SFA Track and Field Signs 11 During Early Signing Period
11/18/2016 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Stephen F. Austin Track and Field Head Coach Phil Olson has announced the signing of 11 student-athletes to National Letters of Intent in the early signing period. Both the men’s and women’s team add five runners to the sprint roster and six runners to the distance roster.
“We are all very excited about the high-powered nature of this signing class,” said Head Coach Phil Olson. “Not only was the signing of six-time US Junior Champion pole vaulter Carson Dingler a huge addition, but you also have a couple of local athletes in Payton Davis and Christina Hernandez from Hudson High School who are elite athletes in their own right. You add these three to a very deep class of distance and middle distance talent, as well as a bevy of sprint stars, and you have a high-octane signing class. Our coaching staff couldn’t be more pleased.”
Carson Dingler • Forsyth, Georgia
Personal Record: 13’ 11 ¼” or 4.25m
Coach McCown, the Jumps and Multi-Events coach, is very eager to add Dingler to the SFA Roster. She finished 5th at the World Championships last summer and currently holds the World Youth Trials record for pole vaulting. In 2016, Dingler claimed the New Balance Indoor National Champion, as well as the New Balance Outdoor National Champion where she set a new record for the 2016 meet. She has participated in two USA international teams.
McCown on Dingler: "This young lady is extremely talented and it's great to have her as a member of our SFA Track and Field family. Coach Erickson has done an amazing job of coaching our vaulters and Carson will just continue to improve under his guidance."
On the distance side, Coach Cody Clark is very excited about the new additions: “Overall this class is the best class of talent we have ever had in the distance events especially on the women’s side. With the addition of many state qualifiers these signees will be a great factor in our success in the coming years. This class creates a tremendous help to our team that will make us better instantly. I am ecstatic about this class and the huge potential in this program in the coming years.”
Grant Tiff • Fairview, Texas • LoveJoy High School – 5A
Tiff’s Personal Records: 1600m 4:28.20, 3200m 9:39.45, 3K Indoors 9:17.53,
3 mile XC 15:40.90, 5k 15:50.20, 2k Steeple 6:12.19
Tiff ran both track and cross country at Lovejoy high school. Tiff was a four-time State Qualifier for Cross Country. In 2015, he had a 5th place individual result and was 15th in 2016. Tiff helped his team clench the Team State Cross Country Champion Title in 2016. On the track, Tiff was an Area Track Qualifier in the 3200m. Last year, Tiff claimed several accolades as an Area Track Qualifier in the 1600m, a Regional Track Qualifier in the 3200m, and the TTFCA Meet of Champions 2K Steeple Champion.
Clark on Grant Tiff: “Grant comes from a great distance program at Lovejoy. Grant has steadily been getting better these last 2 years. He is someone that will help us in cross country in the fall and will primarily be running the steeple for us during the outdoor season. I look for Grant to be an immediate impact for us.”
Pedro Flores • Pearland, Texas • Manvel High School – 6A
Flores’ Personal Records: 800m 1:59.39, 1600m 4:28.26, 3K 9:16.70, 5K 15:40
Flores, a track and cross country star, is coming to SFA from Manvel High School. In Cross Country, Flores was chosen as a Region Qualifier in 2015, and then qualified for State Cross Country the following year. On the track, Flores was named both an Area Track Qualifier in the 1600m and a Region Track Qualifier in the 3200m for the 2016 year.
Clark on Pedro Flores: “Pedro is someone that has gone under the radar this past season. Coach Marie Meng (SFA Alum) has done a tremendous job with him this past cross country season and his times on the track are going to drop dramatically this spring. Pedro will be a factor in the long distances for us.”
Christina Hernandez • Lufkin, Texas • Lufkin Hudson High School - 4A
Hernandez’s Personal Records: 1600m 5:09.22, 3200m 11:10.16, 2mile XC 11:25.39, 5k XC 18:42.88, 3mile XC 18:05.80
Hernandez holds several accolades on the Cross County and Track side. She is a four-time State Qualifier from 2013-14, and has placed 3rd in 2015 and 5th in 2016. For track, the young long distance star has been to the State Meet three times for both the 1600m and the 3200m races. In 2014, she took 8th in the 1600m and 6th the 3200m. In 2015, she finished 4th and 3rd, respectively. For the 2016 season, Hernandez had the 3rd place individual result for the 1600m and also brought home the 1st place for the 3200m.
Clark on Christina Hernandez: “Christina is no stranger to her 4A competition. She has virtually been at every State Meet and has only done very well. Coach Amy Stewart (SFA Alum) has done a great job with her for the past four years. I believe once she gets in our system she will be an immediate impact but also someone that can do well at the Region and National level. She will cover the distance events for us.”
Carolyn Evans • Austin, Texas • Austin Bowe - 6A
Evan’s Personal Records: 3200m 11:27.02, 3k 10:27.38, 1500m 4:43.41, 1600m 5:09.85, 3mile XC 18:31.34, 5K XC 18:03.11
Evans is a two-time Region Cross Country Qualifier in 2014 and 2015. She made it to the State meet in 2015 and 2016. In 2016, Evans earned a 16th place individual result. 2016 was also her break out year on the track. Evans became an Area Track Qualifier in the 3200m and a Region Track Qualifier in the 1600m. She then went on and clenched a 2nd place finish in the USATF National Junior Olympic Championships.
Clark on Carolyn Evans: “Carolyn has really come on this past summer at USATF JO Meets and taking the next step in her career. Carolyn will be able to covering a wide range of events. She has had a great cross country season and I believe will be putting some fast times down on the track this year. She will be an immediate impact.”
Kelsey Ramirez • La Porte, Texas •. La Porte High School - 6A
Ramirez Personal Records: 400m 1:00.04, 800m 2:14.88, 1600m 5:12.00 5K XC 19:11.00
The Cross Country and Track runner is a three-time Regional Qualifier for Cross Country in 2013-2015. Ramirez, in 2016, was selected as a State Qualifier for Cross Country. For track, She ran both the 800m and the 1600m. In 2014, she claimed a spot for the 800m race in the Area Track meet, and then went on to qualify at the Regional level the following two years. Ramirez also was a 1600m Area Track Qualifier in 2016.
Clark on Kelsey Ramirez: “Kelsey is a very exciting runner that will cover the middle distances for us. She also runs cross country and has success. She will benefit very much once she gets in with our training group. I think this year in track you will see a very good 800m race from her. A lot of credit needs to go to Coach Carolina Rodriguez (SFA Alum) which has done a tremendous job with Kelsey. Kelsey will be an immediate impact for us in track season primarily helping in the middle distances.”
Track and Field Sprint Coaches Michael Courtney and Sean Lonergan have five new additions to the SFA Sprint Crew next year. Coach Courtney has three signees to next year’s roster: “Payton, Tyrone, and Aaron combine to make an extremely talented signing class. We have high hopes for all three of them and feel very fortunate to call them a part of our SFA family. Look for big things in the near future with these young men.”
Payton Davis • Lufkin, Texas
Davis is a two-time State Champion in the 400m.
Courtney on Davis: “He is one of the top quarter milers in the state and has a great desire to be the best. Davis will step on the SFA campus and have an immediate impact at both the conference and national level. We are thankful to have him join our SFA family.”
Tyrone Stewart • Hillsboro, Texas
Stewart is a State Qualifier in the 400m.
Courtney on Stewart: “Tyrone in a very talented dual sport athlete. At 6’3” with a great turnover, we believe he has an extremely bright future in front of him and are excited to have him join our family here at SFA. We expect him to play a big role in continuing our excellence in the long sprints.”
Aaron Johnson • Pearland, Texas
Johnson is a 100-200m runner from Manvel High School.
Courtney on Johnson: “Aaron had excelled at both basketball and track. We believe that Aaron is a guy with great talent who has gone under the radar a bit, running mostly relays at his high school. He should come in and help out with the sprint relay right away. We are thankful to have him join our family here at SFA.”
For the women, Coach Lonergan has two women with very high potential: “We are excited to add these 2 talented ladies to our family and believe they will be great additions to our team. They will combine with the talented group we signed last year and give us a great group of young ladies.”
Camille Singleton • Houston, Texas
Singleton is a 200m and 400m runner with a good amount of top speed. She has the pontential to help with the short sprint relay here at SFA as well.
Shania Ford • Marlin, Texas
Ford is a top 400m and 800m runner. She is a Regional Qualifier, who can step on campus and have an immediate impact.
The 2017 Indoor season will begin on Jan. 14th as SFA will send both men’s and women’s team to College Station, Texas for the A&M Team Invitational. The Outdoor season official kicks off on March 14th.
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