LEXINGTON, Ky. ? Four members of the 2007 USA Today All-USA Track and Field Team, 15 state champions and five transfers highlight the 2007 University of Kentucky track and field recruiting class, announced Thursday by head coach Don Weber.
The decorated men?s class is led by a quartet of freshmen who earned recognition by USA Today. Brendan Ames (Cheyenne, Wyo.) currently ranks best in the world in the 110-meter hurdles (13.15). New teammate Colin Boevers (Salt Lake City, Utah) earned recognition for his field event prowess ranking fourth in the nation for shot put and eighth in the country for discus. Fellow recruit Grant Lindsey (Mansfield, Texas) garnered the honor by ranking second in the nation in the high jump. Rookie Derrick Locke (Hugo, Okla.) was recognized for his top-ranked long jump performance in the country.
The nation’s fourth-ranked graduating senior Jazmyn Shorter (Lakewood, Fla.) headlines an impressive women’s recruiting class. Shorter is the 2007 Florida 3A state high school champion in the 400-meter dash and holds the third-ranked high school performance in the country in the event with a time of 53.73.
The women’s class includes a strong mix of athletes with championship-caliber credentials. Danielle Sampley (Maryville, Tenn.) is the 2007 Tennessee state champion in the 100 hurdles and the pentathlon. She also was a 2007 AAU Junior Olympics 100-meter hurdles silver medalist. Bianca Tyson (Atlanta, Ga.) is the 2007 Georgia state champion in the 100 and 200 meters. Nebraska’s 2007 state champion thrower Jenny Svoboda (Howells, Neb.) and fellow rookie Ashley Newby (Maplewood, N.J.), who was named the National Scholastic Pentathlon Champion in 2007 and holds the second-ranked indoor performance in the country for the pentathlon, also join the class.
Two-sport athlete Victoria Dunlap (Brentwood, Tenn.) will compete as a member of the Kentucky women’s basketball team this winter. She claimed the 2007 USA Junior Olympic heptathlon title and is a two-time U.S. Youth National Champion in the event.
The 2007 transfers to Kentucky include two men who were past All-America selections. Chase Madison (Newton, Iowa) was named to the 2006 NCAA Division I All-America list while competing at Iowa State University in discus. New Wildcat Rashaud Scott (Mesa, Ariz.) was a five-time NJCAA All-America selection when competing at Mesa Community College in discus, shot put and weight throw. Middle distance/cross country runners Jenna and Jessica Ortman (Williamsville, N.Y.) join Kentucky from the University at Albany where both excelled during their initial two years of competition. Former University of California standout Emilee Strot (Gresham, Ore.), is a field event specialist throwing discus, shot put and javelin.
Hometowns of the 34 newcomers extend coast to coast from Florida to Oregon. New York and Texas lead the way for the most recruits, with four each. The class adds valuable depth to the roster across all disciplines.
Men
Brendan Ames (Cheyenne, Wyo.) hails from Wyoming where he currently holds six state records including three indoor in the long jump, 55-meter hurdles and 55-meter dash, as well as three outdoor in the long jump, 110-meter hurdles and 200-meter dash. In 2007, he also claimed a state title in the 100- meter dash. Ames ranks among the top six in USA high school performances for three events: 60-meter hurdles (2nd), 55-meter hurdles (3rd) and long jump (6th). At the 2007 Nike Indoor Championships, he was the 60-meter hurdle champion and placed fourth in the long jump. A member of the 2007 USA Today High School All-USA Track and Field Team, Ames was the 2007 USATF junior national champion in the 100-meter hurdles.
Derrick Locke (Hugo, Okla.) owns the top-ranked high school performance in the USA for the long jump at 25-4.75 Locke also holds the Oklahoma state record in the event. In 2007, the all-around athlete was Oklahoma state champion in the long jump and 100-meter dash (10.60). A member of the 2007 USA Today High School All-USA Track and Field Team, the jumper is also the 2007 Great Southwest Long Jump Champion. Locke also competes as a member of the Kentucky football team. While attending Hugo High School, he rushed for 3,275 yards averaging 252 yards per game with 51 touchdowns scored.
Grant Lindsey (Mansfield, Texas) currently holds the second-ranked high school performance in the country in the high jump at 7-3 and is the 2007 Texas 5A state champion in the same event. Lindsey was also a 2007 Texas Relays champion while attending Mansfield High School. The leaper is a 2007 Indoor All- American and a member of the 2007 USA Today High School All-USA Track and Field Team. He was the 2007 Nike Outdoor Champion that took place this summer.
Colin Boevers (Salt Lake City, Utah) owns the fourth-ranked high-school performance in the country last year in the shot put with a throw of 66-5. The accomplished thrower also holds the eighth-best USA high school performance in the discus with a toss of 192-1. These achievements earned Boevers a place on the 2007 USA Today High School All-USA Track and Field Team.
David Banks (Rosenberg, Texas) comes to UK as a two-time Texas 4A state champion in the triple jump. Banks was runner-up at the 2006 Junior Olympics in the triple jump and as part of the 4×100 meter relay team. His career bests include 49-11 in the triple jump and 21.52 in the 200-meter dash.
Rashaud Scott (Mesa, Ariz.) comes to Lexington after competing at Mesa Community College last season. In 2007 Scott was a NJCAA All-American for the second consecutive year in both shot put and weight throw. The newcomer also claimed the honor in 2006 for discus. The thrower?s personal-best marks for shot put and discus are 60-8 and 198-6, respectively.
Chase Madison (Newton, Iowa) red-shirted in 2007 but spent his previous season at Iowa State University as a field event athlete where he garnered a 2006 All-America Division I selection in discus. Madison?s personal bests in the shot put and discus are at distances of 60-6.5 and 195-6, respectively.
Kendrick Maiden (Houston, Texas) competed in the jumps and the 400- meter dash at Klein Forest High School. As a jumper, Maiden set a personal best of 23-10.25 in the long jump, and a leap of 47-11 in the triple jump. As a sprinter, he set a top mark of 48.20 in the 400-meter dash.
Matt Frawley (Staten Island, N.Y.) joins the Wildcats as a middle distance runner. At Monsignor Farrell High School, he set personal bests in the 800 meter and mile at 1:54.95 and 4:21.09, respectively. Frawley also will participate in cross country.
Colin Heenan (Liverpool, N.Y.) was recruited as a distance runner for UK. Heenan placed 12th in the Footlocker Cross Country Northeast Region. The rookie also will compete this fall as a member of the cross country team.
Adam Henken (Nokesville, Va.) comes to UK as Virginia state high school cross country runner-up. Henken will be a distance runner on the track and field team and appears on the roster of the Wildcat cross country team this fall.
J.D. Horton (Massillon, Ohio) is another distance recruit joining the Cats from Perry High School in Massillon, Ohio. Horton will race for the UK cross country team this fall in addition to his duties on the track and field squad.
Ben Miller (Ravenswood, W. Va.) joins the Cats as a middle-distance runner. Miller is the West Virginia state 800-meter champion. The freshman will also run cross country this fall.
Sean McNulty (Plainsboro, N.J.) comes to Lexington after attending West Windsor Plainsboro North High School. McNulty will run cross country this autumn and will be a distance runner.
Josh Nadzam (Monaca, Pa.) is the Pennsylvania state high school 1,600- meter bronze medalist. Nadzam will run middle distance for UK and compete on the cross country squad. The rookie?s personal best in the 1,600 meters is 4:21.32.
Zac Noel (Winfield, W. Va.) is the West Virginia state cross country champion and also holds the state title in the 3,200 meters. Noel will continue double duty as a distance runner and member of the cross country team this fall at Kentucky.
Will Rover (Kings Mills, Ohio) joins the Wildcats after competing at Ohio University last season. Rover will compete as a distance runner and run cross country this fall. In the 800 meters, Rover achieved a personal best time of 1:54.84.
Eric Schmidt (Brentwood, Tenn.) was THSAA cross country runner-up while attending Brentwood Academy. Schmidt will run distance and run on the UK cross country team this season.
Matthew Wagner (Beaver Creek, Ohio) joins the Wildcats as a distance runner. The Ohio native will compete this fall for the UK cross country squad.
Chris Webb (Reston, Va.) was recruited as a middle distance runner for Kentucky. Webb attended South Lakes High School in Reston, Va.
Women
Jazmyn Shorter (Lakewood, Fla.) is the 2007 Florida 3A state high school champion in the 400-meter dash. She also holds the third-ranked high school performance in the country in the event with a time of 53.73. Shorter?s personal best times in the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes are 11.90 and 24.44, respectively.
Danielle Sampley (Maryville, Tenn.) is a 2007 AAU Junior Olympics Silver Medalist in the 100-meter hurdles. Sampley is the 2007 Tennessee state high school champion in both the pentathlon and 100-meter hurdles. She also finished as runner-up last year at the state meet in both the 100-meter dash and long jump, as well as a third-place finish in the 200-meter dash.
Bianca Tyson (Atlanta, Ga.) is the 2007 Georgia state high school champion in both the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes. Her mark of 11.46 was the seventh-ranked high school time in the country in 2007. Tyson?s best times in the other sprints are 24.28 in the 200-meter and 56.76 in the 400-meter.
Jenna Ortman (Williamsville, N.Y.) joins the Wildcats after competing at the University at Albany (N.Y.) last season. Ortman will run middle distance and cross country this season. Her personal bests include 2:12.43 in the 800 meter, 4:28.12 in the 1,500 meter and a mark of 4:54.07 in the mile. Ortman?s twin sister Jessica also will compete for Kentucky this season.
Jessica Ortman (Williamsville, N.Y.) transferred to Lexington this season from the University at Albany (N.Y.) . Ortman joins twin sister Jenna on the Wildcat squad this season. She will run middle distance and cross country this season. Her personal bests include 2:06.94 in the 800 meter, 4:29.65 in the 1,500 meter and a mark of 10:34.00 in the steeplechase.
Ke?Undra Bishop (Houston, Texas) is a multi-eventer for the Cats. In jumps, she placed fourth in the 2007 Texas 5A state meet triple jump. Her personal best in the event is 39-3.25. In 2006, Bishop placed sixth in the 200- meter dash at the 5A state finals. The athlete?s personal best was 24.26 in the 200. Bishop owns a personal best mark of 19-0 in the long jump.
Ashley Newby (Maplewood, N.J.) holds the second-ranked indoor performance in the country for the pentathlon. In 2007, she was named the National Scholastic Pentathlon Champion. Newby placed second at the state meet in the long jump and was Essex County champion in the long jump, triple jump and 400-meter hurdles.
Jenny Svoboda (Howells, Neb.) is the 2007 Nebraska state high school champion in both shot put and discus. Her shot-put throw of 49-11 is the third- ranked high school performance of 2007. Svoboda?s personal-best toss in the discus is 145-7.
Victoria Dunlap (Brentwood, Tenn.) was crowned Tennessee state high school champion in the high jump each of her four years at Brentwood Academy. In 2007, Dunlap also claimed the state title in the 100-meter hurdles. The versatile athlete was ranked first in the country as a high school senior in the heptathlon and in 2007 secured the title as the USATF National Youth Champion in the event for the second consecutive year. Dunlap is also a member of the 2007-08 Kentucky women?s basketball team.
Brittany Cabbler (Roanoke, Va.) is the Virginia state high school champion in both the 300 and 500 meters. Personal best times include 40.71 in the 300 meter, 57.11 in the 400 meter and a 1:17.07 mark in the 500 meter.
Suzanne Holt (Greenville, Ky.) is the only native of Kentucky in this year?s freshman class. Holt was the Kentucky AA state high school cross country champion in 2006 while attending Muhlenberg South High School. The former champion will run distance events and cross country at UK.
Emily Ingham (Jacksonville, Fla.) was recruited as a distance runner for the Cats. She attended Episcopal High School in Jacksonville, Fla. Ingham is also on the roster for the UK cross country squad this season.
Heather Smith (Powell, Ohio) joins the Cats after spending last season at the University of Nevada-Reno as a field event specialist. Her personal best throw in discus is 144-3. Smith earned all-district; all-conference and all-state honors in 2005 and 2006 while attending Olentangy Liberty High School.
Emilee Strot (Gresham, Ore.) comes to Lexington after competing at the University of California last season. Specializing in field events, Strot?s best throws are 182-02.5 for discus, 49-11.25 for shot put and a toss of 152-10 in the javelin.
