women
Amiya Anoma (Jumps)– Randallstown, Md. (Randallstown HS)… Was a four-time MPSSAA State Championship qualifier...As a freshman she won the MPSSAA 2A state title in the 300m hurdles...Won the state triple jump title as a junior...Personal bests: 100m Hurdles - 15.34, Triple Jump - 12.44m/40-9.5
Halie Brown (Throws)– Arkansas City, Kan. (Arkansas City HS)… Was a three-time KSHSAA state championship qualifier...Recorded five top-five finishes at the state meet, including a title in the javelin as a junior...As a senior she finished third in both the discus and javelin at the state championships...Personal bests: Discus – 38.34m/125-9, Javelin – 44.51m/146-0
Bey Lee Brummet (Throws)– Downs, Kan. (Lakeside HS)… Was a three-time KSHSAA state championshp qualfier...Recorded four top-five finishes at the state meet during her career...As a senior she finished sixth in the javelin, fourth in the discus and second in the javelin at the KSHSAA 1A State Championships...Personal bests: Shot Put – 12.77m/41-10.75, Discus – 36.82m/120-9, Javelin – 39.74m/130-4
Destini Eskridge (Distance)– Wichita, Kan. (Maize South HS)… Earned all-state honors in cross country as a freshman, junior and senior...Won female athlete of the year her senior season...As a junior she helped her team win the KSHSAA 4A state title in cross country and second in track and field...Personal bests: 1600m – 5:17, 3200m – 11:12
Tianna Holmes (Sprints)– Moore, Okla. (Moore HS)… Was a two-time 400m state champion and three-time 400m regional champion...Two-time Big All City first team…Was part of the 4x400, 4x200m and 4x100m teams that set state records…As a junior she helped her team win a state trophy, a first in the program's history…Personal bests: 200m – 25.82, 400m – 54.94
Halle Johnson (Distance)– Bennington, Kan. (Bennington HS)… Won the 2017 KSHSAA 2A state cross country championship, finished third as a freshman...Was a four-time KSHSAA 2A state championship qualifier in track and field...Recorded 13 top-three finishes at the state meet, including six titles..As a senior she won the 2A 1600m title, finished second in the 800m and 3200m...Her junior season she won four titles at the KSHSAA 2A State Championships, 800m, 1600m, 3200m and as member of the 4x800m relay…Personal bests: 800m – 2:19, 1600m – 5:12, 3200m – 11:11
Aleenah Marcucci (Multis)– Clinton, Iowa (Iowa State)… Placed 13th in the pentathlon (3,470) at the Big 12 Indoor Championships...Finished second in the pentathlon at the Wieczorek Invite with a personal best 3,512 points…Sophomore indoor season she clocked a personal best 8.53 in the 60m hurdles to finish fourth at the Larry Wieczorek Invite…Was a six-time state champion at Northeas-Goose Lake High School…Personal bests: 60m hurdles – 8.53, 100m hurdles – 14.08, Long Jump – 5.93m/19-5.5, Pentathlon – 3,512
Danielle Rinn (Distance)– Lincoln, Neb. (Lincoln Southwest HS)… Finished third at state in the 1,600m and seventh in the 3,200m as a senior…Won all-class gold as a member of the 4x800m relay team…Was part of the 4x800m that won the NSAA Class A state title her junior season. Personal best: 800m – 2:19, 1600m – 5:03, 3200m – 11:08
Sidney Sapp (Jumps/Sprints)– Oklahoma City, Okla. (Del City HS)… Was a four-time OSSAA state championship qualifier...Recorded nine top-three finishes at the state meet over her career, including six first place finishes...As a senior she won the 5A high jump title and finished second in the 200m...Personal bests: 200m – 24.96, High Jump – 1.75m/5-8.75
Hope Saunders (Distance)– Dublin, Ireland (University of Florida)...Prepped at Mount Temple Comprehensve School...Was a two-time all-Ireland track and field senior girls 3,000m champion...2015 Irish Interclub cross country championship winner...Personal bests: 3000m – 9:42.46, 5000m – 17:42.04
Abby Smarsh (Hurdles)– Andale, Kan. (Andale HS)… Was a two-time KSHSAA 4A state champion in the 300m hurdles a junior and senior…Finished third in the 100m hurdles at the state meet as a senior…Helped her team win back-to-back state team titles in 2017 and 2018…Personal bests: 100m hurdles – 14.86, 300m hurdles – 44.73
