Trojans Welcome Final Recruits

TROY, Ala. - The Troy University track and field and cross country teams are proud to announce the final group of newcomers to the program for the 2013-14 season.

"The addition of this last group of new Troy Trojans to the early signees has produced one of the best recruiting classes in recent years," said head coach Jill Lancaster. "These athletes have the opportunity to make an immediate impact on the program and at the conference level and beyond. The large graduating class opened the door for these athletes to step in and continue to move the program forward. I cannot say enough about the ability of our current staff to attract some of the best athletes available, including national champions as well as nationally ranked athletes. The 2013-2014 Season looks to be very exciting."

Taylor McDonald, Nordonia HS, Macedonia, Ohio
Personal Bests
100mh – 14.65
300mh – 42.30
400m – 56.60
400mh – 1:01.34

McDonald comes to Troy after winning an individual state championships title in the 300-meter hurdles after placing fourth the previous season. She qualified for the USATF Jr. Championships, one of the few high school athletes to do so. McDonald finished the season as the 15th best 300-meter hurdler in the nation, and the ninth best in her graduating class.

"Taylor is an outstanding hurdler that will contribute in the Sun Belt conference right away," said coach Chris Best. "She finished high school as not only one of the best hurdlers in her state, but also in the nation, which says a lot about her talent. She is a well-rounded student-athlete and we can't wait for her to continue her success as a Trojan.".

"Taylor has the talent and range in events to help the team fill numerous holes left by graduation," Lancaster said. "She will definitely make impacts in her open events as well as the 4x 400 relay."

Dallas Worthy, Eastside HS, Covington, Ga.
Personal Bests
400m – 55.92

Worthy comes to Troy after seeing great success during her time at Eastside High School in Covington, Ga., winning the GHSA Class AAA state championship. She also ran on her schools relay that finished third in the 4x400-meter relay.

"Dallas is a very talented 400-meter runner that has steadily gotten better each year," said Best. "She has a lot of potential in the 400-meter and will contribute in the conference. Last year she ran her best race of the season at the state meet which shows she is durable and able to handle the rounds of the 400-meter which isn't an easy thing to do."
"Dallas comes in as a true 400-meter athlete with experience and will join McDonald in solidifying the 4x 400-meter team as well," Lancaster said.

Sierra King, Ware County HS, Waycross, Ga.
Personal Bests
100m – 12.27
200m – 24.87

King comes to Troy from Ware County High School in Waycross, Ga. Last year she finished as runner up in the region in the 200-meter. King has had much success in track during the summer as she qualified for the USATF GA Junior Olympics and AAU National Junior Olympic Qualifier in the 100-meter and 200-meter races.

"Sierra shows great potential in the short sprint areas," said Best. "Each year she has shown progress and shows the desire to want and will to work harder to improve on her marks. She is the school record holder in her events and is also a great student in the classroom."

"Sierra is a true short sprinter who we will look to build her range," Lancaster said. "She will play a major role in the short relay."

Madison Cooper, Avon HS, Avon, Ohio
Personal Bests
High Jump – 5'4"

Cooper is a top-10 high jumper in the state of Ohio. She comes from Avon High School in Avon, Ohio, where she was district runner up in the high jump and a regional qualifier in the event.

"Madison is a talented athlete who has great potential for improvements in the high jump," said Lancaster. "She has come to the sport while pursuing gymnastics at a competitive level. We look forward to her ability to develop in the sport during her collegiate career and fill a void left by graduation in the event."

Nesha Defoe, Towers HS, Decatur, Ga.
Personal Bests
Triple Jump - 36-10.00ft
Long Jump - 18-02.50ft

Defoe was a three time state qualifier at Decatur High School and placed fifth in the triple jump at the GHSA 3A Girls State Championships in 2013. She also placed 10th in the long jump. In 2012, Defoe qualified for the state meet in the triple jump placing 10th in the 3A competition.

"Nesha is a very powerful athlete who has the ability to become an elite jumper after harnessing her resources," said Lancaster. "We feel she has great opportunities in the sport not addressed yet."

Emily Tarlton, McGill-Toolen Catholic HS, Mobile, Ala.
Personal Bests
Pole Vault - 11-06.00 ft

Tarlton comes to Troy from McGill-Toolen where she had an outstanding career in the pole vault. Tarlton has been a six-time AHSAA track and field state championship qualifier, while named all-state five times. In 2011, Emily was the AHSAA 6A state championship runner up, while finishing sixth and seventh in 2010 and 2013, respectively. In 2013, Tarlton also placed fourth at the AHSAA state indoor 1A-6A championship, after placing fifth in 2012.

"Emily will add a great deal of experience and talent to a young group of Trojan pole vaulters," said assistant coach Shawn Williams. "She has the talent and experience to make an immediate impact for the team. Tarlton will be able to contribute both with leadership and talent right away."

Mikayla Hodges, J.R. Arnold HS, Panama City Beach, Fla.
Personal Bests
5k XC - 18:59.73
3200m - 11:32.69
1600m - 5:32.85

FHSAA 2A District 1 Champion - 3200m run
FHSAA 2A Cross Country 14th place individual
Bay County Cross Country Champion
JR Arnold HS MVP, Team Captain, and 3200 meter Record Holder

"Mikayla has a pristine ability to consistently finish near the top of her competitors," said distance coach Jeff Jenkins. "She brings in some very solid marks that will enable her to be a big contributor in cross country from day one. She possesses a unique drive and passion for the sport of distance running that I see leading to her having monumental success over the period of the next four years. She brings a strong aerobic base stemming from an obvious successful high school distance running background, but also, an extensive swimming background."

Samantha Smith, Sonora HS, Sonora, Calif.
Personal Bests
5k XC - 18:57.00
3200m - 11:33.91
1600m - 5:27.10

"Sam is the salutatorian at Sonora High School which directly compliments her work ethic with her training," Jenkins said. "We all had an immediate connection with Samantha during her visit to campus and she seemed to really connect with the university and this program. Smith brings a swimming background as well and possesses great communication skills that will go a long way in monitoring her training status and individualizing her training."

Demetris Elia, UTEP, El Paso, Texas
Personal Best
Hammer Throw - 200-02.75 ft
Weight Throw - 60-01.00 ft

Demetris comes to Troy from UTEP where he had an excellent career at the collegiate level. Elia is the two-time Conference USA outdoor track and field runner-up in the hammer throw. He also is a two-time NCAA West Regional Championship qualifier. Indoor, Demetris placed seventh in the weight throw at the Conference USA Indoor Championships in 2012.

"We are lucky to be gaining a thrower with the Division I level championship experience of Elia," Williams said. "It is hard to replace a NCAA All-American, but we believe Demetris could be just that in the wake of Nicolo Bolla's graduation. Any time the program can gain a two-time regional qualifier it is a great day. I look forward to watching Demetris compete this coming year."

Cameron Rice, Huntsville HS, Huntsville, Ala.
Personal Best
400m - 48.89
200m - 22.01

"Cameron came on strong in his last season of high school, finishing third at the state championships in both his events leading us to believe he will have a huge upswing at the collegiate level," said Lancaster. "He is very goal oriented and has a plan to reach both his academic and athletic goals set in place."

Daniel Dent, Stillman College, Northridge HS, Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Personal Best
100m - 10.61
60m - 6.92
Long Jump - 7.32 24' ½

"Daniel transfers with exceptional jump and speed talent," Lancaster said. "He comes in as the SIAC runner-up in the 4x 100-meter relay. He will help solidify our returning jump crew as well."

Tyrell Moore, Stillman College, Murphy HS, Mobile, Ala.
Personal Best
400m - 48.72
200m - 22.02
400m hurdles - 53.76

"Tyrell brings a wealth of talent and experience as a senior transfer, finishing the season as a three-time SIAC champion in the 4x 400 relay as well as a member of the 4x 100 relay," said Lancaster. "The depth he can provide in these relays and the open events is tremendous."

Conner Farricker, Alabama Christian, Montgomery, Ala.
Personal Best
110m hurdles - 14.93
300m hurdles - 41.00
High Jump - 6'4" 1.93m.

"Conner was a state champion in the hurdles this past season scoring in the 300-meter hurdles as well as qualifying in the high jump," Lancaster said. "He has the size and rhythm to make a quick adaptation to the collegiate hurdle height. We will be evaluating other event opportunities as well due to his physical make up."

Christian Knight, Ramsey HS, Birmingham, Ala.
Personal Best
110m hurdles - 14.72
300m hurdles - 41.64
60m hurdles - 8.54

"Christian comes to us hungry after finishing runner up at the state meet," said Lancaster. "He was running an excellent race and clipped a hurdle. He knows he is ready to move onto the next level of hurdling with a slight adjustment to his technique."

Dylan Hibbard, Alabama Christian, Montgomery, Ala.
Personal Best
Pole Vault - 14'4" 4.37m

"Dylon has been a very consistent vaulter, as a state champion in 2012 and a scorer in 2013," Lancaster said. "He has experience in numerous events and will take a look at the decathlon as well."

Additional athletes looking to make a mark in the upcoming year:
Evan Ciscero, Wolfson HS, Jacksonville, Fla. (Hurdles)
Clay Coburn, Lee-Scott Academy, Auburn, Ala. (Jumps/combined)
BJ Kennedy, Heritage HS, Conyers, Ga. (Jumps/combined)
Steven Mackay, Atlantic Coast, Jacksonville, Fla. (Sprints)
Lacy Rohr, Downington East HS, Exton Pa.
Alexus Surles, Jeff Davis HS, Montgomery, Ala.
Cor'Darius Washington, Paul Bryant HS, Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Jumps/combined)

Fans can keep up with all the action by following Troy track and field/cross country on Twitter at @TroyTrojansXC_TF .

For more information on all of Troy Athletics, fans can find the Trojans on Twitter and Instagram at @TroyAthletics, or on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/TroyAthletics.

Troy University Athletics

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