FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 28, 2012

Track and Field contact - Kyle Johnson (krj@indiana.edu)

 

Helmer Announces Stellar Signing Class

 

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana track and field director and head coach Ron Helmer has announced the first 18 members of the 2013-14 signing class, and it is full of high-level talent. The group has won a combined 20 state championships, and includes athletes from eight states and three countries. Two of the signees, Laray Smith and Anthony Young, will also play football at Indiana.  The group includes the nationÂ’s top 800-meter runner, Tretez Kinnaird, and an 11-time state champion and national record holder from Connecticut, Kellie Davis.

 

See the 18 signees below, complete with stats and comments from Coach Helmer on each signee:

 

MEN:

Claxton, Eric

Ft. Wayne, Indiana 

Carroll High School, Ft. Wayne, Indiana

Middle Distance

Member of 2012 State Champion 4 x 800 Relay

2012 All State in CrossCountry

PR:1600 - 4:24.12, 800 (relay) - 1:54

Coach Helmer:  “Eric is relatively new to full time running but shows the potential to develop across a wide range of events.  I think we may see a breakout spring season for Eric as he finishes his high school career allowing him to transition to our program very well.”

 

Coughler, Jeremy

Port Hope, Ontario, Canada

Port Hope High School, Port Hope, Ontario

Distance

2012 OFSAA 3000 Champion

PR: 3000 Steeple - 9:05.10, 2000 Steeple  - 5:48.27, 3000 - 8:20.92, 1500 - 3:49.81

Coach Helmer:  “Jeremy is very young for his class but has already run some outstanding times.  He has great range and should contribute immediately.  I believe Jeremy can become a great steeple chaser and will help us at the national level in multiple events including cross country.”

 

Duvall, Kyle

Westfield, Indiana

Westfield High School, Westfield, Indiana

Distance

2012 All State in CrossCountry

PR: Mile - 4:18.26

Coach Helmer:  “While not performing consistently at top levels Kyle has done so often enough to convince us he may have a great future at IU.  He had a really nice senior cross country season but has yet to approach his potential on the track.  We are anxious to see what he is able to do this spring.”

 

Harper, Jon

Ft. Wayne, Indiana

Carroll High School, Ft. Wayne, Indiana 

Distance

Member of 2012 State Champion 4 X 800 Relay Team

2012 All State in CrossCountry

PR: 3200 - 9:25.78, Mile - 4:16.53, 1600 - 4:16.82

Coach Helmer:  “Jon is really starting to come into his own.  In the last year he has progressed from giving his team outstanding carries on their state champion 4 X 800 tobeing All State in cross country to running personal bests in the mile and 3200 this winter.  As his training grows there is no doubt in my mind Jon will find a way to contribute at a high level in our incredibly competitive conference.”

 

Huntoon, Jordan

Bloomington, Indiana 

South High School, Bloomington, Indiana 

Middle Distance

Scored in the 2012 State Meet anchoring the 4 X 800 as well as qualified in the open 800

PR: 800 - 1:57.25

Coach Helmer:  “Jordan took a big, big step from his sophomore year to his junior year in high school and we anticipate he will take another big jump this spring.  If he can learn to handle the necessary training, continues to mature and get stronger and is patient he will find a way to make us better.”

 

Kinnaird, TreÂ’tez

Louisville, Kentucky

Butler High School, Louisville, Kentucky

Middle Distance

2011 and 2012 Kentucky State 800 Champion

2011 All State in CrossCountry

Top returning High School 800 meter runner in the United States

Currently leads the country indoors in the 800 with a 1:50.97

PR: Mile                  - 4:15.97, 800 - 1:49.31

Coach Helmer:  “TreÂ’tez is very, very good.  His times speak for themselves but the thing I like most is his commitment to getting better and desire to make our teambetter.  TreÂ’tez runs with a competitive spirit and passion that we value greatly and we look forward to helping nurture that quality as he develops, grows and matures in the sport.”

 

Miller, Andrew

Olympia, Washington

Capital High School, Olympia, Washington

Throws

2012 USATF Junior Hammer Qualifier

PR: 12lb. Hammer - 194’ 2”, 6k Hammer - 175’ 0”

Coach Helmer:  “Andrew was first attracted to IU when he visited our campus for the USATF Jr. National Championships last summer.  We become attracted to Andrew because of his solid performances, his build, as well as his apparent conscientious determination to get better.”

 

Smith, Laray

Staten Island, New York

Xaverian High School, Brooklyn, New York

Football Signee

Sprints

Currently one of the top ranked indoor 400, 300 and 200 indoor runners in the country.

PR: 400 - 47.67, 300 (indoors) - 33.96, 200 - 21.38, 100 - 10.43

Coach Helmer:  “Laray is a football signee who is a big time track and field athlete.  He is currently in the midst of an outstanding indoor season that has seen him consistently run times that rank him among the best in the country.  His decision to attend IU based in part on the exciting future of our developing football program and the opportunity to run on a nationally ranked track team.”

 

Uchikoshi, Yusuke

Saitama, Japan

Kokugakuin Kugayama Senior High School, Tokyo, Japan

Distance

PR: 5000 - 13:59.90, 3000 - 8:14.91, 1500               - 3:46.74

Coach Helmer:  “Yusuke is working hard to improve his English skills in an effort to prepare for what IÂ’m sure will be some degree of culture shock once he arrives on campus but one thing is certain, he can run.  Yusuke has great range and no fear of racing as he has seen great success ranging from fast 1500Â’s at a young age to outstanding 10k ekiden relay carries.  He has a fairly sophisticated knowledge of the sport and will bring a passion to racing that will excite both our team and our fans.”  

 

Woosley, David

Evansville, Indiana 

Harrison High School, Evansville, Indiana

Pole Vault

PR: PV - 15’ 6 1Ž2”

Coach Helmer:  “David is an under the radar vaulter who comes highly recommended by those who work with him.  He has good size and a great enthusiasm for both the event and IU.  We look forward to his development and the contributions he can bring to our outstanding pole vault tradition.”

 

Young, Anthony

Lakewood, Ohio

St. Edward High School,Lakewood, Ohio

Football Signee

Sprints

2011 and 2012 State 200 meter Champion

PR: 200 - 21.31, 100 - 10.43, 60 - 6.82

Coach Helmer:  “Anthony is another true track athlete who chose IU as his football destination.  He possesses great short sprint speed as well as the ability to cover the longer sprints.   As we successfully partner with football in recruiting outstanding speed to our campus we are excited to have the opportunity to help Anthony and those like him find a way to make a great impact on both our football and track and field programs.”

 

WOMEN:

 

Anderson, Sydney

Dublin, Virginia

Pulaski County High School, Dublin, Virginia

Sprints/Jumps

2012 State High Jump Champion, 2013 State Indoor High Jump Champion

PR: 500 - 1:16.12, 400 - 56.79, 300 - 40.94, 200 - 25.38, 55 - 7.37, HJ - 5’ 7”, LJ - 17’ 10”, TJ - 36’ 6”

Coach Helmer:  “Sydney comes from an area of the country I know well from the time I spent living nearby.  After averaging over 20 points per game as a junior basketball player she chose to focus her senior year on track and field and we anxiously await the results of what we think will be an outstanding spring season.  Sydney is very versatile and we intend to take advantage of her skills in multiple areas.”

 

Bollinger, Mackenzie

Yorkville, Illinois

Yorkville High School, Yorkville, Illinois

Sprints/Jumps

2012 Runner up in the State Meet Triple Jump

PR: 400 - 57.64, 200 - 24.98, TJ - 38’ 7 1Ž2”

Coach Helmer:  “Mackenzie is another solid basketball player who concentrates on the sprints and triple jump in the spring.  With a year round focus on track and field we expect Mackenzie to grow quickly giving us a much needed addition to our horizontal jumps group.” 

 

Cominator, Corrine

Bristol, Indiana 

Northridge High School,Middlebury, Indiana 

Distance

Third in the 1600, fourth in the 3200 at the 2012 State Meet

PR: 3200 - 10:39.88, 1600 - 4:57.62

Coach Helmer:  “After watching the Indiana State Outdoor Meet last spring we identified Corrine as one worth getting excited about.  She is talented, raced tough and appears to only be consistent high level training away from developing into a solid Big Ten talent.”

 

Davis, Kellie

New Haven, Connecticut

James Hillhouse High School, New Haven Connecticut

Middle Distance

Eleven Time Class and Open State Individual Champion

In 2012 anchored her Sprint Medley Relay to a National Championship and All Time H.S. Record

PR: - 3000 - 10:01.86, Mile - 4:59.69, 1000 - 2:55.28, 800 - 2:11.29

Coach Helmer:  “Kellie is the fifth athlete I have recruited from Hillhouse High School, a perennial state championship team in Connecticut.  She is appropriately guided by a very experienced, knowledgeable and demanding coach and will come to us prepared to compete.  Her challenge will be the transition to college level distance training that, once in place, will open the door to much success across a wide range of events as a Hoosier.”

 

Hearld, Carlee

Larwill, Indiana

Columbia City High School, Columbia City, Indiana 

High Jump

2012 Sectional High Jump Champion

PR: HJ - 5’ 5”

Coach Helmer:  “Carlee certainly has the build of a prototypical high jumper and we believe with added strength and year round training she has the potential to develop into a solid member of our outstanding high jump corp.”

 

Mundy, Chanli

Terre Haute, Indiana 

North Vigo High School, Terre Haute, Indiana 

Distance

2011 All State in CrossCountry

PR: 3200 - 11:05.61, 1600 - 5:13.57

Coach Helmer:  “Chanli has had solid success, off and on, for her entire high school career.  It will be her (and our) challenge to channel that success into consistent high level training followed by consistent racing.  She has the ability to make that happen.”

 

Neeley, Bethany

Greentown, Indiana 

Eastern High School, Greentown, Indiana 

Distance

2012 State 1600 Champion

2012 All State in CrossCountry

PR: Mile - 4:54.62, 1600 - 4:53.23, 800 - 2:11.58, 300H - 45.42

Coach Helmer:  “Bethany is a very versatile athlete, successfully running sprints, middle distance, and distance as well as scoring 1000 points during her basketball career.  It will be very exciting to see how she progresses as a track only athlete given her outstanding competitive spirit and pride in performance.  She could become a great one.”

 

Neeley, Brittany

Greentown, Indiana

Eastern High School, Greentown, Indiana 

Middle Distance

Third in the 2012 State Meet 800

PR: 1600 - 5:01.54, 800 - 2:14.26, 400 - 57.02

Coach Helmer:  “Similar to her twin sister, Brittany has great range and potential.  Our challenge here will be to determine the event area where she will have the most success on the track.  Incidentally, she beat her sister to 1000 points and she too has great potential for success at very high levels.”

 

Nelson, Ariane

Ft. Wayne, Indiana 

Homestead High School, Ft. Wayne, Indiana

Sprints/Jumps

Second in the Long Jump, sixth in the 100, eighth in the 200 at the 2012 State Meet

PR: 200 - 25.12, 100 - 12.12, 55 - 7.23, LJ - 19’ 2”

Coach Helmer:  “Ari is a solid sprinter and probably better long jumper.  She is explosive and will help us on the sprint relays and well as the open events.  Speed is a necessity for long jumpers and with development in that area we think Ari can become an outstanding jumper.”

 

The Hoosiers will compete at the Alex Wilson Invitational this weekend at Notre Dame, taking one last chance at NCAA qualifying.. For complete coverage of all things IU track and field, stay tuned to IUHoosiers.com.