Dalton announces 2020 track and field signing class

By Jonathan Caudle, TTU Sports Information

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech track and field announces the signing of 16 student-athletes to the Golden Eagles 2020-21 signing class on Wednesday, announced by head coach Peter Dalton. The latest group of Golden Eagles hail from seven states - Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, and Tennessee - with an international addition from Slovenia.

"Even though our 2019-20 season was cut short, we are using this time to bring in some great talent and help us springboard into a great year for 2020-21," expressed Dalton. "I am really proud of our coaching staff and how they took the adverse circumstances in strides and redoubled their efforts for the team's future."

The new Golden Eagles include Samaria Allen (Lithonia, Ga.), Nyla Armand (McDonough, Ga.), Kynzee Boastick (Urbana, Ill.), Emma Bradford (Dunlap, Tenn.), Tina Česnik (Prevalje, Slovenia), Rebekah Freeman (Winder, Ga.), Ruthie Fripp (Watertown, Tenn.), Stahja Hayes (Magnolia, Ark.), Ayanna Haywood (Franklin, Tenn.), Ashtin Holman (Winchester, Tenn.), Cayla Johnson (Upper Marlboro, Md.), Jadae Joseph (Miami, Fla.), Amanda Laboy (Franklin, Tenn.), Katie Long (Boaz, Ala.), Kendall Medders (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Trenia Stephens (Griffin, Ga.).

Samaria Allen
Jumps/Sprints | Fr. | Lithonia, Ga. (Arabia Mountain High School)

Allen competed in track and field at Arabia Mountain High School. She is a two-time Region 4 5a champion in both the long jump and 300m hurdles. Allen is a five-time overall state finalist and was named a USATF All-American. She also finished sixth at state in the long jump and seventh at state in the 300m hurdles. Allen holds personal-bests in the triple jump (36'), 100m (12.8 seconds), long jump (18' 3"), 300mh (45.5 seconds) and 400mh (1:06). In the classroom, Allen was named to the principles list, as well as the honor roll. She is also a member of the National Honor Society and National Society of High School Scholars.

Nyla Armand
Sprints | Fr. | McDonough, Ga. (Union Grove High School)

Armand was a dual-sport athlete at Union Grove High School, competing as a four-year letterwinner in track and field and a three-year letterwinner in cross country. During her sophomore season, Armand won her region and county championship. As a junior, Armand finished as the region and county runner-up in the 800m. She was also a two-time state qualifier, earning qualification during both her sophomore and junior seasons.

Kynzee Boastick
Sprints/Hurdles/Multi | Fr. | Urbana, Ill. (Urbana High School)

Boastick joins the Golden Eagles from Urbana High School. Throughout her four-year career, Boastick was a five-time state qualifier and was named an All-American. She was also named All-State three times, as well as honored as a one-time sectional champion and received the Hard Worker Award. Boastick holds a pair of outdoor track school records in the 300mH and the 4x800m. She holds personal records in the 400m (59.52), 800m (2:25.74), 4x200m (26.6), 4x400m (58.3), 4x800m (2:23), 300mH (45.22) and 400mH (1:02.99).

Emma Bradford
Distance | Fr. | Dunlap, Tenn. (Sequatchie County High School)

Bradford competed as a tri-sport student-athlete as a four-year letterwinner in track and field and volleyball, and as a three-year letterwinner in cross country at Sequatchie County High School. During her freshman season, Bradford competed at the TSSAA small school state track meet and she finished third in D-I small school region 3 in cross country as a sophomore. As a junior, Bradford was a TSWA All-State Runner in the 800m, named a TWSA cross country All-State runner, and finished runner-up in TSSAA cross country in the D-I small school race. During her senior season, Bradford was named a 2020 Chattanooga Times Free Press Best of Preps cross country runner. She holds personal-bests in track of 5:18.05 in the 1,500m in indoor. In cross country, Bradford carries a personal-best 5K time of 21:07.8.

Tina Česnik
Distance | Jr. | Prevalje, Slovenia (University of North Florida) 

Česnik competed as a dual-sport athlete in track and field and cross country at Gimnazija Ravne na Koroskem. During her freshman year at North Florida, Česnik earned a top-10 finish at the UNF XC Invitational. As a sophomore, Česnik earned her best finish with a 13^th-place finish in the mile at the Atlantic Sun Indoor Championships. She holds personal-bests in cross country of 17:57.6 in the 5K, while in track she holds PRs of 5:09.27 in the mile and 10:12.16 in the 3,000m.

During her high school career, Cesnik he was a national youth and junior champion in the 1,500m all four years of high school from 2015 to 2018 and placed third as a senior champion. She was also named national youth and junior champion in cross country in the 4,000m during her freshman, sophomore, and junior seasons. Outside of her high school competition, Česnik won the European XC Championship in 2017 and was a member of the national team.

Rebekah Freeman
Throws | Fr. | Winder, Ga. (Winder-Barrow High School)

Freeman competed as a tri-sport athlete as a four-year letterwinner in track and field, softball and basketball at Winder-Barrow High School. She is a three-time track and field state championships qualifier. In softball, Freeman was named All-State, All-Region and was named a two-time MVP. She holds personal-bests of 39'1" in the shot put and 119'4" in the discus.

Ruthie Fripp
Throws | Fr. | Watertown, Tenn. (Watertown High School)

Fripp competed as a tri-sport athlete in track and field, soccer and basketball at Watertown High School. Fripp placed first in district and region, and third at state in the discus. She was also honored twice with the team award and with the Wilson County Leadership Award in soccer. Fripp will compete in the throwing events for the Golden Eagles. Academically, Fripp was named honor roll and awarded the Spanish Award.

Stahja Hayes
Throws | Fr. | Magnolia, Ark. (Magnolia High School)

Hayes was a four-year letterwinner in track and field at Magnolia High School. She is a four-time district champion. During her sophomore season, Hayes set personal records in the shot put (41'11"). Hayes was a 4a state runner-up during her junior season.

Ayanna Haywood
Sprints | Fr. | Franklin, Tenn. (Ravenwood High School)

Haywood competed in track and field at Ravenwood High School. She finished third at state in the 400m. In addition to her high school competition, Haywood also competed at the club level with Trial by Fire. Haywood owns a personal record of 58.1 seconds in the 400m indoor.

Ashtin Holman
Sprints | Fr. | Winchester, Tenn. (Franklin County High School)

Holman competed in track and field at Franklin County High School. During her freshman and sophomore seasons, Holman was named to the All Mid-State Track Team and All-State Track Teams. She was also a finalist for Tennessean Sports Award Female Track Athlete of the Year as a freshman. With the Rebels, Holman won the district championships on the 4x100 and 4x200m relay teams. During her junior season, Holman won the sub-section championships as a member of the 4x100m and 4x200m relay teams. She holds personal-bests in the 100m (11.89), 200m (24.81) and 400m (58.28).

Cayla Johnson
Multi | Fr. | Upper Marlboro, Md. (Riverdale Baptist School)

Johnson competed as a four-year letterwinner in track and field at Riverdale Baptist School. As a freshman, Johnson won the long jump state championship during the indoor and outdoor seasons. During her sophomore season, Johnson won the long jump outdoor state championship. She holds personal-bests in the long jump (18'2"), high jump (5'4"), 55mh (8.52), and 100mh (15.36). In the classroom, Johnson was awarded distinguished honors all four years of high school, as well as earning membership in the National Honor Society and National Society of High School Scholars.

Jadae Joseph
Jumps/Javelin | Fr. | Miami, Fla. (American Heritage School)

Jadae competed in track and field at American Heritage School. She holds personal-bests in the triple jump (36'3"), long jump (15'11") and the javelin (76'9").

Amanda Laboy
Distance | Fr. | Franklin, Tenn. (Page High School)

Laboy competed as a tri-sport athlete as a four-year letterwinner in cross country, and a two-year letterwinner in track and field and swimming at Page High School. As a freshman, Laboy was a TSSAA state cross country championship qualifier and won the TSSAA Region 6 A-AA cross country championship. During her junior season, Laboy was a Wilco championships qualifier and was named to the All Mid-State AA Silver Team. She holds personal-bests in 5K (20:02.58). Academically, she was honored with the AP Scholar Award and Award for Excellence in Art II 3D.

Katie Long
Throws | Fr. | Boaz, Ala. (Boaz High School)

Long competed in track and field at Boaz High School. She won the Region 13 5a state championship in the javelin, as well as a regional and state gold medalist and county runner-up. In the classroom, Long was enrolled in AP and dual-credit classes and was named a distinguished scholar.

Kendall Medders
Jumps/Multi | Fr. | Knoxville, Tenn. (Halls High School)

Medders competed as a dual-sport athlete and three-year letterwinner in track and field and soccer at Halls High School. She was named state runner-up in the high jump, as well as All-State, All-Region, All-District, and All-County. Medders was nominated to Knox News Track Athlete of the Year and was named to the All-5 Star Prep Track First Team. She holds personal-bests in the high jump (5'6") and 2,613 in the pentathlon. In addition to her high school competition, Medders also competed at the club level as a member of Tennessee Torque.

Trenia Stephens
Sprints | Fr. | Griffin, Ga. (Spalding High School)

Stephens competed in track and field and is a four-year letterwinner at Spalding High School. She claimed the 4A state championship and 4A region championship as a member of the Griffins' 4x400m relay team, as well as the 4A region runner-up in the 4x100m relay team, 200m and 400m. Stephens holds personal-bests in the 200m (25.51) and 400m (57.30). Academically, Stephens was honored with the Highest GPA Award, Scholar Award and High Point Award.

Photos by TTU Sports Information