Cardinals Welcome Newcomers to Track and Field Program

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Cardinals Welcome Newcomers to Track and Field Program

August 20, 2018 | Track & Field

Louisville adds 20 members for 2018-19 season

By: Jake Stanley

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – With today marking the first day of classes at the University of Louisville, the men's and women's track and field teams have welcomed 20 talented newcomers to the program.

"We are excited to announce the addition of 20 newcomers to our program as the fall semester begins," said head coach Dale Cowper. "This group has won a collective 19 state championships at the high school level and will play a large role in helping our program rise to another level in the coming years. We look forward to seeing them build upon the tradition of success that our alumni have built."

The Louisville track and field newcomers are listed below:

Kayla Alexander (Douglasville, Ga. / Chapel Hill)

Events: high hurdles, long jump
USATF Junior Olympics National Champion –100m hurdles
Georgia state champion – 100m hurdles
Georgia state champion – 4x100 meter relay team member
Georgia state runner-up – Long jump
Chapel Hill HS school record of 13.69 in 100m hurdles, surpassing Olympian Kristi Castlin
Personal Records:
- 100m hurdles – 13.69
- Long jump – 19'4 ¼"

Coach Justin Johnson: "I am excited to have Kayla Alexander joining our program. Kayla finished off her high school career with three state titles in the 100 hurdles. I am looking forward to working with this talented young lady."

Chandler Austin (Boone, Iowa / Boise State)

Events: distance, cross country
Named to 2015 All-Mountain West Cross Country Second Team
Three-time NCAA Cross Country Championship Qualifier
Finished 26^th at 2015 NCAA West Cross Country Regional with time of 31:46.6
Won four Iowa state championships at Boone High School
Turned in seventh-fastest time nationally in 3,200m at 8:51.74
Personal Records:
- 5,000m – 14:21.60
- 8,000m (XC) – 24:17.1
- 10,000m (XC) – 30:29.1
- 10,000m – 31:10.11
- 3,000m steeplechase – 9:33.40

Coach Joe Walker, III: "Chandler will provide maturity and leadership to the group along with playing a very significant role in the team's success."

Katherine Coffey (Brentwood, Tenn. / Brentwood)

Events: throws
Two-time Tennessee state shot put champion
Two-time Tennessee state discus champion
The Tennessean Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year
Personal Records:
- Discus – 152'8"
- Shot put – 46'5"

Coach Cowper: "Katherine has clearly established herself as one of the top throwers in the class of 2018 and I am excited to have her on campus. I believe she can develop into a national class thrower at the Division I level and will help us continue to score big team points in the women's throwing events at the ACC level."

Tyler Ettel (Sellersburg, Ind. / IUPUI / Providence)

Events: 60m hurdles, 110m hurdles
Competed in 2017-18 freshman season for IUPUI
Finished seventh in 100m hurdles at Horizon League outdoor championships
IUPUI school record holder in 60m & 110m Hurdles
Personal Records:
- 60m hurdles – 8.26
- 110m hurdles – 14.90

Coach Johnson: "Tyler is coming back to Louisville after spending a year at IUPUI. I believe that Tyler has the ability to develop into an ACC Championship contributor"

Lindsey Fanz (Powhatan, Va. / Powhatan)

Events: middle distance, cross country
Four-time Virginia state championship – cross country
Three-time Virginia state championship – indoor track & field qualifier
Four-time Virginia state championship – outdoor track & field qualifier
Virginia state swimming championship qualifier – 100m & 200m freestyle
Personal Records:
- 800m – 2:17.89
- 5,000m (XC) – 19:15.50

Coach Walker: "Lindsey is a welcome addition to the Louisville family who joins her sister on campus, who competes on the swim team."

Daniel Fiedler (Englishtown, N.J. / Manalapan)

Events: throws
New Jersey state championships – top five finisher
Personal Records:
- Discus – 158'6"
- Shot put – 55'4 ½"

Coach Cowper: "I am glad Dan made the trip down to join us from the Northeast. He has shown the ability to compete well in the largest competitions of his season and is very interested in learning to throw the hammer, in addition to the shot put and discus"

Philip Frank (Coppell, Texas / Coppell)

Events: multis
Finished eighth in decathlon at 2018 New Balance Nationals Outdoor – placed first in high jump and second in 1,500m
Placed seventh in high jump at 2018 Texas UIL 6A state championships; won district and area titles in event; runner-up in regional championship
Personal Records:
- Decathlon – 6,318 points
- 110m hurdles – 14.54
- High jump – 6'7 ¼"
- Long jump – 21'7"

Coach Brooke Rasnick: "Philip made great improvements in his senior season among many of the events in the decathlon. We are excited to have him join our group and take his training to the next level."

Rashida Harris (Euclid, Ohio / Cuyahoga Community College / Euclid Senior)

Events: throws
Five-time NJCAA All-American
Tri-C school record of 51'1" in the shot put
Personal Records:
- Discus – 137'11"
- Hammer throw – 156'4"
- Shot put – 51'1"
- Weight throw– 55'11 ¼"

Coach Cowper: "Rashida has put a great deal of effort into making it to campus. She has excelled at the NJCAA level and will play a big part in our program's future over the next couple of seasons."

Aaron Johnson (Harrodsburg, Ky. / Mercer County)

Events: multis, high jump, hurdles
Two-time Kentucky state champion – 110m hurdles
Two-time Kentucky state champion – 300m hurdles
Kentucky state champion – high jump
Helped Mercer County win two team state championships
AAU Junior Olympic All-American
Personal Records:
- 60m hurdles – 7.95
- 110m hurdles – 13.99
- 300m hurdles – 38.21
- High jump – 6'7"
- Long jump – 22'4"

Coach Rasnick: "Aaron had an impressive high school career in the hurdles and high jump in the state of Kentucky. He'll train as a decathlete while having two individual events we believe he can continue to develop at the ACC level."

Ryan Johnston (Mansfield, Ohio / Lexington)

Events: middle distance, cross country
Runner-up – 2017 Ohio DII state cross country
Helped Lexington HS win state cross country team championships in 2015 and 2017
Finished third at 2018 Ohio state outdoor championships in 1,600m
Personal Records:
- 1,600m – 4:11.24
- 3,200m – 9:26.43
- 5000m (XC) – 15:21

Coach Walker: "I am excited to watch his development as he brings a very positive character to the group and adds depth to our men's squad."

Kameron Jones (Hampton, Ga. / Dutchtown)

Events: sprints, hurdles
Georgia state champion – 110m hurdles
Georgia state runner-up – 300m hurdles
Helped Dutchtown HS win Georgia 5A state team championship
Personal Records:
- 110m hurdles – 14.26
- 300m hurdles – 37.63
- 400m hurdles – 54.05
- 400m – 49.01

Coach Johnson: "Kameron Jones is a very confident young man that will help push our hurdle group to the next level. With the combination of Kameron and (senior sprinter) Martice Moore in the 400 hurdles, we should see some great things this season."

Rohan Kaushal (Clearwater, Fla. / Countryside)

Events: pole vault
Placed third in pole vault at 2018 Florida 4A state championships; won district championship and runner-up in regional championship
Personal Records:
- Pole vault – 4.60m/15'1"

Coach Rasnick: "Rohan was a late addition to our program and we are pleased he chose to join us at UofL. He is young in his training age as a pole vaulter and we see him making great strides early to be competitive in the ACC."

Kansas MacKay (Ajax, Ontario / Pickering)

Events: middle distance, cross country
Top five finish at the 2018 Ontario Provincial Championships
Top 15 finish at the 2017 Canadian National Cross Country Championships
Named Pickering High School Athlete of the Year in 2018
Also lettered three years in badminton
Personal Records:
- 800m – 2:15.62
- 1,500m – 4:31.78
- 3,000m – 9:58.20
- 5,000m (XC) – 19:14

Coach Walker: "Kansas is an outstanding addition who should provide immediate depth to the group and be an impact performer over the course of the year."

Anthony McRoberts (Cahokia, Ill. / Illinois State / Cahokia)

Events: jumps
Qualified for 2017 NCAA Division I West preliminary round in triple jump and high jump (14^thplace)
Competed in 2017 USATF Junior Championships in triple jump and high jump; finished third in high jump
Two-time Missouri Valley All-Conference indoor honors in high jump (2017, 2018)
Runner-up in high jump (2.11m/6'11"), fourth at long jump (7.23m/23'8 ¾") and fifth in triple jump (14.12m/46'4") at 2018 MVC Indoor Championships
Runner-up in high jump (2.12m/6'11 ½") at 2017 MVC Indoor Championships
Won 2016 Illinois state championship in high jump and runner-up in triple jump
Personal Records:
- High jump – 2.14m/7' ¼"
- Long jump – 7.23m/23'8 ¾"
- Triple jump – 15.28m/50'1 ¾"

Coach Jeff Petersmeyer: "Anthony has already had the opportunity to prove himself at the Division I level, and we are excited to have him join our jumps squad. He can be an impact player at the ACC level for us this coming season."

Luke Nichols (Nitro, W. Va. / Nitro)

Events: High jump
Gatorade Athlete of the Year – West Virginia boys track & field
Three-time West Virginia high jump state champion
Personal Records:
- High jump – 6'10 ¾"

Coach Petersmeyer: "Luke has proven to jump his best at the largest meets each season. He will be a big part of continuing the tradition UofL has built in the men's high jump."

Cade Richeson (Worthington, Ohio / Ohio Wesleyan / Worthington)

Events: throws
Competed in freshman year for Ohio Wesleyan, helping team win overall titles in indoor and outdoor seasons
Named North Coast Athletic Conference Newcomer of the Year and NCAC Field Athlete of the Week four times
NCAC indoor & outdoor shot put champion
NCAC discus champion
Worthington HS School record holder in shot put and discus
Personal Records:
- Shot put – 16.68m/54'8 ¾"
- Discus – 46.50m/152'7"

Coach Cowper: "Cade has been able to transition very quickly to the collegiate implements. He not only adds depth to our men's throwing group but should also be able to compete for all-ACC honors immediately."

Francisco Rios (Lexington, Ky. / Lexington Catholic)

Events: sprints
Finished third in 200m (22.04) and second in 400m (49.31) at Kentucky 2A state championships
Placed second in 200m and 400m at Kentucky 2A regional championships
Personal Records:
- 200m – 22.04
- 400m – 49.31

Coach Johnson: "Francisco established himself as one of the top quarter-milers in the state last season. With a quality fall training phase, he should be able to make an impact on our relay next spring. I am excited about the opportunity to coach him over the next few years."

Addie Wanner (Berne, Ind. / South Adams)

Events: heptathlon, high jump
Fort Wayne News Sentinel Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year
Indiana state runner-up – long jump
Indiana state third-place finisher – high jump
Personal Records:
- Heptathlon – 4,441 points
- 100m hurdles – 14.56
- High jump – 5'9"
- Long jump – 19' ½"

Coach Rasnick: "Addie had a remarkable state meet in her senior season in the high jump, long jump and hurdles. She'll join a great training partner in Holly Hankenson. Addie's 5'9 high jump was huge to have under her belt as she learns the dynamics of being a heptathlete at the NCAA level."

Sterling Warner (Lawrenceville, Ga. / Archer)

Events: sprints
Placed third in 100m (10.58) and fourth in 200m at Georgia 7A state championships; member of second-place 4x400m relay
Personal Records:
- 100m – 10.37
- 200m – 21.42

Coach Johnson: "Sterling Warner is coming off an impressive senior season, where he ran the fastest wind legal time in the state of Georgia. I am look forward to working with Sterling on a daily basis."

Aliyah Welter (Monticello, Ill. / Monticello)