Smith Presents 2006 Track Signees

NORMAN, Okla. University of Oklahoma track and field head coach Martin Smith announced the signing of 15 student-athletes to National Letters of Intent Monday to complete his first recruiting class at the university.

Of what is arguably one the best incoming classes in OU track and field history, Smith and his staff successfully recruited 21 student-athletes to compete beginning with the 2006-07 season.

“The coaching staff and I are certainly pleased with our first signing class at Oklahoma,” Smith said. “We're excited to have recruited in many different disciplines and look forward to working with all our newcomers and uniting them with our existing team.

“They are all very talented and will contribute immediately to the success of the program. Many are among the best in their states and rank nationally in their respective events.”

The incoming student-athletes 14 men and seven women hail from 10 different states and Jamaica. Included in the mix are four junior college transfers who are expected to make an immediate impact.

“To have recruited from so many different areas is really a testament to what the University of Oklahoma stands for,” Smith continued. “Its national reputation and prestige in both academics and athletics is something all our student-athletes benefit and enjoy.”

The group is as varied athletically as it is geographically. Of the signees, eight are distance specialists, six are sprinters/hurdlers, three are multi-event athletes, two are horizontal jumpers and two are pole vaulters.

Jacob Boone, Kristen Keith, J.B. Lagos and junior-college transfer Matt O'Connor signed during the early period last November. Frankie Green, Sheldon Leith (pronounced LEETH) and Claude Senior transferred to Oklahoma in January 2006 and will be eligible to compete during the upcoming season.

The Sooners look to improve on a successful 2006 campaign that saw the women record their best ever finish of fourth at the Big 12 Indoor Championships and men place fifth overall at the Big 12 Outdoor Championships.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
University of Oklahoma 2006-07 Track & Field Recruiting Class
(Men)

Jacob Boone
Lee's Summit, Mo. | Lee's Summit North | Distance
Three-time state (Class 4) champion at Lee's Summit North ... As a senior, swept the state titles in the 3200-meter run (9:16.27) and 1600-meter run (4:17.05) ... As a junior, won the 3200 and was fourth in the 1600 ... As a sophomore, was runner-up in the 3200 ... Named 2006 Kansas City Star all-metro track athlete of the year.

PR: 1600 4:14.76, 3200 9:07.43

Matt Daniels
Arlington, Texas | Arlington High School | Distance
Placed second in the 1600-meter run at the 2006 Texas State High School (Class 5A) Championships with a personal best run of 4:14.97 that ranked as the third best time in Texas ... Swept the mile run and 3200-meter run titles at the Texas Relays ... Was the 2005 Golden South Classic 3,000-meter run champion.

PR: 1600 4:14.97, 3200 9:16.39

Zach Dawson
Edmond, Okla. | Santa Fe High School | Mid-Distance
State runner-up in the 800-meter run and third-place in the 400-meter dash in 2006 ... Ran personal bests of 1:54.34 in the 800 and 48.58 in the 400 at the meet, which ranked second and fourth, respectively, among the state's high school athletes ... Also ran legs on Edmond Santa Fe's fourth-place 4x800-meter relay and fifth-place 4x400 relay.

PR: 400 48.58, 1600 1:54.34

Andrew Gassen
Clinton, Mo. | Clinton High School | Decathlon
Standout athlete at Clinton (Mo.) High School ... Started on the basketball team and was voted all-district as a goalkeeper in soccer ... Won the 2005 Missouri State (Class 3) High School Championship in the triple jump (47-2.00) and was runner-up in the long jump (22-7.00) ... Swept the long and triple jump titles at the 2006 Missouri All-Comers Meet and was runner-up in the triple jump at the 2006 Kansas Relays.

PR: Long Jump 47-10, Triple Jump 22-7

Frankie Green
San Diego, Calif. | Mesa Junior College | Jumps
The 2004 California community college champion in the triple jump at 50 feet-6.75 inches (15.41 meters) ... Placed fifth in the triple jump at the 2004 USATF Junior Olympics and eighth at the USA Junior Outdoor Track & Field Championships ... As a senior, placed sixth in the triple jump at the California state championships and earned All-America recognition.

PR: Long Jump 23-0.75 (7.03), Triple Jump 50-6.75 (15.41)

Jon Grey
Fawn Grove, Pa. | Kennard/Dale High School | Distance
As a senior, placed third in the 3200-meter run at the 2006 Pennsylvania State High School Championships ... Finished eighth at the 2005 state cross country championships.

PR: 1600 4:18.16, 3200 9:11.18

J.B. Lagos
Flower Mound, Texas | Flower Mound High School | Distance
Placed fifth, running a 5K in 15:47.45, at the Texas State 5A High School Cross Country Championships ... Won the district cross country title with a run of 15:34.

PR: 3200 9:37.15

Dusty Langwell
College Station, Texas | A&M Consolidated High School | Distance
Ran the ninth fastest time in Texas in the 1600-meter run as a senior (4:18.36) ... Placed third in the 1600 and fifth in the 3200 at the Texas 5A regional championships ... Finished 13th at the 2005 Texas state cross country meet ... As a junior, was the district champion in the 3200.

PR: 800 1:57.29, 1600 4:18.36, 3200 9:33.59

Sheldon Leith
Kingston, Jamaica | G.C. Foster College | Hurdles
Raced to a personal best of 14.10 in the 110-meter high hurdles en route to victory at the 2005 Intercollegiate Championships ... Posted a season best of 14.15 at the 2004 Jamaica Invitational ... Established personal bests of 52.60 in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles and 10.85 in the 100-meter dash ... Won the 110-meter high hurdles at the 2002 National Junior Athletics Championships in Kingston with a run of 14.34 ... Also that year, won the 110-hurdles at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Under 20 Games with a time of 14.72 ... Competed at the 2002 World Junior Championships.

PR: 110HH 14.10, 400IH 52.60

Matt O'Connor
San Mateo, Calif. | College of San Mateo/Serra HS| Decathlon
Ranked among the nation's top five junior decathletes in 2005 ... Posted a season best total of 6,658 points en route to a third-place finish at the California Community College Track and Field Championships ... Placed first in the 100 and 400, second in the long jump, third in the high jump and fourth in the shot put and 110-meter hurdles ... Was the 2005 Coast Conference Champion in the high jump and long jump ... Comes from Serra High School, which includes alumni such as Barry Bonds, Tom Brady and Lynn Swann.

PR: Decathlon 6,658 points

Claude Senior
Kingston, Jamaica | G.C. Foster College | Hurdles
Ran a personal best of 51.93 in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles at the 2005 Gibson Relays in Kingston ... Placed second (52.26) at the 2004 University Championships in Spanish Town ... Established a high school best of 53.7 in the 400 hurdles his junior year at Calabar High.

PR: 400IH 51.93

Robert Sorrell
Memphis, Tenn. | Bolton High School | Distance
A five-time Tennessee high school state champion ... Swept the 1600- and 3200-meter at the state meet in both the 2005 and 2006 seasons ... Also won the cross country state title his senior season and was runner-up as a junior ... Was the state runner-up in the 800-meter run in 2006 and 2005 ... Finished 10th at the 2005 Foot Locker Cross Country South Regional and 30th in the Foot Locker National Cross Country Championships.

PR: 800 1:54.11, Mile Run 4:10.71, 3200 9:04.20

Chris Sweeney
Highlands Ranch, Colo. | Thunderridge High School | Distance
Placed third in both the 800- and 1600-meter runs at the 2006 Colorado State High School (Class 5A) Championships ... Ran 1:54.29 in the finals of the 800 and 4:20.57 in the 1600 finals ... Improved nearly ... An all-state honorable mention by The Denver Post.

PR: 800 1:54.29, 1600 4:20.57

Cameron Williams
Crete, Ill. | Marian Catholic High School | Jumps
Two-time state qualifier ... Placed fourth in the triple jump at the 2004 USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships ... One of the top ranked returnees in the nation as a senior.

PR: Long Jump 22-9, Triple Jump 48-2

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Women)

Kristen Keith
Southlake, Texas | Carroll High School | Pole Vault
Texas State High School Championships runner-up in 2006 with a best vault of 12-9.00 ... Her season best pole vault of 13-0 ranked second best in the state and seventh in the nation among high schoolers ... Was seventh at the 2005 Reno Pole Vault Summit and fourth in 2006 ... Finished runner-up at the 2005 AAU National Junior Olympic Games ... As a junior, placed third at the state high school championships.

PR: Pole Vault 13-0

Shquanda Meylor
Camden, N.J. | Woodrow Wilson High School | Sprints/Hurdles
Finished runner-up in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles at the 2006 New Jersey State High School Championships ... Her season best mark of 1:00.3 in the event ranked third best in the state ... Also posted a season best long jump mark of 18-0.25 that ranked 12th best in the state ... Won the 400 hurdles and placed fifth in the long jump at the state group meet, helping Woodrow Wilson to a team championship.

PR: 400IH 1:00.47, Long Jump 18-0.25

Sarah Pappas
Houston, Texas | Memorial High School | Pole Vault
Posted a season best pole vault mark of 12-0 that ranked eighth in the state of Texas and in the top 25 nationally among high school athletes.

PR: 12-0

Kristen Richardson
Moore, Okla. | Northeast High School | Sprints
As a junior, was the fastest in the preliminaries of the 100 (12.02) and 200 (24.17) at the Class 4A state championships, but did not run in the finals ... Her 200 mark ranked best in the state among all high school athletes ... Won regional championships in the 100 and 200 in 2005.

PR: 100 12.02, 200: 24.17

Jasmine Still
Camden, N.J. | Woodrow Wilson High School | Sprints
Placed third at the New Jersey High School Meet of Champions in the 400-meter dash in both 2005 and 2006 ... Finished fourth in the 400 at the state group meet to help Woodrow Wilson to a team championship ... As a senior, her season best mark of 55.33 seconds ranked sixth best in the state.

PR: 400 55.24

Ashley Storm
Yankton, S.D. | Yankton High School | Distance
The runner-up at the 2006 state (Class AA) championships in the 800-meter run and placed fifth and seventh, respectively, in the 1600 and 400 ... Also started on the state champion volleyball team and was ranked individually in the top 15 in hitting percentage and kills per game ... As a senior, helped Yankton to a state title in cross country and fourth-place finish during the track and field season.

PR: 800 2:12.98, 1600 4:56.90

Carli Wester
Edmond, Okla. | Santa Fe High School | Heptathlon
Won the 2005 state (Class 6A) long jump title (18-4.00) and was fourth in 2006 ... Also posted back-to-back runner-up finishes at the state meet in the 100-meter hurdles ... Helped Edmond Santa Fe to runner-up finishes in the 4x400-meter relay and team standings at the state championships in 2006 ... Season best hurdles mark of 14.90 seconds ranked second in the state among Class 6A student-athletes.

PR: 100 12.66, 100HH 14.78, LJ 18-7

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Related News

Related Videos

Sponsors