Marshall University Athletics

Keith Roberts
Photo by: Will Meadows

Track and Field Announces 2025 Signing Class

7/18/2025 12:11:00 PM | Cross Country, Track and Field

Marshall XC/TF Championship Fund

HUNTINGTON, W.Va.
- Director of Track and Field Keith Roberts and the Marshall coaching staff announced its signing class ahead of the 2025-26 season. 

The Herd to date has signed 36 total athletes through July 2025

"We are very excited about this incoming class," Coach Roberts said. "We've identified student-athletes who have high level talent combined with a commitment to academic excellence and being great people. It is our goal to become a well-rounded team that can score in all event areas and this class has top talent in every event group. Recruiting at a high level takes commitment from everyone in the program. I appreciate the hard work of my staff as well as our current student-athletes who have performed at such a high level, making it easier to draw the attention of some of the top talent in the country.  We'll continue focusing on having a person-first philosophy, creating a family-oriented culture with a blue collar work ethic.  We're excited about the direction of the program and look forward to getting everyone back on campus."

Name:  Channie Jefferson

Hometown: Richmond, Va.

High School: Highland Springs High School

Former College: Mount Olive

Events: Hurdles/Jumps

Top Achievements: 3x NCAA qualifier, School Record holder in previous college for both hurdles indoor and outdoor, school record holder in long hurdles at high school

Personal Bests (PR's) from meets – FAT or official marks: 100mh: 13.6  400mh: 59.2

LJ: 5.81m

School Records (Event and Mark): 100mh: 13.6  400mh: 59.2  60mh: 8.6

Name: Maddie Mcdaniel

Hometown: Chesapeake, Ohio

High School: Dawson-Bryant

Former College: Northern Kentucky

PR's - 100 meter: 12.24 200 meter :25.4 300m hurdles: 43.96 - state runner up in the 300h, 3rd in the 100-meter dash, state champion in the 4x200

Name: Clay Kelly

Hometown: Middlebrook, Va.

High School: Riverheads High School

Previous College: Radford University

Events: Distance

Best Achievements: VHSL 1A State Track Champion

State Meet Finishes:1st (1600 & 3200), 2nd Cross Country

Personal Bests (PR's) from meets – FAT or official marks: 8k 25:12, 6k 18:53, 5k 14:45

Other Athletic Achievements: Radford Cross Country Freshman of the Year, Radford Provos

Name: Lauren Sonski 

High School: Naugatuck High School

Previous College: Iona

Personal Bests: 800 – 2:17.25

Events: Middle Distance

School records:

Iona (4x100 relay, 4x400 relay)

Naugatuck High School (4x100 relay, 4x200 relay, 4x400 relay

Top Finishes:

Iona: 3rd place at 2025 MAAC Championships (indoor) DMR, 7th place at 2025 MAAC Championships (outdoor) 4 x 400 relay

Naugatuck High School: 2nd place at 2023 New Englands (outdoor) 4 x 400 relay, 2nd place at 2023 State Opens (outdoor) 4 x 400 relay, 5th place at 2023 Class L States (outdoor) 800, 2nd place at 2023 Class L States (outdoor) 4 x 400 relay, 6th place – All American – at 2022 Nike Nationals (indoor) 4 x 400 relay

Name: Eric Reynolds

Hometown: Thomson, Ga.

High School: Thomson High School

Events: Sprints

Personal Bests: 100- 10.59, 200- 21.56

Top Achievements: 100/200 School record holder

GHSA 2A 100 Meter State Champion

GHSA 2A 200 Meter State Champion

All CSRA Track And Field Athlete Of The Yea 

Name: Dashanique Henry

Hometown: Winter Haven, Fla.

High School: Winter Haven Sr High School

Events: 400m, 200m, Long jump

Top Achievements: 2x State runner up,1x Adidas National Runner-up

State Meet Finishes: 2nd long jump 6.00m, 2nd long jump 5.79m, 3rd long jump 5.76m

National Meet Finishes: Adidas Outdoor Nationals - 2nd long jump 18-3.75

Personal Bests: Long jump - 6.03m, 400m - 54.52, 200m- 24.40

School Records: Long Jump-6.00m, 400m -54.52 
 

Name: Eric Del Torto

Hometown: Solon, Ohio

High School: Solon High School

Events: 110m Hurdles, 300m Hurdles, 200m

Top Track & Field Achievements: OHSAA 60m Hurdle Champion, 5x State Qualifier, 3x All Ohio

State Meet Finishes and Marks: 

110mH - 14.27/5th, 300mH - 37.96/6th, 4x2 - 1:27.23/6th, 60mH - 7.93/1st

National Meet Name and Finishes:

2025 New Balance Nationals Indoor - 4x2 (34/90)

Personal Bests:

110mH - 13.73, 300mH - 37.61, 200m - 22.04, 100m - 10.94, 60mH - 7.93

School Records: 

110mH - 13.73, 300mH - 37.61, 60mH - 7.93

Other Achievements: Team MVP, Team Captain, Honor Roll



Name: Izaak Cox

Hometown: Pedro, Ohio

High School: Rock Hill High School

Events: 100,200, and Long Jump

Best Track & Field Achievements: Adidas National Champion and State Champion in Long Jump

National Meet Name and Finishes: Adidas Indoor Nationals Champion – Long Jump

Personal Bests: 200- 22.26, Long Jump - 23ft 2.5 in

School Records: Long Jump-23ft 2.5in, 200-22.26, 4x2- 1:31.04

Other Athletic or Academic Achievements: 4-time conference champions, 6-time individual conference champion, 3-time district champion as team

Name: Shanel Morgan

Hometown: Miami, Fla.

High School: St. Thomas Aquinas Highschool

Events: 400, 200, LJ, 4x4

Best Achievements: 2025 state runner-up, 2023 state runner- up, 2022 Freshman of the year, 4x State qualifier

State Meet Finishes:

-Qualified for state meet four years

2022: 400- 7th (56.94), 4x4- 3rd (3:49.98), 4x8- 2nd (9:20.58)

2023: 4x1- 2nd (46.86), 4x4- 2nd (3:36.11), 4x8- 2nd (9:23.01)

2024: 400- 12th (57.47), 4x4- 2nd (3:48.75)

2025: 400- 13th (56.45), 4x4- 1st (3:48.49)

New Balance Nationals Indoor: 400m: 57.14 (2nd) 2022

Personal Bests: 400m: 56.33, 200m: 24.99, LJ: 5.40m, 4x4: 3:43.32, 4x1: 46.86

Principal Honor Roll Student: (4.0-4.5 GPA)

Name: Hailey Jackson

Hometown: Louisville, Ohio

High School: Louisville High School 

Events: 800m

Best Achievements: Qualifying for nationals in the 800, 11x county championship podium 

State Meet or Conference Meet Finishes and Marks: 6th in the 800 at indoor state

National Meet Name and Finishes: 14th at Adidas Nationals

Personal Best: 2:18.13

School Records (Event and Mark): Indoor 800 2:19.65

Other Achievements: Honor roll all four years, Graduated Summa Cum Laude

Name: Kylan Overstreet

Hometown: Hernando, Miss.

High School: Southaven High School

Former College: Coffeyville Community College

Event: Hurdles/Jumps

MS North State 110mH Champion, MS State 300mH Runner Up

KJCCC Indoor Conference Bronze Long Jump and 4th 60mH, KJCCC Outdoor Conference 

2024 NJCAA Outdoor Nationals 15th in Long Jump 2025 NJCAA Indoor Nationals 18th 60mH 2025 NJCAA Outdoor Nationals 12th in 110mH

Personal Bests: 110m Hurdles: 14.15, 60m Hurdles: 8.22, Long Jump: 7.07m (23'2.5"), 100m Dash: 10.95, 400m Hurdles: 56.29

Name: Emma Layne

Hometown: South Point, Ohio

High School: South Point High School

Events: Sprints

Top Achievements: State Runner-Up 100m Dash, State Runner-Up 200m Dash, 4-Year State Qualifier

State Meet Finishes:2024- 100m Dash (4th) 12.47; 200m Dash (3rd) 25.13,

4x200m Relay (3rd) 1:42.24; 2025- 100m Dash (2nd) 11.96, 200m Dash (2nd) 24.48, 4x100m Relay (3rd) 48.46

4 Conference Records (100, 200, 4x100, 4x200), 16-time scorer at conference championships

Conference Meet Finishes: 2025-100m Dash (1st) 11.86, 200m Dash (2nd) 24.78, 4x100m Relay (1st) 48.68 - Conference Record

Personal Bests: 100m - 11.86, 200m - 24.48, 400m - 58.84

School Records: 60m, 100m, 200, 4x100, 4x200

Other Achievements: 

3x Academic All-Ohio, 2x District Athlete of the Year (2024&2025), Ohio Valley Conference Athlete of the Year 2025

Name: Iniya Charlton

Hometown: Garfield Heights, Ohio

High School: Trinity High School

Events: 60, 100, 200, Long Jump, 4x1

Best Achievements: 2 time all American, State champion, Adidas National Champion

State Meet Finishes: State Champion 100m, State Runner-up 200m

1st in 100m, Long Jump, 200m, 400m conference

National Meet Name and Finishes: Adidas Outdoor Track Nationals: 5th in 100m

Adidas Indoor Track Nationals: 1st in the 60m, 2nd in 200m, 9th in long jump. 

AAU Junior Olympics: 4th in 100m, 10th in 200m. 

Personal Bests: 11.79 100m; 24.17 200m

School Records: 11.83 100m School record; 24.50 200m School record; 17'11.75 Long Jump School Record; 48.45 4x1m Relay School Record

Other Achievements: Top 4 in graduating class, 4.1 GPA, National Honors Society

Name: Laila Watkins

Hometown: Charlottesville, Va.

High School: Albemarle High School

Best Track & Field Achievements: Girls MVP, LJ Regional Champion, 3X District Champion 200m.

State Meet or Conference Meet Finishes and Marks: 3rd place LJ (18-11.25), 4th place 4x1(48.67), 7th place TJ

National Meet Finishes: Competed at Adidas Nationals, New Balance Nationals, AAU Junior Olympics

Personal Bests: 18-11.25 LJ, 25.06 200m

School Records: indoor and outdoor Long Jump 18-11.25, 4x1 48.67, 4x2 1:44.88

Other Athletic or Academic Achievements: Excellence in Civics Seal. Gun Lap Award. Long Jump District Champion Outdoor 2025. Competed at USATF Regionals. Placed 2nd place at USATF Regionals in LJ.

Name- SaMone Whitt

Hometown- Lorain, Ohio

High school- Lorain High School

Events- Shot Put & Discus

Top Achievements- 4x state qualifier, 4x conference champ in both shot put and discus, 3x state placer

Personal best- 131 feet in discus and 43.8 in shot put

School records- 131 feet in discus

Name: Trashaun Smith

Hometown: Madisonville, Ky.

High School: Madisonville North Hopkins High

Events: High Jump, Triple Jump, Long Jump

Best Track & Field Achievements: KHSAA Track & Field State Championship in High Jump, KHSAA Track & Field State Champion in Long Jump, KHSAA Track & Field State Runner Up in Triple Jump

State Meet Finishes: 1st in High Jump 2024, 1st in Long Jump 2024, 2nd in Triple Jump 2025

Personal Bests: 6'8 High Jump 23' 6 Long Jump 48'10 Triple Jump

School Records (Event and Mark): School Record in High Jump Long Jump Triple Jump

Name: Jenna Olsen

Hometown: Westerville, Ohio

High School: Thomas Worthington High School

Event Group: Throws

Top Achievements: 2025 OATCCC Weight throw state champion, 2025 Hammer State runner up, Indoor shotput 6th place at state championship, 2025 OATCCC Indoor states weight throw 1st place and PR - 55-7.50 feet, Hammer States 2nd & PR - 152-1 feet, 2025 Regional shot put 36-0.75 9th place, OCC champion shot put 36-11.5 ft

Indoor new balance nationals 2025 weight throw - 50-10 feet

PR'S - Weight throw - 55-7.50 ft, Hammer throw - 152-1 ft - Shot put - 36-11.50, Discus 123-3

Weight Throw school record 55-7.50 ft, Hammer throw school record 152-1 ft

National Honors Society

Name: Ryan Hughes

Hometown: Ridgeley, W.Va.

High School: Frankfort High School

Events: 800, 1600, 3200, 4x800, 4x400

Top Achievements: Winning all 3 open events my senior year of high school track at state meet, Becoming the first WV high point award winner at my school for men

State Meet or Conference Meet Finishes and Marks: 3200: 9:18 1st 1600: 4:20 1st 800: 1:56 1st

National Meet Name and Finishes: N/A

Personal Bests: 3200: 9:18.33 1600: 4:18.72 800: 1:56.46

School Records:  3200: 9:18 1600: 4:20 800: 1:56

Name: Karlee Buterbaugh

Hometown: Saxonburg, Pa.

High School: Knoch High School

Events: Javelin

Best Achievements:

Runner-up at New Balance Nationals 2025

State Meet 3 years in a row

2-time 2nd place WPIAL

State Meet Finishes and Marks:

two 6th places -125.4, 131.4

National Meet Finishes:

New Balance Nationals

Personal Bests: 148.8

School Records:  Javelin 148.8

Other Achievements: National Honors Society, volleyball 3 time all section team/one time all WPIAL team, basketball starter on a 3-time state appearance team 

Name: Gabriel Urraca

Hometown: Jacksonville, N.C.

High School: Northside High School

Previous College: N.C. Central

Events: Throws, Shot put

Top Achievements:  2025 MEAC Shot put Champion

State Meet Finishes and Marks: 2022-2023 indoor and outdoor state champion

Personal Bests (PR's): 17.61 = 57'9.5"
 

Name: Gwendelyn Gaffney

Hometown: Charlotte, N.C.

High School: Palisades High School

Events: 400/800

Top Achievements: State Champion 4x4 relay

State Meet or Conference Meet Finishes and Marks: NCHSAA 4A 400, 14th: 58.7

National Meet Name and Finishes: NBIN 2025 400, 111th: 59.65

Personal Bests (PR's): 400: 57.37, 500: 1:17.16, 800: 2:18.33

School Records: 300m: 41.36 400m: 57.37

Other Achievements: 4.0 GPA, Rho Kappa Vice President, 2025 Indoor MVP

  

Name: Azurie Garrett

Hometown: Toledo, Ohio

High School: Whitmer High School

Events: 100h, 300h, 4x100, 4x400

Top Achievements: 100h school record, 300h school record, 4x100 school record

Best 300h in northwest Ohio history

State meet finishes:

100h 4th place with 14.29; 300h 3rd with 42.24

School records: 100h: 14.29; 300h: 42.24

4x state qualifier

Name: Dior Carney

Hometown: Memphis, Tenn.

High School: Bartlett High School

Events: 100, 200, relays

Top Achievements: Nike Nationals Champion 4x100 relay 2025

9x All American, 4x National Champion

3rd place at state in the 100 with an 11.79

1st place in the 4x100 and 4x200 at Nike Outdoor Nationals 2024

Personal Bests: 11.79 and 24.80

100: 11.79. 4x1: 47.03. 4x2: 1:38.90

Name: Emily Woodard

High School: Beavercreek High School

Hometown: Beavercreek, Ohio

Events: 1600, 3200, 5K

Top Achievements:

GWOC Conference runner-up

1st team all GWOC, 1st team all-District, D1 OHSAA State Meet qualifier

Athletic Awards:

Beavercreek Cross Country MVP "Taylor Ewert" Award

Conference Scholar Athlete Award

7 High School Varsity letter awards

BHS Varsity Bronze and Silver athletic medals

5k PB: 18:56 (Cross Country)

Academic Achievements: Summa Cum Laude graduate, Honors distinction, AP Scholar Award

OHSAA and GWOC Scholar-athlete award

Name: Conner Myers

Hometown: Charles Town, W.Va.

High School: Jefferson High School

Events: 800, 1600, 3200

Top Achievements: Qualifying for nationals in the 4x8 and being a 14-time state qualifier

State Meet Finishes: 2nd in 4x8 freshman year, 2nd in 4x8 sophomore year, 2nd in 4x8 junior year, 8th in 1600m junior year, 8th in 3200m junior year, 5th in 4x8 senior year, 6th in 1600m senior year, 6th in 3200m senior year

National Meet Name and Finishes: 24th at New Balance Nationals in 4x8

Personal Bests: 800m: 1:57.27

1600m: 4:16.98

3200m: 9:24.34

School Records: 4x800m: 7:49.30

Name: Maggie Froning

Hometown: Oak Ridge, Tenn.

High School:  Oak Ridge High School

Former College: Savannah College of Art and Design

Events: Middle Distance and Cross Country

Best Achievements: 

2025 NAIA Indoor Track Bronze Medalist (800m)

2x NAIA All American (4x800m, 800m)

7x SUN Conference Champion, 18x medalist

3x All SUN Conference First Team, 2x All South Region First Team XC

7x SCAD School Record Holder

NAIA qualifier across 6 events in the 2025 track season

National Meet Name and Finishes: 

2025 NAIA Indoor Track and Field Championships 3rd place 800m

2025 NAIA Indoor Track and Field Championships 7th place 4x800m Relay

2022 NAIA Indoor Track and Field Championships 14th place Distance Medley Relay

Personal Bests: 800m 2:13.6, 1000m 3:03.2, 1500m 4:41, Mile 5:06, 3k Steeple 12:16, XC 5k 18:10, XC 6k 22:32

School Records: 800m Indoor, 800m outdoor, 1000m, 4x800m, DMR, 4x400m Indoor, 4x400m outdoor

Other Athletic Achievements: 

All time highest individual finisher in NAIA Indoor Track and Field Championships in school history

First NAIA Indoor All American in school history

Part of a perfect score at SUN Conference XC Championships in 2023 and 2024

Team conference champion and national qualifier across 4 XC seasons

Part of all time highest scoring SCAD team at NAIAs 3 times

Name: Ethan Chill

Hometown: Hurricane, W.Va.

High School: Hurricane High School

Events: Shot put and Discus

Top Track & Field Achievements: All state in shotput in 22, 23, 24 and 25, all state in discus in 25

State Champion

School record in shotput with a mark of 58' 1"

State Meet Finishes: pr at states with a 58'1" in shotput and a 150' 7" in discus

Personal Bests: 58'1" shotput 154' 3" in discus

School Records: shotput 58' 1"

Other Achievements: Graduated with honors, all Conference, and state in football

Name: Anthony Belcher

Hometown: Poca, W.Va.

Highschool: Poca High School

Former College: West Virginia State University

Events: Shotput, Discus, Weight Throw

Top Achievements: MEC Discus Champion, School Records

Personal Bests: Shotput: 15.47m, Discus: 45.06m, Weight Throw: 16.80m

School Records: Shotput: 15.47m, Discus: 45.06m, Weight Throw: 16.80m, Hammer Throw: 44.79m

Dean's List at West Virginia State

Name: Cameron Burgess

Hometown: Chesapeake, Ohio

High School: Chesapeake High School

Events: 110mh, 300mh, 100-meter dash

Best Achievements: Breaking 2 school records

3x conference champion in both 110 and 300 hurdles, 3rd place finisher in 110 hurdles at the 2024 state track meet, 4th place finisher in 110mh and 2nd place finisher in 300mh at the 2025 state track meet, State Runner-up in 300 hurdles

Personal Bests: 110mh: 14.11 300mh: 37.35

School Records: 110mh and 300mh

Name: Maxton Sowers

Hometown: Alexandria, Va.

High School: West Potomac High School

Previous College: Radford University

Events: XC, 1500, Mile, 3000, 5000

Best Achievements: Program Record Holder in 8k at Radford University

National Meet Finishes: Qualified Adidas Nationals

Personal Bests: 10k: 32:37    8k: 24:34    5k: 14:43   3k: 8:27   Mile: 4:09   1500: 3:52

School Record: Radford University 8k 24:34

 

Name: Otenidi Omot (O.T.)

Hometown: Cottage Grove, Minn.

High School: Park High School

Former College: Iowa Western

Events: High Jump, Triple Jump 

Top Achievements: USA u20 trials finalist, NJCAA Triple jump All American, Region 11 indoor triple jump champion

State Meet Finishes: Minnesota Class 3A Triple jump runner up / High jump 4th place finish 

National meet: 2023 Nike outdoor championships 11th place high jump 10th place triple jump. NJCAA champions 5x 2nd all American 1x first team All-America  

Name: Caroline Ballard

Hometown: Morgantown, W.Va.

High School: University High School

Events: Cross Country, 3200m and 1600m

Top Achievements: State Championship Team in 2025. Runner-up in 2022-2024.

State Meet Finishes: Medaled at the West Virginia State Track Championship in the 3200m in 2023 and 2025, and the 4x800m in 2025. Medaled at the West Virginia Cross Country Championship in 2025

Personal Bests:

5k: 19:18.9

1600m: 5:15.18

3200m: 11:15.20 

Name: Ava Zobel

Hometown: Dover, Ohio

High School: Dover High School

Events: 100, 200, 400, 4x400

Best Track and Field Achievements: Female Track and Cross-Country Athlete of the Year 2022

Personal Bests: 100: 12.37, 200: 25.87, 400: 57.79

School Records: 100: 12.37, 4x100: 50.16

Other: All-Ohio 2023, 2024 in Soccer, Special Mention All-Ohio in Basketball 

Name: Addison Tharp

Hometown: Fort Ashby, W.Va.

High School: Frankfort High School

Events: 800, 4x800, 1600, 3200

Best Achievements: 4x800 state champion 2024

State Meet Finishes: 2023 4x800-6th, 2024 4x800-1st, 2024 3200-8th

Personal Bests: 3200- 11:55, 1600- 5:33, 800- 2:36

School Records: 4x1600, DMR

Athletic Achievements: Cross country PVC champion 2023 and 2024, cross country regional champion 2023, track 4x800 state champion 2024

  

Name: Chase Peterson

Hometown: Memphis, Tenn.

High School: Collierville High School

Former College: Little Rock

Events: 400m, 200m

Best Achievements: Ranked #1 in the OVC in the 200m and #2 in the 400m, OVC Runner up at Indoor Championships in the 400m, 2x All conference

State Meet Finishes and Marks: Tennessee Indoor and Outdoor State Champion in the 4x4 Relay ... Two-time member of the All-State team ... Finished season ranked No. 2 in Tennessee in the 300m hurdles ... Section 4AAA Champion in the 300m hurdles

Personal Bests (PR's) from meets – FAT or official marks: 400m: 47.28, 200m: 21.10

School Records (Event and Mark): Member of Little Rock school record DMR team: 9:36

Name: Ella Hardin

Hometown: Hurricane, W.Va.

High School: Hurricane High School

Events: Cross Country, 3200, 1600

Top Achievements: All state four years, broke cross country 5k record

State Meet Finishes: 2022- 3200m 5th place, 4x800 4th place; 2023- 3200m 5th place, 1600m 8th place, 4x800 5th place; 2024 cross country 4th place, 2024 3200 7th place, 3200 7th place

National Meet Finishes: Coast 2 Coast International Athletics 3000m 1st place, Coast 2 Coast International Athletics 1500m 2nd place

Personal Bests: Cross 5k- 18:04, 3200- 11:01, 1600- 5:11

School Records: Cross 5k, 18:04


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Players Mentioned

Distance
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Throws
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Hurdles
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Throws
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Sprints
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Throws
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Jumps
/ Track and Field
Distance
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Hurdles
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Distance
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Sprints/Jumps
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Distance
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Mid-Distance
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Hurdles/Jumps
/ Track and Field
Distance
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Sprints
/ Track and Field
Sprints
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Distance
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Throws
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Jumps
/ Track and Field
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Mid-Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
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/ Track and Field
Jumps
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Distance
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Sprints
/ Track and Field
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