The Indiana tech men's and women's track and field programs is regarded as one of the nation's best and Warrior coach Doug Edgar recently added a number of recruits, two of which are former Northrop High School standouts, to keep that momentum going.
Former Bruins Mike Hall and Travis White will compete for Indiana Tech this upcoming season.
Hall has run a 2:01 in the 800-meters and split as fast as 1:58.85 in relays.
“Mike becomes yet another Bruin to join our program," Edgar said in a release. "He, like (fellow new Warrior recruit) Tanner Wall of Fremont High School, is newer to the sport and really had a great end to his senior season. Mike was able to run great times in the 800 without great teammates around him last year. Surrounding him with our rebuilt middle distance group should allow for some great freshman times.”
White is transferring to Indiana Tech from Rend Lake Junior College and has high-jumped 6-feet-11, as well as run a time of 1:51 in the 800-meters and a 48.8 in the 400-meters.
“Travis is a big name around Fort Wayne," Edgar said. We feel blessed to be able to get him back into running. He was a dominate runner during his time at Rend Lake and helped lead them to a National Championship. He is one of the most athletically gifted athlete's ever to come out of Northrop High School, which is saying a lot. He may take some time to get back into the sport, but after seeing him clear 6-10 at a local open meet a few weeks back, I think he is well on his way.”
Other recent signees include Dareyus Person out of Columbus, Ohio's Eastmoor Academy.
“We expect a lot from Dareyus in the coming season," Edgar said. "He comes from Eastmoor and they have a great program that preaches many of the same values that we have in our program."
Person is a 400 meter specialist and has run a 47.97, which earned him a state runner-up finish at the D-2 Ohio State Championships. He also represented team Ohio at the Midwest Meet of Champions this past summer.
"We think he can come in and make an immediate impact nationally for our program," Edgar said. "He has shown great character and work ethic, and should see his times drop even lower during his freshman season with us.”
Milwaukee native Tasha Allen is transferring to the Warrior women's program from New Mexico Junior College.
She joins the Warriors already as a champion after winning the Junior College National Championship indoors in the 200 meter dash.
“Tasha is someone I had my eye on in her days with the Milwaukee Mustang track club," Edgar said.
Allen also has been an All-American in the 60 and 100-meters, as well as a member of the mile relay. She owns career best of 11.37 and 23.35, as well as regularly split 55's in the mile relay races.
"She should come in and give (Indiana Tech senior Adella King) a great training partner as both athletes look to qualify for the US Championships this summer," Edgar said. "Coach Blackwell at New Mexico should have her well prepared to make the transition to our program.”
A trio of Indianapolis athletes were also added to the program. Jacorey Dodd of Warren Central High School joins a pair of Ben Davis High School graduates in Alex Rowe and Tim Colbert.
Dodd has leaped a career-best of 22-feet in the long jump and has also run 51.10 in the open 400. He was a state qualifier this past season in the long jump and was All-State as a member of his team's mile relay.
Rowe was a state qualifier this past season in the high jump, but did his best work at New Balance Nationals, where he cleared a career-best 6-7.5 meters.
Colbert was a state qualifier in the shot put after winning his regional with a career-best 55-feet- 2.5 inches in the shot put.
“Field events were a strength of our program last year and with these three that trend should continue," Edgar said. "Tim should be able to step right in and fill the void left by Chad Keller's graduation and really help us out in the throws as a freshman. He is great student of the sport and has really only been throwing for two years consistently. Alex came on at the right time and gives us five high jumpers that we feel can challenge the 7-foot mark this season. Pairing him back up with high school teammate Herb Gary should allow for some friendly competition. Finally, Jacorey comes highly recommended from Indiana's favorite jumps coach in 'Coach Cash'. We are very excited to see him grow with our program and think he can get into the 23's this year in the long jump. He will have some great jumpers to train with and should contribute to a resurgence in our long and triple jump program."
Also signing were Shanice Goode a graduate of Meadowbrook High School in Viurginia. She has run a time of 47.06 in the 300-meter hurdles, as well as long jumped 17-feet-4 and ran a 16.23 in the 100 meter hurdles.
“Shanice is a possible multi's athlete for us," Edgar said. "She has tremendous potential and has shown great heart throughout her career. She has overcome a lot to get to this point and I think she can be a tremendous leader down the line for us.”
Fremont graduate Tanner Wall will provide depth in the distance races. He has run a 17:05 in the 5k event.
“Tanner is so new to the sport that he has a ton of room left to grow," Edgar said. "Last year was his first year running cross country since middle school and he developed into a low 17's athlete on a very good Fremont team. He may take a little bit to adjust to 8k, but with his potential it won't take him long to contribute to our program.”
Another Indianapolis native joining the Indiana Tech program is North Central High School alum John Broaden, who has run a 10.90 100-meters and a 21.71 in the 200-meter event.
“John has only scratched the surface of his potential in this sport, with his All-State 100 and 200 performances in 2010," Edgar said. "He is so tall we just have to work on some mechanical things that will allow him to be more efficient. He should be able to learn from Dontaey Paige as another tall sprinter and should contend for a spot on our 4 x 100 relay.”
Darius Harris of Niles (Ohio) McKinley High School will compete in the sprints. He has run times of 11.00 (100-meters) and 22.10 (200).
“Darius is another guy we see a great future for.," Edgar said. "Again, there are some mechanical things that can be improved, but with his work ethic I don't see it being an issue. He should benefit by having all these great sprinters around him and should really thrive for us.”
Joshua Miles of Woodhaven High School in Michigan has run times of 49.64 (400-meters) and 21.95 (200).
“We have already made the decision to redshirt Joshua for this upcoming season so he can focus on his training and become strong," Edgar said. "With our depth in the 400, we wanted to make sure to put him in the best possible place to be successful. He is a track junkie who should develop by leaps and bounds with our 400 group. I would expect him to be challenging for WHAC championships in the very near future.”
