SFA Track & Field Adds Six to Roster
4/1/2008 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
April 1, 2008
NACOGDOCHES - For Immediate Release April 1, 2008 The Stephen F. Austin track and field team signed six athletes to National Letters of Intent head coach Phil Olson announced Tuesday morning. Jon Arthur (Clute, Texas), Makayla Elliott (Stephenville, Texas), Kayla Kana (Columbus, Texas), Harmon McClanahan (Portland, Texas), Xavier Rodriguez (Poth, Texas) and Macy Wade (Crandall, Texas) have announced their intentions to continue their education at SFA.
"Once again, this addition of multiple-event athletes reflects our wish to be a well-balanced program," said Olson. "The student-athletes we signed had great visits to campus and related well with our coaches and student-hosts. We are still involved heavily with recruiting at this point, but this is the next addition of an already fine class."
Elliott is one of two throwers in the current signing class. She is the defending 4A regional and district 6-4A champion for coach Randall Edwards at Stephenville High School. Elliott just missed a state title in the discus finishing second in the event to earn all-state honors. She has recorded a personal-best throw of 140-10 in the event.
Arthur enters his senior season at Brazoswood High School with a personal record of 58-5 in the shot put. He is the defending district champion in the event, and recorded a fourth-place finish at the regional meet as a junior for head coach Devin Theriot. Arthur is expected to throw shot put and hammer for SFA.
"Makayla and Jon are both ranked in the top-ten in the state of Texas in the discus and shot put, respectively," said Olson. "Makayla has a lot of big meet experience and I only expect her to get better as the season progresses. She already knows how to compete at the highest levels at regionals and at the state meet. Jon has been wonderful to watch this spring. He has steadily improved from 52 to 58 feet in only two months time. I am ecstatic with his motivation to be one of the best shot putters in the state of Texas."
The women's pole vault was an immediate need for SFA with a current roster that consists of a senior and two juniors. SFA filled that need with the addition of Kana and Wade.
Kana is a former state qualifier at Columbus High School. She has cleared a personal-best height of 10-6.00 in the pole vault.
Wade is a versatile athlete who has competed in the pole vault and 100-meter hurdles during her prep career. She enters her final high school season with a personal best of 11 feet.
"I feel that both of these young ladies will help us out immediately next season," said multis and pole vault coach Ron McCown. "They both have the kind of attitude they need in order to succeed, and both will fit in very well with our program.
McClanahan is a distance runner who makes his way to Nacogdoches after a standout career at Portland-Gregory High School. McClanahan recorded a strong junior campaign as a prepster winning the district individual title in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters.
He picked up in cross country the following season where he left off in track the previous season. McClanahan won the district 30-4A district title, and finished fourth at the regional championships. He also qualified for the state meet where he was 17th overall. He has already recorded a time of 9:37.49 in the 3,200 meters at the Calhoun Invite.
Rodriguez has left a similar paper trail of success during his high school career. A standout at the 2A level, Rodriguez recorded a second-place finish at the regional championships in the 1,600 meters and the 3,200 meters. He followed that up by recording a second-place finish in the 3,200 meters at the state meet. Rodriguez also posted a third-place finish in the 1,600 meters at the state championships.
Rodriguez continues to shine on the track as a senior. He has posted season-best times in the 1,600 meters (4:25) and 3,200 meters (9:39) at the Seven Lakes Relays.
"Xavier and Harmon are a great addition to our large freshmen distance recruiting class from last year," distance coach Lou Snelling said. "They are similar to the 2007 class in terms of being underdeveloped Texas talent. I feel with a little time and patience they will have a major impact on our team and in the Southland Conference. Xavier has some very solid track accomplishments from last year. He recently has stepped up his training and it will be exciting to see the results of that effort throughout this track season. Harmon has been balancing soccer and track this season, but has already had drastic improvements in the 3200 meters. He should continue to improve as he finishes out his final high school track season."
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