The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
T&F News ranks Texas recruiting No. 1
12.04.2015 | Track & Field / Cross Country
Women's newcomers considered best signing class in 2014-15
AUSTIN, Texas – With the season a month away fans of collegiate track and field annually turn their attention to the January edition of Track & Field News for the magazine's recruiting class rankings. This year fans will see the Texas women at No. 1 as this year's crop of freshmen and transfers on the 2015-16 roster were named the best 2014-15 recruiting class in the nation.
The rankings take into account student-athletes who signed National Letters of Intent last fall and spring and are new additions to their respective teams this academic year. The last time Texas pulled in the No. 1-ranked recruiting class in the nation was 2003 and 2002.
"With what we've been able to accomplish since combining our program 2.5 years ago it shows the hard work the staff has been putting in to make this a complete team and complete program," said Texas head coach Mario Sategna. "That was our goal from the beginning. The freshmen and transfers we have on the roster this year combined with what we already have in place will help us continue to compete at a championship level in both the Big 12 Conference and the NCAA."
This group of newcomers includes freshman sprinters Teahna Daniels and Zola Golden. Daniels has run 11.24 in the 100 meters and a wind-aided 11.15, while clocking 23.56 in the 200. Golden is a sub-53 runner in the 400 and has also run 11.78 in the 100 and 23.95 in the 200 to add to the already talented pool of sprinters on the women's roster on the Forty Acres.
The 2014-15 recruiting class also went north of the border to grab Canadian stars Raquel Tjernagel and Mariam Abdul-Rashid. Tjernagel is the top sprinter from Canada in all three events and Abdul-Rashid clocks in at 13.74 seconds in the 100 meter hurdles and 57.42 in the 400 meter hurdles.
Texas also snagged one of the top triple jumpers in the U.S. to join the team this season in Asa Golden with T&FN listing her best mark at 43-2.25 in the triple jump.
A pair of transfers also add strength to the batch of newcomers this year.
Juco transfer and Jamaican sprinter Chrisann Gordon brings more talent to the 200/400 group. She won a gold medal this summer as a member of the Jamaican 4x400m relay team at the IAAF World Championships.
Haley Crouser comes to Texas from Oregon. The cousin of current Longhorn Ryan Crouser and sister of back-to-back men's NCAA javelin champion Sam Crouser, Haley is the U.S. high school record holder in girls javelin and was the No. 1-ranked recruit for her event out of high school.
Also new to the team that T&FN projects to make an impact are: Alex Cruz, Sydne Fowler, Georgia Wahl and Ashtin Zamzow. Lauryn Caldwell, Sierra Patrick and N'Dia Warren-Jacques all redshirted last season and also could play key roles for the Longhorns in 2016. Ashley Miller was a late addition to the recruiting class and not included in T&FN's list. She ranked No. 10 in the nation last year in the 100 meter hurdles with a time of 13.48 seconds. Miller also ranked No. 9 in the 300 meter hurdles at 41.56.
With this No. 1 ranking, next year's January edition could also be one to watch. T&FN announced its High School All-America Team in the December issue. Three of these women's newcomers, plus three future Longhorns who signed NLI's in November to join the team next year made the list. Freshman Kerwin Roach made the men's All-America team as well.
Texas opens its 2016 season in January when the Longhorns travel to the Texas A&M Team Invitational on January 16. The following week Texas will face one of the top fields assembled all season at the Conference Challenge Power Five Invitational in Birmingham, Alabama. Texas will team up with teams from the Pac-12, ACC and Big Ten to take on teams from the SEC.
2015 Track & Field News Recruiting Rankings
Women
1: Texas
2: USC
3: Arkansas
4: Oregon
5: Stanford
Honorable Mention: Texas A&M, Tennessee, Kentucky, Oklahoma, UCLA
Men
1: Oregon
2: Houston
3: Alabama
4: Arkansas
5: Florida State
Honorable Mention: Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Colorado, USC, Stanford
2015 Track & Field News High School All-America Teams
– Current and Future Texas Longhorns
Kerwin Roach: triple jump No. 4 – currently plays for Texas men's basketball, expected to join team for outdoor season
Teahna Daniels: 100m No. 2 – current freshman
Zola Golden: 400m No. 4 – current freshman
Destiny Collins: 2 miles No. 2 – signed in November in 2015-16 recruiting class
Alexis Duncan: 100m hurdles No. 5 – signed in November in 2015-16 recruiting class
Asa Garcia: triple jump No. 4 – current freshman
Elena Bruckner: shot put No. 4 & discus No. 4 – signed in November in 2015-16 recruiting class
Players Mentioned
