Cougars announce 25 new recruits

PROVO, Utah – BYU men’s and women’s track and field and cross country programs announced the signing of 25 athletes for the upcoming 2017-2018 seasons.

“I think we had a banner recruiting year to tell you the truth,” BYU head coach Ed Eyestone said.

The Cougars welcome 10 men and 15 women to the team.

Casey Clinger, McKay Johns and Patrick Parker all hail from American Fork, Utah and competed in the Nike Cross Nationals. Parker was the Adidas Boost Boston Games Dream Mile Champion in 2017 and ranked No. 7 in the mile in the nation. Johns ranked No. 13 in the mile and No. 14 in the 3200-meter in the nation. Clinger is a two-time Utah Cross Country Champion, two-time Nike Cross Nationals Individual Champion and 2016 Gatorade Cross Country National Athlete of the Year. He ranked No. 6 in the mile and No. 3 in the 3200-meter.

“Casey Clinger was probably the number one get,” Eyestone said. “Really in a lot of ways he’s the number one cross country recruit in the country. I see him coming in and having an immediate impact in terms of scoring.”

Garrett Barton was ranked top 15 in the country in the 3200-meter run. Zach McWhorter was the No. 12 pole vaulter in the nation and Garrett Barton ranked No. 13 in the 3200-meter.

Whitney Rich finished 11th place in the Nike Cross Nationals. She was a Utah 5A State Cross Country Champion in 2016. Kearan Nelson placed sixth at the Foot Locker Nationals and Sarah Musselman and Kate Hunter were both finalists. Ashton Riner ranked No. 7 in the country for the javelin throw.

Men Signees:

Garrett Barton
Ogden, Utah
Ogden High School
4:10.33 1600m (ran at altitude)
8:51.21 3200m
2nd Bob Firman Invitational (elite section) ’16

Casey Clinger
American Fork, Utah
American Fork High School
1:52.92 800m (ran at altitude)
4:02.90 1 Mile
8:44.70 3200m 
two-time Utah Cross Country Champion
two-time Nike Cross Nationals Individual Champion
2016 Gatorade Cross Country National Athlete of the Year

Zack Ericksen
Cedar Hills, Utah
Lone Peak High School
4:14.67 1600m (ran at altitude)
9:07.35 3200m (ran at altitude)
11th Foot Locker West Regional ’16

McKay Johns
American Fork, Utah
American Fork High School
1:53.99 800m (ran at altitude)
4:06.18 1 Mile
8:51.18 3200m
9th place Nike Cross Nationals 2016

Landon Maxfield
Sandy, Utah
Alta High School
10.60 100m
21.50 200m
48.38 400m

Zach McWhorter
Springdale, Arkansas
Har-Ber High School
17-2 Pole Vault

Talin Mortensen
Salem, Utah
Salem Hills High School
61-9.75 Shot Put
166-2 Discus Throw

Patrick Parker
Cedar Hills, Utah
American Fork High School
1:50.84 800m (ran at altitude)
4:03.67 1 Mile
Adidas Boost Boston Games Dream Mile Champion 2017
9:04.51 3200m (ran at altitude)
20th Nike Cross Nationals 2016

Haden Penrod
Springville, Utah
Springville High School
48.86 400m
1:50.79 800m
4:10.11 1600m (ran at altitude)

Abram Schaap
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Volcano Vista High School
10.80 100m
21.30 200m
47.40 400m

Women Signees:

Bradina Anae
Laie, Hawaii
Kahuku High School
120-10 Discus Throw
42-1 Shot Put

Shauntezz-Marie Austin
Houston, Texas
Aldine Davis High School
11.91 100m
24.91 200m

Alena Ellsworth
Gilbert, Arizona
Highland High School
24.86 200m
54.68 400m
2:11.29 800m

Rebekah Geddes
Platte City, Missouri
Platte County High School
5:04.24 1600m
10:44.95 3200m

Ally Geisler
Kaysville, Utah
Davis High School
2:14.63 800m (ran at altitude)
5:03.88 1600m (ran at altitude)

Karina Haymore (to arrive in Winter)
Las Vegas, Nevada
Centennial High School
55.59 400m
2:08.17 800m
2015 Nevada State Cross Country Champion

Kate Hunter
Provo, Utah
Provo High School
2:08.93 800m
4:55.95 1600m (ran at altitude)
10:53.70 3200m (ran at altitude)
Utah 4A State Cross Country Champion 2015
2-time Foot Locker Nationals Individual Qualifier
18th place Foot Locker Nationals 2016

Sable Lohmeier
Mountain Home, Idaho
Mountain Home High School
140-4 Discus Throw
Idaho State Champion in Discus Throw 2017

Sara Musselman

American Fork, Utah
American Fork High School
4:55.30 1600m
10:40.94 3200m (ran at altitude)
19th place at Foot Locker Nationals 2016

Kearan Nelson
Spokane, Washington
Central Valley High School
5:02.23 1600m
10:46.50 3200m
6th place Foot Locker Nationals 2016

Addison Peacock
Brigham City, Utah
Box Elder High School
134-3 Discus Throw
121-2 Javelin Throw
38-6.25 Shot Put

Whitney Rich
South Jordan, Utah
Bingham High School
4:55.39 1600m (ran at altitude)
10:34.73 3200m (ran at altitude)
Utah 5A State Cross Country Champion 2016
11th Place Nike Cross Nationals 2016

Ashton Riner
Connell, Washington
Connell High School
156-7.50 Javelin Throw

Claire Seymour
Modesto, California
Enoch High School
55.27 400m
2:15.96 800m

Julie Sumsion
Springville, Utah
Springville High School
5:02.22 1600m (ran at altitude)
11:07.09 3200m (ran at altitude
Utah 4A State Cross Country Champion 2016