VMI track and field and cross country has announced its incoming recruiting class, according to information released by the program Monday.

“We’re thrilled to have 36 true freshmen – rats – entering our program this fall, headlined by those you can read about in this release,” said VMI’s Director of Track and Field and Cross Country, Darrin Webb. “Our staff has done an excellent, tireless job in recruiting and we are excited to get what we believe has the opportunity to be a foundational group of individuals into our program. We look forward to seeing what they will accomplish at the Institute.”

Men

Jordin Poindexter, Sprints, Richmond, Va. (Armstrong)

High School/Personal: Finished third in the 100-meters (Emerging Elite division) at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals to earn All-American honors…was the 3A state champion in the 100 and 400, and the runner-up at the 200-meter distance…indoors, was the state champ in the 55-meters…prior to 2018, had earned a litany of all-state and all-conference honors…Richmond Times-Dispatch All-Metro…Honor and Scholar Roll…intends to major in biology.

Personal Bests: 100-meters – 10.66, 200-meters – 21.65, 400-meters -49.22

Solomon Ghosh, Throws, Blacksburg, Va. (Blacksburg)

High School/Personal: Three-time all-state honoree in track and field…2018 4A state champion in the discus and finished as the state leader in the event…holds school record in the event…also lettered two years in football…intends to major in international studies.

Personal Bests: Discus – 180’6″, shot put – 50’7″

Jonathan Gray, Sprints/Relays, Stafford, Va. (Colonial Forge)

High School/Personal: One of three Keydet signees (Rafael Mas, Johnnie Walker) to have run on the 4×4 New Balance Outdoor National Champions…earned All-American honors for the effort…squad was also the indoor and outdoor state champions in the event.

Personal Bests: 400-meters – 49.71

Rafael Mas, Sprints/Relays, Stafford, Va. (Colonial Forge)

High School/Personal: One of three Keydet signees (Jonathan Gray, Johnnie Walker) to have run on the 4×4 New Balance Outdoor National Champions…earned All-American honors for the effort…squad was also the indoor and outdoor state champions in the event.

Personal Bests: 400-meters – 49.59

Johnnie Walker, Sprints/Relays, Stafford, Va. (Colonial Forge)

High School/Personal: One of three Keydet signees (Jonathan Gray, Rafael Mas) to have run on the 4×4 New Balance Outdoor National Champions…earned All-American honors for the effort…squad was also the indoor and outdoor state champions in the event…intends to major in economics and business.

Personal Bests: 200-meters – 22.53, 300-meters – 35.72, 400-meters – 49.32

Blaine Ashton, Sprints/Jumps, Springfield, Va. (Robert E. Lee)

High School/Personal: Finished on the podium at the 5A state meet in both the indoor and outdoor triple jump (second indoors, third outdoors)…holds school record in the long jump…received superior and excellent ratings for band solo and ensemble…intends to major in electrical engineering.

Personal Bests: 100-meters – 10.97, 200-meters – 21.86, 400-meters – 49.10, Long Jump – 22’1 1/2″, Triple Jump – 47’5 3/4″

John Delaney, Distance, Winchester, Va. (John Handley)

High School/Personal: Finished seventh at the 4A state meet in the two-mile run…was 13th at the 2017 XC state meet.

Personal Bests: 3,200-meters – 9:20, 5K (XC) – 15:41

Gavin Jenkins, Mid-Distance/Steeple/High Jump, Chester Gap, Va. (Rappahannock County)

High School/Personal: Cross country state champion…also won state titles in the 800 and 1,600-meters (twice)…holds school records in 800 and 3,200-meters…intends to major in civil engineering.

Personal Bests: Mile – 4:20, 3,200-meters – 9:33, 2K Steeple – 6:08, High Jump – 6’5″

Andre Jordan, Distance, Chesapeake, Va. (Western Branch)

High School/Personal: Two-time all-state in the 4X, and earned one such honor apiece in XC and the 1,600-meters…was state runner-up in the 3,200-meters as well at the 6A state meet…intends to major in economics and business.

Personal Bests: Mile – 4.24.30, 3,200-meters – 9:29, 5K – 15:44

Zach Lauster, Distance, Manassas, Va. (Forest Park)

High School/Personal: Lettered four years in track and three in cross country at Forest Park…in track, was team captain and 2X MVP (one-time team MVP in XC)…holds school record in 1,000-meters and two-mile run (XC)…all-state miler indoors and was also conference and regional champion in the event…all-state in the 4X8 both sophomore and junior year…sports academic honors award…Honor Roll…mother played soccer at Purdue…intends to major in international studies.

Personal Bests: 1,600-meters – 4:20.99, 3,200-meters: 9:47, 5K – 16:18

Ian Irizarry Negron, Mid-Distance, Chesapeake, Va. (Western Branch)

High School/Personal: Four-year letterwinner at Western Branch…Nationals EE award holder in 4X8 indoors…Foreign Language Honor Society…Honor Roll…intends to major in mechanical engineering.

Personal Bests: 800-meters – 1:55.94

Max Burke, Jumps, Troutville, Va. (Lord Botetourt)

Personal Bests: High Jump – 6’2″, Long Jump – 22’2 1/2″

Jack Ryan, Mid-Distance, Hanson, Mass. (Whitman Hanson Regional)

Personal Bests: 800-meters – 2:00.60

Cole Viavattene, Mid-Distance, Spencerport, N.Y. (Spencerport)

Personal Bests: 1,600-meters – 4:26

Adam Waite, Mid-Distance, Midlothian, Va. (Cosby)

Personal Bests: 800-meters – 1:56.40

Women

Ahliyah Williams, Sprints, Upper Marlboro, Md. (Dr. Henry A. Wise)

High School/Personal: Lettered four years in track at Wise HS…was a 2018 All-American, finishing fourth in the Swedish Medley Relay (100/200/300/400) and fifth in the 4X4 at New Balance Outdoor Nationals…was the outdoor state runner-up in the 400 and ran on the winning 4X2 and 4X4 relays…also ran on winning 4X4 and 4X2 relays indoors, and finished third in the 300-meters…received team academic award three times…also lettered two years in XC…intends to major in biology.

Personal Bests: 200-meters – 25.33, 400-meters – 56.20

Eliza Brooks, Sprints/Relays, Brookhaven, Pa. (Neumann Goretti)

High School/Personal: Finished third at the outdoor PA state meet in the 200 this past year…also was on the winning 4X1 and 4X4 relay teams…ran on the state title 4X2 and 4×4 relays indoors…co-holds Penn Relays 4×4 Philadelphia Area record…National Honor Society…2018 Class Treasurer…academic honors…intends to major in biology.

Personal Bests: 60-meters – 7.80, 100-meters – 12.24, 200-meters -25.24, 400-meters – 58.20

Ingrid Joseph, Sprints, Washington, D.C. (School Without Walls)

High School/Personal: 2017 D.C. State 100 and 200-meter champion…2017 D.C. Gatorade Athlete of the Year…also ran for DC Speed Track Club…intends to major in biology.

Personal Bests: 60-meters – 7.80, 100-meters – 11.28, 200-meters – 24.82

McKenna Dunn, Pole Vault, Midlothian, Va. (Midlothian)

High School/Personal: Won this past year’s indoor state 4A title in the pole vault…intends to major in biology.

Personal Bests: Pole vault – 12′ (indoor), 11’9″ (outdoor)

Emily Hattman, Distance, Egg Harbor Township, N.J. (The Peddie School)

High School/Personal: Four-year letterwinner in cross country…past First Team All-State and Second Team All-State honoree…was first team all-conference in 2017…team captain…led team to becoming the first XC team to win conference and state meet two years in a row…NSCA All-American in 2018…Honor Roll…also was a four-year member of the softball program, where she served as team captain…father swam at Drexel and sister plays softball at the Coast Guard Academy…intends to major in computer science.

Personal Bests: 1,600-meters – 5:43, 5K – 20:02

Sara Belamarich, Distance, Chesapeake, Va. (Western Branch)

High School/Personal: Four-year letterwinner at Western Branch…finished seventh in the 3,200-meters at the state championships…was 13th, earning all-state honors, in this past season’s XC state championships…VHSL Academic Excellence Award…National Honor Society…received superior ratings in orchestra district assessments…also lettered one year in soccer and played for multiple clubs…intends to major in mechanical engineering.

Personal Bests: 1,600-meters – 5:19.95, 3,200-meters – 11:32.86, 5K – 18:55

Autumn Parson, Sprints, Walkersville, Md. (Walkersville)

High School/Personal: Four-year letterwinner at Walkersville HS…2018 indoor state third-place finisher in the 300…runner-up outdoors in both the 4X2 and 4X4 relays…three-time national qualifier and former regional champion in the 200…six-time First Team All-Conference…holds or shares (relays) 10 school records…National Honor Society…English National Honor Society…also lettered two years in volleyball…intends to major in biology.

Personal Bests: 55-meters – 7.13, 100-meters – 12.58, 200-meters – 25.62, 400-meters – 58.82

Savannah Shupe, Mid-Distance, Forest, Va. (Jefferson Forest)

High School/Personal: Lettered four years in XC and three in track at Jefferson Forest…was a four-time state qualifier in XC, with a best finish of 18th…two-time all-region honoree and two-time team captain…all-state in the indoor 4X8 in 2017 and all-region in that same event outdoors the previous year…National, Spanish and Science Honor Societies…All A Honor Roll…also lettered three years in swimming and was a 2X regional qualifier in the 500 free…sister Alyssa runs for Virginia Tech…intends to major in civil engineering.

Personal Bests: 1,600-meters – 5:38, 3,200-meters – 11:53, 5K – 19:42

Skylar Pierce, Distance, Oswego, N.Y. (Oswego Free Academy)

Personal Bests: 2K Steeple – 7:57, 5K – 20:31

Olivia Smoot, Mid-Distance, Auburn, Va. (Auburn)

Personal Bests: 1,600-meters – 5:44

Nia Vaughan, Sprints, Richmond, Va. (Mills Godwin)

Personal Bests: 100-meters – 12.57, 200-meters – 25.76