Huskers Announce 48 Signees

The Nebraska track and field program announced the addition of 48 student-athletes to its 2019 signing class on Monday.

Of the 48 additions, 17 were Nebraska high school seniors in 2018-19, including state champions in Trent Lockard (Lincoln Christian, 400m and 800m), Darius Luff (Lincoln, 110m hurdles and 300m hurdles), Lincoln McPhillips (Hartington-Newcastle, 100m, long jump), Nick Ronnfeldt (BRLD, discus and shot put), Kevin Shubert (West Omaha, shot put), Brent Wetovick (Fullerton, 400m and 800m) and Taya Skelton (Fort Calhoun, 3,200m).

Men
Brian Beach, Distance, Olathe, Kan. (Olathe North)
Attended Olathe North High School in Kansas…placed fifth in the 5K in 2018, second in 2017 and seventh in 2016 at the Kansas cross country state meet…ran a prep best cross country time of 15:35.8 in the 5K…finished fifth in the 1,600m at the Kansas 6A State Championships in 2017…ran prep bests in the 1,600m (4:27.57) and 3,200m (9:45.00) and an indoor-best in the 3,000m (9:01.00).

Matthew Brown, Sprints, Montego Bay, Jamaica (Chicago State/Cornwall/Kingston)
Attended Chicago State after a prep career at both Cornwall College and Kingston College in Montego Bay, Jamaica…won the 100m title at the WAC Outdoor Championships and finished 17th as a member of CSU's 4x100m relay team with a time of 39.56 at the NCAA Outdoor Championships...has indoor bests of 6.70 in the 60m and 21.85 in the 200m and outdoor bests of 10.35 in the 100m and 21.23 in the 200m.

Joseph Clifford, Sprints/Hurdles/Jumps, New Concord, Ohio (John Glenn)
Joins the Huskers from John Glenn High School in New Concord, Ohio…won the 110m hurdles in both 2018 and 2019 Ohio state meets…won the 300m hurdles at the 2018 Ohio state meet…posted prep bests in the high jump (6-6), 110m hurdles (14.20) and 300m hurdles (37.41).

Luke Dickas, Distance, Omaha, Neb. (Creighton Prep)
Attended Creighton Prep in Omaha, Nebraska…ran prep bests of 1:59.45 in the 800m, 4:28.61 in the 1,600m and 10:10.3 in the 3,200m.

Andrew Englert, Distance, New Lenox, Ill. (Lincoln-Way)
Attended Lincoln-Way Central High School in New Lenox, Illinois…ran a three-mile cross country prep best of 15:07.8 at the 2018 Illinois 3A State Championship…placed fifth at the Illinois 3A State Championships in the 1,600m with a prep best time of 4:20.36...set prep bests of 1:59.25 in the 800m and 9:37.99 in the 3,200m...set a school indoor record in the 4x800m relay with a time of 8:03.45.

Kolby Heinerikson, Combined Events, Kansas City, Mo. (Park Hill)
Joins the Huskers from Park Hill High School in Kansas City, Missouri…set prep bests in the decathlon with a score of 6,055 and javelin with a throw of 177-5…finished fifth in the javelin at the Missouri state meet in 2017 and sixth in the javelin in 2018.

Zach Jarosz, Combined Events, Lincoln, Neb. (Lincoln Southwest)
Attended Lincoln Southwest High School in Nebraska…earned prep bests in the long jump with a mark of 22-9 and 100m with a time of 10.98…finished fourth in the 200m and third in the long jump at the 2019 NSAA Class A State Championships and third in the 400m at the 2018 state championships.

Cole Johnson, Mid-Distance, Wildwood, Mo. (Lafayette)
Attended Lafayette High School in Wildwood, Missouri…recorded a prep best of 1:57.12 in the 800m.

Jerry Jorgenson, Distance, Treynor, Iowa (Treynor)
Attended Treynor High School in Iowa…placed third in 2018, fourth in 2017 and second in 2016 at the Iowa cross country state meet…ran a cross country prep best of 15:46.10 in the 5K …finished fourth in the 800m, second in the 1,600m and second in the 3,200m at the 2019 Iowa HS Track & Field State Championships…ran prep bests of 1:57.96 in the 800m, 4:23.00 in the 1,600m and 9:33.29 in the 3,200m.

Michael Knowles, Mid-Distance, Omaha, Neb. (Allen CC/Northwest)
Attended Allen Community College after a prep career at Northwest High School in Omaha, Nebraska…finished seventh in the 600m at the NJCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships with a PR time of 1:20.04…placed fifth in the 400m at the 2017 NSAA Class A State Championships and was the runner-up in the event in 2016…has indoor-bests of 1:20.04 in the 600m and 1:57.93 in the 800m and outdoor-bests of 49.90 in the 400m and 1:56.28 in the 800m.

Trent Lockard, Mid-Distance, Lincoln, Neb. (Lincoln Christian)
Joins the Huskers after a prep career at Lincoln Christian High School in Nebraska…earned prep bests of 49.53 in the 400m and 1:56.76 in the 800m…was the 2019 NSAA Class B State Champion in both the 400m and 800m and also finished third in the 400m and seventh in the 800m at the state meet in 2018.

Jacob Long, Combined Events, Clearwater, Neb. (Clearwater/Orchard)
Joins the Huskers from Clearwater/Orchard High School in Nebraska…set prep bests in the high jump (6-4) and long jump (21-6)…was the NSAA Class D State Champion in the high jump and runner-up in the triple jump in 2018…he also finished fourth in the high jump, sixth in the triple jump and eighth in the long jump at the 2019 Nebraska state meet.

Darius Luff, Hurdles, Lincoln, Neb. (Lincoln)
Attended Lincoln High School in Nebraska…had prep bests in the 110m hurdles (13.69) and 300m hurdles (38.75)…won the Nebraska state championship in the 110m hurdles and 300m hurdles in both 2018 and 2019…holds the class A state record in the 110m hurdles with a time of 13.84.

Lincoln McPhillips, Jumps, Hartington, Neb. (Hartington-Newcastle)
Attended Hartington-Newcastle High School in Hartington, Nebraska…set prep bests in the 100m (11.11), high jump (6-8), long jump (22-4 1/2) and triple jump (45-10)…won the state championship in the 100m and long jump at the 2019 Nebraska state meet while also finishing as the runner-up in the triple jump and third in the high jump…also finished third in the high jump at the Nebraska state meet in 2018.

Micaylon Moore, Jumps, Fort Collins, Colo. (Fort Collins)
Attended Fort Collins High School in Colorado…set prep bests of 24-0 3/4 in the long jump and 48-10 in the triple jump…two-time Colorado state champion in the long jump (2018 and 2019) and won the 2019 state championship in the triple jump while also running a leg on the 2019 state champion 4x400m relay team.

Passmore Mudundulu, Jumps, Lincoln, Neb. (Lincoln)
Joins the Huskers after a prep career at Lincoln High School in Nebraska…earned prep bests in the long jump with a leap of 23-2 3/4 and triple jump with a mark of 46-8…finished fifth in the triple jump at the 2019 NSAA Class A State Championships.

Trey Patterson, Throws, Cheney, Kan. (Cheney)
Attended Cheney High School in Kansas…set a prep best of 206-11 in the javelin…won the javelin at the 2019 KSHSAA State Track & Field Championships and was the runner-up at the state meet in 2017.

Alencar Pereira, Throws, San Jose do Rio, Brazil (Barton CC/E.E. Pe. Clemente Marton Segura)
Attended Barton Community College after a prep career at E.E. Pe. Clemente Marton Segura in San Jose do Rio, Brazil…was the 2019 junior college national champion and junior college record holder in the hammer throw with a PR mark of 230-4 (70.21m).

Nick Ronnfeldt, Throws, Lyons, Neb. (BRLD)
Attended Bancroft-Rosalie & Lyons-Decatur High School in Lyons, Nebraska…had prep bests of 58-1 3/4 in the shot put and 165-1 in the discus…was the 2019 Nebraska Class C State Champion in the discus and shot put…placed fifth in the shot put at the state meet in 2018.

Luke Russell, Jumps, Shoreview, Minn. (Butler/Totino-Grace)
Attended Butler after a prep career at Totino-Grace High School in Fridley, Minnesota…set indoor-bests in the 60m (7.29), long jump (23-3 1/4, 7.09m) and high jump (5-10 3/4, 1.80m) as a Bulldog…earned outdoor-bests at Butler in the high jump (5-11 1/4, 1.81m), long jump (23-11, 7.29m) and triple jump (41-11 1/2, 12.79m)…was the 2019 Big East Outdoor Champion in the long jump with a mark of 23-11 (7.29m)…placed third in the long jump at the 2015 Minnesota state meet.

Phalen Sanford, Combined Events, Benkelman, Neb. (Hastings/Dundy County Stratton)
Joins the Huskers after spending one year at Hastings College following a prep career at Dundy County Stratton High School in Benkelman, Nebraska…set personal-bests in the heptathlon with a score of 4,773, pole vault with a height of 15-0, 300m hurdles with a time of 38.61 and high jump with a leap of 6-7…during his prep career he was a two-time Nebraska state champion in the 300m hurdles (2017 and 2018) and was also the 2018 state champion in the 110m hurdles and 400m...he is also a member of the Nebraska football team.

Kevin Shubert, Throws, Omaha, Neb. (Millard North)
Joins the Huskers after a prep career at West Omaha High School in Nebraska…set prep bests in the shot put with a mark of 62-5 and discus with a distance of 173-6…two-time Nebraska state champion in the shot put (2018 and 2019).

Franklin Shue, Mid-Distance, Omaha, Neb. (Iowa State/Millard West)
Joins the Huskers following one year at Iowa State and a prep career at Millard West High School in Omaha, Nebraska…ran indoor bests of 1:56.55o in the 800m and 2:38.40 in the 1,000m…set an outdoor best of 1:58.79 in the 800m…was the runner-up in the 800m at the Nebraska Class A State Championships as a senior in high school and won the state title in the 800m at the Nebraska state meet as a sophomore.

Brent Wetovick, Mid-Distance, Fullerton, Neb. (Fullerton)
Attended Fullerton High School in Nebraska...set prep bests in the 400m (49.31) and 800m (1:54)…was a three-time Nebraska state champion in both the 400m and 800m.

Terrol Wilson, Jumps, Kingston, Jamaica (Kingston)
Joins the Huskers from Kingston, Jamaica…set a prep best of 52-2 1/2 in the triple jump at Kingston College…won the bronze in the triple jump at the U-20 Pan-American Games in 2019...won gold at the Jamaican Championships in the triple jump.

Women
Natalie Barnes, Jumps/Hurdles, Ashburn, Va. (Stone Bridge)
Joins the Huskers after a prep career at Stone Bridge High School in Ashburn, Virginia…set prep bests in the 100m hurdles (14.14), 400m hurdles (1:00.73) and long jump (20-1 1/2)…also posted an indoor prep best in the long jump with a mark of 19-4…was the 2018 Virginia state champion during both the indoor and outdoor season in the long jump…finished the 2019 indoor season with the Virginia long jump state title…was the runner-up during the outdoor season in the 100m hurdles, 300m hurdles and long jump at the state meet.

Gillian Filer, Distance, Hindsdale, Ill. (Hindsdale)
Attended Hindsdale Central High School in Illinois…placed 11th in 2018 and 12th in 2017 at the Illinois cross country state meet...set prep bests in the 400m (58.70), 800m (2:22.00) and 1,600m (5:22.20).

Jessica Gardner, Pole Vault, Lincoln, Neb. (North Star)
Attended Lincoln North Star in Nebraska…set a prep best in the pole vault with a clearance of 12-1…was the runner-up at the NSAA Class A State Championships in the pole vault in 2019, 2018, 2017 and took third in 2016.

Jade Hallgrimson, Distance, Billings, Mont. (Billings)
Attended Billings Senior High School in Montana…ran a prep best in the three-mile cross country race with a time of 17:49.8 to finish ninth at the Montana cross country state meet in 2016…also ran a prep best of 18:30.2 in the 5K in cross country in 2018…set prep bests of 5:11.22 in the 1,600m and 11:32.00 in the 3,200m.

Jaylyn Hallgrimson, Distance, Billings, Mont. (Billings)
Attended Billings Senior High School in Montana…set a prep best in the three-mile cross country race with a time of 17:48.4 to place eighth at the Montana cross country state meet in 2016…ran a prep best of 18:27.8 in the 5K during her cross country season in 2018…earned prep bests of 2:19.00 in the 800m, 5:14.00 in the 1,600m and 11:36.00 in the 3,200m.

Hailey Hardin, Mid-Distance, Lee's Summit, Mo. (Lee's Summit West)
Attended Lee's Summit West High School in Missouri…ran prep cross country bests of 18:35.40 in the three mile and 19:23.36 in the 5K…was part of the winning 4x800m relay at the Missouri Class 5 State Championships in 2019 (9:17.14) and 2017 (9:15.60)…set prep bests of 1:01.59 in the 400m, 2:21.79 in the 800m, 5:21.86 in the 1,600m and 11:36.70 in the 3,200m.

Maddie Harris, Throws, Lee's Summit, Mo. (Lee's Summit West)
Attended Lee's Summit West High School in Missouri…had prep bests in the javelin (148-1) and shot put (47-4 1/2)…was the Missouri state javelin champion in 2018…finished as the runner-up at the 2019 Missouri state meet in both the javelin and shot put.

Winsome Harris, Sprints/Hurdles, Santa Cruz, Jamaica
Joins the Huskers from Santa Cruz, Jamaica…ran prep bests of 13.57 in the 100m hurdles and 1:00.63 in the 400m hurdles...was the runner-up in the 100m hurdles at the Jamaican Championships in 2019 and placed fifth in 2018.

Abby Heffner, Distance, Omaha, Neb. (Millard West)
Attended Millard West High School in Nebraska…finished eighth in 2018 and fifth in 2017 in the 5K at the Nebraska Class A State cross country meet…ran a prep best of 18:27.00 in the 5K...placed fourth in the 3,200m at the 2017 Nebraska Class A State Track Championships…ran prep bests of 5:18.00 in the 1,600m and 11:11.39 in the 3,200m.

Kayla Hugg, Sprints/Jumps, Ashburn, Va. (Broad Run)
Attended Broad Run High School in Ashburn, Virginia…ran prep bests of 24.45 in the 200m and 54.88 in the 400m…finished fourth in the 400 in 2019, sixth in 2018, fourth in 2017 and fifth in 2016 at the Virginia state meet…placed fifth in the 200 during both her junior and sophomore seasons at the Virginia state meet.

Kate Kadrmas, Combined Events, Mountain View, Wash. (Mountain View)
Joins the Huskers after a prep career at Mountain View High School in Washington…had prep bests in the 100m hurdles (14.89), 200m (26.11) and heptathlon (4,117)…won the 100m hurdles at the Washington state meet in 2019 and took third in the 300m hurdles…finished seventh in the 100m hurdles in the state meet in 2018.

Madison Lueger, Throws, Centralia, Kan. (Centralia)
Attended Centralia High School in Kansas…earned a prep best mark of 157-0 in the javelin…was the Kansas state champion in the javelin in 2019, 2018 and 2017.

Ashley McElmurry, Jumps, Missoula, Mont. (Sentinel)
Attended Sentinel High School in Missoula, Montana…had prep bests in the long jump (19-3 1/2), triple jump (40-2 1/4), 100m hurdles (14.60) and 300m hurdles (44.54)…was the 2019 Montana state champion in the 100m hurdles and 300m hurdles…won the triple jump at the Montana state meet in 2017…finished as the runner-up in both the long jump and triple jump in 2018 and 2019.

Karlie Moore, Sprints/Hurdles, Windsor, Ontario, Canada (Sandwich)
Joins the Huskers from Sandwich High School in Windsor, Ontario, Canada…recorded prep bests in the 100m hurdles (13.54) and 400m hurdles (60.01)…finished as the runner-up in both the 100m hurdles and 400m hurdles at the 2018 Canadian Championships…ran a leg in the winning 4x100m and 4x400m relays at nationals in 2018...also competed for Team Canada in the 100m hurdles at the 2018 Jamaican Invitational.

McKenzie Pearson, Jumps, Kansas City, Mo. (Center)
Attended Center High School in Kansas City, Missouri…had prep bests of 19-2 in the long jump and 38-11 1/2 in the triple jump…was the runner-up in the long jump in 2019 and 300m hurdles in 2017 at the Missouri state meet…finished third in both the triple jump and 300m hurdles at the 2018 Missouri state meet.

Kyla Ramsey, Distance, Colorado Springs, Colo. (UC Santa Barbara/Rampart)
Attended UC Santa Barbara after a prep career at Rampart High School in Colorado Springs…set PR's in the 5K (17:48.0) and 6K (22:39.8) while running cross country for the Gauchos in 2018…placed eighth in the 5K with a time of 18:33.9 at the Colorado 5A State Championships during the cross country season in 2017…finished sixth in the 3,200m (11:14.31) at the Colorado 5A State Track Championships, good for a school record...also had a school record in the 5K (18:23.00) and a prep best in the 1,600m (5:13.00).

Taya Skelton, Distance, Fort Calhoun, Neb. (Fort Calhoun)
Attended Fort Calhoun High School in Nebraska…won the 5K in 2015, 2016 and 2017 and placed fifth in 2018 at the Nebraska Class C State Championship for cross country...ran a 5K prep best of 18:54.6...won the 3,200m at the Nebraska Class B Championships during 2019 and was eighth in 2018 and fifth in both 2017 and 2016…also finished fourth in the 1,600m in 2019, eighth in 2017 and seventh in 2016 at the Nebraska Class B State Championships…had prep bests of 2:28.64 in the 800m, 5:24 in the 1,600m , 11:44 in the 3,200m and 19:12.00 in the 5,000m.

LaQwasia Stepney, Jumps/Hurdles, Belleville, Ill. (Belleville West)
Joins the Huskers after a prep career at Belleville West High School in Illinois…recorded prep bests of 14.10 in the 100m hurdles and 20-2 1/4 in the long jump…was the 2018 Illinois state long jump champion…finished as the runner-up in the 300m hurdles at the 2018 Illinois state meet…took third in both the 100m hurdles and long jump at state in 2019 and third in the 100m hurdles in 2018.

Darby Thomas, Jumps/Sprints/Hurdles, Council Bluffs, Iowa (Abraham Lincoln)
Attended Abraham Lincoln High School in Council Bluffs, Iowa…had prep bests in the 100m (11.83), 200m (24.33), 100m hurdles (14.28) and long jump (19-6)…was a three-time Iowa state champion in the long jump (2017, 2018 and 2019) and the 2019 state champion in the 100m hurdles.

Lexi Vertin, Throws, Hastings, Neb. (St. Cecilia)
Joins the Huskers after a prep career at St. Cecilia High School in Hastings, Nebraska…had prep bests in the discus with a toss of 144-8 and shot put with a mark of 41-10 1/4…was the runner-up in the shot put at the Nebraska state meet and sixth in the discus in 2019, finished second in the discus and sixth in the shot put in 2018 and eighth in the discus at the Nebraska state meet in 2017.

Abby Volkmer, Distance, Lincoln, Neb. (Lincoln East)
Attended Lincoln East High School in Nebraska…ran a prep best time of 19.22.00 in the cross country 5K...earned prep bests of 5:31.00 in the 1,600m and 11:33.00 in the 3,200m.

Shannon Wurtele, Sprints/Hurdles, Omaha, Neb. (Millard West)
Attended Millard West High School in Omaha, Nebraska…set prep bests in the 300m hurdles (47.35) and 400m (59.93)…finished sixth in the 300m hurdles at the 2019 NSAA Class A State Championships…placed third in the 300m hurdles and fifth in the 400m at the 2018 Nebraska state meet…also ran a leg in the winning 4x400m relay and placed third in the 4x100m relay at the state meet in 2017.

Teri Zanker, Combined Events, Springfield, Neb. (Platteview)
Joins the Huskers after a prep career at Platteview High School in Springfield, Nebraska…recorded prep bests of 5-4 in the high jump and 46.01 in the 300m hurdles…finished eighth in the 100m hurdles and fifth in the 300m hurdles at the Nebraska state meet in 2019, finished third in the 300m hurdles and fourth in the high jump as a junior and was seventh in the 300m hurdles as a sophomore at the Nebraska state meet.