Ducks Sign 18 to Round Out Incoming Class
08/16/17 | Cross Country, Track and Field
Oregon track and field head coach Robert Johnson announced the signing of 18 recruits on Wednesday, giving Oregon a class of 29 total newcomers for 2017-18
EUGENE, Ore. – Eight incoming freshmen and 10 transfer students from around the country and the world have signed National Letters of Intent to join the Oregon track and field program, head coach Robert Johnson announced on Wednesday.
The class of spring signees includes 10 women and eight men, four state champions, a junior college all-American and multiple athletes who have competed around the globe. The new crop of Ducks is diverse both in track and field and in their backgrounds, with 15 student-athletes coming from six different states and three journeying from overseas.
"We are extremely excited to welcome this new group of Ducks," said Johnson. "This is a very talented group that brings us a lot of potential to positively impact our program. We are bringing in 18 quality student-athletes both on and off the track. Adding this group to the kids we have already signed really makes us excited and optimistic about our future moving forward."
Personal Bests: 44.20m/145' (Javelin)
Threw the javelin in eight competitions for San Francisco as a freshman, highlighted by a season and school-best mark of 44.20m/145' at the Payton Jordan Invitational … A four-year varsity member as a javelin thrower at Jesuit High School, helping team to 6A Metro League title all four years … Won the 2014 Metro League title in the javelin.
Shae Anderson (Norco HS/Norco, Calif.)
Personal Bests: 11.76 (100m) | 23.67 (200m) | 51.99 (400m) | 2:11.09 (800m) | 14.25 (100H) | 40.31 (300H) | 59.44 (400H)
One of the most decorated and accomplished athletes to come out of the state of California in 2017 … The 2017 California state champion in both the 400 meters and the 300-meter hurdles … Her 400 time of 51.99 was the second-fastest high school time in the country in 2017 … Ranked in the top 10 in California in 2017 in the 400 meters (1st), 300 hurdles (2nd) and 200 meters (6th) … Named the 2016-17 California Gatorade Girls Track and Field Player of the Year … Watch Shae run a blazing 51.99 in the 400 meters at the 2017 Mt. SAC Relays.
Robert Brooks (Brophy College Prep/Phoenix, Ariz.)
Personal Bests: 23'11" (Long Jump)
Competed in the long jump as well as the high jump and the short sprints while at Brophy College Prep … Capped high school career with 12th-place finish in long jump at New Balance Nationals Outdoor … Dad, Robert Brooks, played in the NFL for the Green Bay Packers.
Carmela Cardama Baez (Florida State/Ies De Castro/Vigo, Spain)
Personal Bests: 4:49.28 (Mile) | 4:25.99 (1,500m) | 9:18.20 (3,000m) | 16:07.49 (5,000m)
Comes to the Ducks after being Florida State's top cross country performer in back-to-back seasons, capped by a 73rd-place finish at the 2017 NCAA Cross Country Championships … A two-time all-ACC and all-South Region honoree in cross country … Qualified for Spain's 2015 World Cross Country Championships team … Won Spain's Junior National Cross Country title in 2014 and finished second in 2015 … Represented Spain and finished 40th at the 2014 European Junior Cross Country Championships.
Connor Clark (Dartmouth College/San Francisco University HS/Mill Valley, Calif.)
Personal Bests: 8:09.35 (3,000m) | 14:10.08 (5,000m)
Joins the Ducks with one season of cross country eligibility remaining after competing since 2013 at Dartmouth College … Honored by Dartmouth with the Paul S. Harmon '13 Trophy in 2017, given to the member of the senior class who has shown the greatest improvement during his college career.
Rieker Daniel (Oregon City HS/Boring, Ore.)
Personal Bests: 10.66 (100m) | 21.49 (200m) | 49.66 (400m)
The 2017 6A Oregon state champion in the 200 meters, and the runner-up in the 100 meters … Helped Oregon City to a third-place state finish in 2017 in the 4x100 relay in 42.50, running the second leg … Placed seventh and 11th in the 200 and 100 meters, respectively, at the 2016 6A State Championships … Watch Rieker's full highlight video.
Kerissa D'Arpino (Oregon State/North Valley HS/Grants Pass, Ore.)
Personal Bests: 7.57 (60m) | 11.77 (100m) | 24.06 (200m) | 1:00.20 (400H)
Comes to Oregon with her twin sister, Venessa, after competing for three seasons just north of Eugene at Oregon State … Redshirted the 2017 outdoor season … Competed in three Pac-12 Championships with OSU, highlighted by a 12th-place finish in 2016 in the 400 hurdles … A four-year letterman at North Valley High School.
Venessa D'Arpino (Oregon State/North Valley HS/Grants Pass, Ore.)
Personal Bests: 7.55 (60m) | 11.70w/12.06 (100m) | 23.60w/23.72 (200m) | 54.14 (400m)
Joins her twin sister, Kerissa, as a member of the Ducks' track and field squad after competing for three seasons at Oregon State … Competed in two Pac-12 Championships and two NCAA West Regional Championships while with the Beavers … Qualified for the NCAA West Regional Championships for the first time in 2017 in both the 200 and 400 meters … OSU school-record holder in the 100, 200 and 400 meters … Ran a leg on the school-record 4x100 relay team in 2016.
Orwin Emilien (Western Texas College/Republic of Mauritius)
Personal Bests: 21.87 (200m) | 46.03 (400m) | 52.72 (400H) | 1:18.01 (600m) | 1:55.01 (800m)
The native of the Republic of Mauritius joins the Ducks as a three-time NJCAA all-American while at Western Texas College … Finished fourth in the 400 meters at the 2017 NJCAA DI Outdoor Championships, and second in the 600 meters at the 2017 NJCAA DI Indoor Championships.
Judy Pendergast (Harvard/Naperville North HS/Naperville, IL)
Personal Bests: 4:26.79 (1,500m) | 4:43.86 (Mile) | 9:25.16 (3,000m) | 15:52.64 (5,000m) | 34:59.37 (10,000m)
A native of Naperville, IL., who spent her freshman season at Harvard … An All-Ivy League first-team selection as a freshman … Placed sixth at the 2017 NCAA Cross Country Regional Championship … Qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships in the 5,000 meters, posting the best 5,000 time in the NCAA by a freshman (15:52.64) … The Ivy League indoor champion in the 5,000 meters and runner-up in the 3,000 meters … Placed second in the 5,000 and third in the 10,000 at the outdoor Ivy League Championships … Finished fourth at the 2015 Footlocker Cross Country National Championship.
Christopher "Rocky" Rainey (LC Clear Falls HS/League City, Texas)
Personal Bests: 10.25 (100m) | 21.15 (200m)
Joins the Ducks after a solid high school career at LC Clear Falls High School in Texas … Finished third in the 200 meters and fourth in the 100 meters at the 2017 Texas 6A State Championships … Watch Rocky run the 200 meters at the 2017 Texas State Championships.
Jasmin Reed (Serra Junipero HS/Carson, Calif.)
Personal Bests: 7.39 (60m) | 11.51w/11.57 (100m) | 23.39 (200m)
The 2017 California state runner-up in the 100 meters … Took third in the state in 2017 in the 200 meters, and helped Serra Junipero claim the state title in the 4x100 relay … Competed in both the 100 and 200 meters at the 2017 U.S. Junior Outdoor Championships … Watch Jasmin run the 100 meters at the 2017 CIF State Championships.
Kaylah Robinson (El Cerrito HS/Richmond, Calif.)
Personal Bests: 8.34 (60H) | 12.98w/13.32 (100H) | 11.77 (100m) | 24.14 (200m)
One of the few female high school athletes in the nation's history to run the 100-meter hurdles in under 13 seconds with a personal-best wind-aided time of 12.98 … The California state runner-up in the 100-meter hurdles in both 2016 and 2017 … A 2015 New Balance all-American … Competed in the 100 hurdles at the 2017 U.S. Junior Outdoor Championships, taking fifth in 13.57 … Watch Kaylah announce her decision to join the Ducks … Watch Kaylah run the 100 hurdles at the 2017 CIF State Championships.
Spenser Schmidt (Portland State/Churchill HS/Eugene, Ore.)
Personal Bests: 7.49m/24'7" (Long Jump) | 10.59w (100m) | 21.89 (200m)
The Eugene native will return home to join the Ducks after spending three seasons at Portland State … The 2016 Big Sky outdoor runner-up in the long jump and the Big Sky champion indoors … Ranks second all-time at Portland State in the long jump at 24'7" … A 2016 NCAA regional qualifier in the long jump … Did not compete during the 2017 outdoor season due to injury … Watch Spenser take second in the long jump at the 2016 Big Sky Championships.
Sabrina Southerland (Georgetown/Benjamin N. Cardozo HS/New York, NY)
Personal Bests: 2:03.10 (800m) | 4:21.51 (1,500m) | 4:47.13 (Mile)
Comes to Oregon as an all-American and three-time Big EAST champion while competing for Georgetown … Won Big EAST titles in the 1,000 meters (2015) and 800 meters (2014), and helped Georgetown to the conference indoor championship in the distance-medley relay in 2016 … Advanced to the 2016 NCAA Outdoor Championships in the 800 meters … Member of Team USA at the Junior World Championships in 2014, running the 800 meters.
Myles Webb (Oaks Christian HS/Glendale, Calif.)
Personal Bests: 10.54w/10.63 (100m) | 21.40 (200m)
The fourth-place finisher in the 200 meters at the 2017 California State Championships, and seventh in the state in the 100 meters … Watch Myles run the 200 meters at the CIF Division 4 Championships.
James West (Loughborough University/Kent, England, United Kingdom)
Personal Bests: 1:49.03 (800m) | 3:58.69 (Mile) | 3:39.65 (1,500m) | 7:58.47 (3,000m) | 14:01.37 (5,000m)
The native of Kent, England in the United Kingdom joins the Ducks after competing for Loughborough University … Selected to represent British Athletics in the 1,500 meters at the 2017 European U23 Championships … The 2015 U20 National Indoor Champion and the British University Indoor Champion in the 1,500 meters … Claimed the silver medal at the 2014 U20 National Indoor Championships in the 1,500 … Watch James run the 1,500 meters at the 2014 U20 Southern Championships.?
Lauren Rain Williams (Oaks Christian HS/Lakewood, Calif.)
Personal Bests: 7.35 (60m) | 11.17w/11.37 (100m) | 22.44w/22.80 (200m)
Comes to the Ducks as one of the fastest 200-meter runners in the nation … The 2016 California state champion in the 100 meters and a two-time New Balances Nationals Indoor champion in the 200 meters … Wind-aided 200-meter time of 22.44 is the third-fastest time in national high school history under all conditions … Claimed the silver medal in the 200 meters at the 2015 IAAF World Youth Championships … Missed the 2017 state championships due to injury … Watch Lauren win both the 100 and 200 meters at the 2016 CIF Finals.
The class of spring signees includes 10 women and eight men, four state champions, a junior college all-American and multiple athletes who have competed around the globe. The new crop of Ducks is diverse both in track and field and in their backgrounds, with 15 student-athletes coming from six different states and three journeying from overseas.
The latest crop of 18 newcomers joins a group of 11 incoming Ducks that signed on with Oregon last November, giving the Ducks a solid class of 29 heading into the 2017-18 season.Adding more strength in numbers! Please welcome the newest Women of Oregon #GoDucks #TougherTogether
— Oregon Track & Field (@OregonTF) August 16, 2017
RELEASE: https://t.co/XNa0eKRjXx pic.twitter.com/Txcml8uhh6
"We are extremely excited to welcome this new group of Ducks," said Johnson. "This is a very talented group that brings us a lot of potential to positively impact our program. We are bringing in 18 quality student-athletes both on and off the track. Adding this group to the kids we have already signed really makes us excited and optimistic about our future moving forward."
JoJo Ananouko (University of San Francisco/Jesuit HS/Portland, Ore.)Please join us in welcoming the eight newest Men of Oregon! #GoDucks #TougherTogether
— Oregon Track & Field (@OregonTF) August 16, 2017
RELEASE: https://t.co/XNa0eKRjXx pic.twitter.com/aBvaS2XRKt
Personal Bests: 44.20m/145' (Javelin)
Threw the javelin in eight competitions for San Francisco as a freshman, highlighted by a season and school-best mark of 44.20m/145' at the Payton Jordan Invitational … A four-year varsity member as a javelin thrower at Jesuit High School, helping team to 6A Metro League title all four years … Won the 2014 Metro League title in the javelin.
Shae Anderson (Norco HS/Norco, Calif.)
Personal Bests: 11.76 (100m) | 23.67 (200m) | 51.99 (400m) | 2:11.09 (800m) | 14.25 (100H) | 40.31 (300H) | 59.44 (400H)
One of the most decorated and accomplished athletes to come out of the state of California in 2017 … The 2017 California state champion in both the 400 meters and the 300-meter hurdles … Her 400 time of 51.99 was the second-fastest high school time in the country in 2017 … Ranked in the top 10 in California in 2017 in the 400 meters (1st), 300 hurdles (2nd) and 200 meters (6th) … Named the 2016-17 California Gatorade Girls Track and Field Player of the Year … Watch Shae run a blazing 51.99 in the 400 meters at the 2017 Mt. SAC Relays.
Robert Brooks (Brophy College Prep/Phoenix, Ariz.)
Personal Bests: 23'11" (Long Jump)
Competed in the long jump as well as the high jump and the short sprints while at Brophy College Prep … Capped high school career with 12th-place finish in long jump at New Balance Nationals Outdoor … Dad, Robert Brooks, played in the NFL for the Green Bay Packers.
Carmela Cardama Baez (Florida State/Ies De Castro/Vigo, Spain)
Personal Bests: 4:49.28 (Mile) | 4:25.99 (1,500m) | 9:18.20 (3,000m) | 16:07.49 (5,000m)
Comes to the Ducks after being Florida State's top cross country performer in back-to-back seasons, capped by a 73rd-place finish at the 2017 NCAA Cross Country Championships … A two-time all-ACC and all-South Region honoree in cross country … Qualified for Spain's 2015 World Cross Country Championships team … Won Spain's Junior National Cross Country title in 2014 and finished second in 2015 … Represented Spain and finished 40th at the 2014 European Junior Cross Country Championships.
Connor Clark (Dartmouth College/San Francisco University HS/Mill Valley, Calif.)
Personal Bests: 8:09.35 (3,000m) | 14:10.08 (5,000m)
Joins the Ducks with one season of cross country eligibility remaining after competing since 2013 at Dartmouth College … Honored by Dartmouth with the Paul S. Harmon '13 Trophy in 2017, given to the member of the senior class who has shown the greatest improvement during his college career.
Rieker Daniel (Oregon City HS/Boring, Ore.)
Personal Bests: 10.66 (100m) | 21.49 (200m) | 49.66 (400m)
The 2017 6A Oregon state champion in the 200 meters, and the runner-up in the 100 meters … Helped Oregon City to a third-place state finish in 2017 in the 4x100 relay in 42.50, running the second leg … Placed seventh and 11th in the 200 and 100 meters, respectively, at the 2016 6A State Championships … Watch Rieker's full highlight video.
Kerissa D'Arpino (Oregon State/North Valley HS/Grants Pass, Ore.)
Personal Bests: 7.57 (60m) | 11.77 (100m) | 24.06 (200m) | 1:00.20 (400H)
Comes to Oregon with her twin sister, Venessa, after competing for three seasons just north of Eugene at Oregon State … Redshirted the 2017 outdoor season … Competed in three Pac-12 Championships with OSU, highlighted by a 12th-place finish in 2016 in the 400 hurdles … A four-year letterman at North Valley High School.
Venessa D'Arpino (Oregon State/North Valley HS/Grants Pass, Ore.)
Personal Bests: 7.55 (60m) | 11.70w/12.06 (100m) | 23.60w/23.72 (200m) | 54.14 (400m)
Joins her twin sister, Kerissa, as a member of the Ducks' track and field squad after competing for three seasons at Oregon State … Competed in two Pac-12 Championships and two NCAA West Regional Championships while with the Beavers … Qualified for the NCAA West Regional Championships for the first time in 2017 in both the 200 and 400 meters … OSU school-record holder in the 100, 200 and 400 meters … Ran a leg on the school-record 4x100 relay team in 2016.
Orwin Emilien (Western Texas College/Republic of Mauritius)
Personal Bests: 21.87 (200m) | 46.03 (400m) | 52.72 (400H) | 1:18.01 (600m) | 1:55.01 (800m)
The native of the Republic of Mauritius joins the Ducks as a three-time NJCAA all-American while at Western Texas College … Finished fourth in the 400 meters at the 2017 NJCAA DI Outdoor Championships, and second in the 600 meters at the 2017 NJCAA DI Indoor Championships.
Judy Pendergast (Harvard/Naperville North HS/Naperville, IL)
Personal Bests: 4:26.79 (1,500m) | 4:43.86 (Mile) | 9:25.16 (3,000m) | 15:52.64 (5,000m) | 34:59.37 (10,000m)
A native of Naperville, IL., who spent her freshman season at Harvard … An All-Ivy League first-team selection as a freshman … Placed sixth at the 2017 NCAA Cross Country Regional Championship … Qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships in the 5,000 meters, posting the best 5,000 time in the NCAA by a freshman (15:52.64) … The Ivy League indoor champion in the 5,000 meters and runner-up in the 3,000 meters … Placed second in the 5,000 and third in the 10,000 at the outdoor Ivy League Championships … Finished fourth at the 2015 Footlocker Cross Country National Championship.
Christopher "Rocky" Rainey (LC Clear Falls HS/League City, Texas)
Personal Bests: 10.25 (100m) | 21.15 (200m)
Joins the Ducks after a solid high school career at LC Clear Falls High School in Texas … Finished third in the 200 meters and fourth in the 100 meters at the 2017 Texas 6A State Championships … Watch Rocky run the 200 meters at the 2017 Texas State Championships.
Jasmin Reed (Serra Junipero HS/Carson, Calif.)
Personal Bests: 7.39 (60m) | 11.51w/11.57 (100m) | 23.39 (200m)
The 2017 California state runner-up in the 100 meters … Took third in the state in 2017 in the 200 meters, and helped Serra Junipero claim the state title in the 4x100 relay … Competed in both the 100 and 200 meters at the 2017 U.S. Junior Outdoor Championships … Watch Jasmin run the 100 meters at the 2017 CIF State Championships.
Kaylah Robinson (El Cerrito HS/Richmond, Calif.)
Personal Bests: 8.34 (60H) | 12.98w/13.32 (100H) | 11.77 (100m) | 24.14 (200m)
One of the few female high school athletes in the nation's history to run the 100-meter hurdles in under 13 seconds with a personal-best wind-aided time of 12.98 … The California state runner-up in the 100-meter hurdles in both 2016 and 2017 … A 2015 New Balance all-American … Competed in the 100 hurdles at the 2017 U.S. Junior Outdoor Championships, taking fifth in 13.57 … Watch Kaylah announce her decision to join the Ducks … Watch Kaylah run the 100 hurdles at the 2017 CIF State Championships.
Spenser Schmidt (Portland State/Churchill HS/Eugene, Ore.)
Personal Bests: 7.49m/24'7" (Long Jump) | 10.59w (100m) | 21.89 (200m)
The Eugene native will return home to join the Ducks after spending three seasons at Portland State … The 2016 Big Sky outdoor runner-up in the long jump and the Big Sky champion indoors … Ranks second all-time at Portland State in the long jump at 24'7" … A 2016 NCAA regional qualifier in the long jump … Did not compete during the 2017 outdoor season due to injury … Watch Spenser take second in the long jump at the 2016 Big Sky Championships.
Sabrina Southerland (Georgetown/Benjamin N. Cardozo HS/New York, NY)
Personal Bests: 2:03.10 (800m) | 4:21.51 (1,500m) | 4:47.13 (Mile)
Comes to Oregon as an all-American and three-time Big EAST champion while competing for Georgetown … Won Big EAST titles in the 1,000 meters (2015) and 800 meters (2014), and helped Georgetown to the conference indoor championship in the distance-medley relay in 2016 … Advanced to the 2016 NCAA Outdoor Championships in the 800 meters … Member of Team USA at the Junior World Championships in 2014, running the 800 meters.
Myles Webb (Oaks Christian HS/Glendale, Calif.)
Personal Bests: 10.54w/10.63 (100m) | 21.40 (200m)
The fourth-place finisher in the 200 meters at the 2017 California State Championships, and seventh in the state in the 100 meters … Watch Myles run the 200 meters at the CIF Division 4 Championships.
James West (Loughborough University/Kent, England, United Kingdom)
Personal Bests: 1:49.03 (800m) | 3:58.69 (Mile) | 3:39.65 (1,500m) | 7:58.47 (3,000m) | 14:01.37 (5,000m)
The native of Kent, England in the United Kingdom joins the Ducks after competing for Loughborough University … Selected to represent British Athletics in the 1,500 meters at the 2017 European U23 Championships … The 2015 U20 National Indoor Champion and the British University Indoor Champion in the 1,500 meters … Claimed the silver medal at the 2014 U20 National Indoor Championships in the 1,500 … Watch James run the 1,500 meters at the 2014 U20 Southern Championships.?
Lauren Rain Williams (Oaks Christian HS/Lakewood, Calif.)
Personal Bests: 7.35 (60m) | 11.17w/11.37 (100m) | 22.44w/22.80 (200m)
Comes to the Ducks as one of the fastest 200-meter runners in the nation … The 2016 California state champion in the 100 meters and a two-time New Balances Nationals Indoor champion in the 200 meters … Wind-aided 200-meter time of 22.44 is the third-fastest time in national high school history under all conditions … Claimed the silver medal in the 200 meters at the 2015 IAAF World Youth Championships … Missed the 2017 state championships due to injury … Watch Lauren win both the 100 and 200 meters at the 2016 CIF Finals.
Players Mentioned
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