TYLER, TEXAS – UT Tyler track & field has added 15 recruits to their 2023 class as they bolster their roster and look forward to even more success in the future.
 
The Patriots qualified three athletes into the Division II National Championships in indoor and outdoor track and field during the 2022 season in their very first season of eligibility as a Division II institution. That success has been marked with 35 consecutive meets where a school record has been broken.
 
Head coach David Kaiser, along with assistants Nick Anthony, Kirby Shepherd, and Josh Brannen, will look to continue the programs successes heading into the 2023 season.
 
Name:                           Randy Canady
Hometown:                   Tyler, Texas
Previous School:           Groesbeck High School/Nicholls State University
Events:                         Middle Distance
 
 
Name:                           Jacob Berryhill
Hometown:                   Pittsburg, Texas
Previous School:           Pittsburg High School
Events:                         Distance/Steeple
 
Name:                           Austin Ponder
Hometown:                   Lufkin, Texas
Previous School:           Hudson High School
Events:                         Distance
 
Name:                           Isaac Natera
Hometown:                   Tyler, Texas
Previous School:           Bishop Gorman High School
Events:                         Distance
 
Name:                           David Soto
Hometown:                   Winnsboro, Texas
Previous School:           Winnsboro High School
Events:                         Distance

Name:                           Gracie Ladner
Hometown:                   Winnsboro, Texas
Previous School:           Plano High School
Events:                         Distance
 
Name:                           Kendall Daniels
Hometown:                   Plano, Texas
Previous School:           Plano High School
Events:                         Distance                                 
 
Name:                           Dylan Navarrete
Hometown:                   Laredo, Texas
Previous School:           Lyndon B. Johnson High School
Events:                         Distance

Name:                           Julius Umechukwu
Hometown:                   Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria
Previous School:           Edo State, Benin City
Events:                         Sprints
 
Name:                           Aloni Ransom
Hometown:                   Fulshear, Texas
Previous School:           Jordan High School
Events:                         Sprints
 
Name:                           Meelika Toom
Hometown:                   Tallinn, Estonia
Previous School:           Audentes Sports Gymnasium
Events:                         Multi-events                               
 
Name:                           Reynaldo Escobar
Hometown:                   Corpus Christi, Texas
Previous School:           Veterans Memorial High School
Events:                         Throws
 
Name:                           Finley Hunting
Hometown:                   Killeen, Texas
Previous School:           Shoemaker High School
Events:                         Distance
 
Name:                           Kailynn Denney
Hometown:                   Harker Heights, Texas
Previous School:           Harker Heights High School
Events:                         Distance
 
Name:                           Aishitaya Roberts
Hometown:                   Humble, Texas
Previous School:           Atascocita High School
Events:                         Sprints
 
Name:                           Odey Jeff
Hometown:                   Hooks, Texas
Previous School:           Hooks High School
Events:                         Sprints / Hurdles
 
 "This group of young men and women are great examples of our commitment to getting the distance portion rolling," said head coach David Kaiser. "We have great leadership in the program already, but Jacob, David, Austin, Dylan and Isaac; along with Gracie, Kendall, Finley and Kailynn will have outstanding mentors to learn from.  Randy Canady will hit the ground running for us this 2023 Indoor and Outdoor season after transferring from Nicholls State, and we will look to him and his experience to be a solid role model within our team and make a huge impact for us on the track.   These young men and women are proven winners who have all demonstrated a will and desire to get better – for themselves and for their team.  Coach Shepherd has done a great job identifying high work ethic, high character student athletes who will fit nicely into the culture.
 
We will also add some help in the sprints area with the addition of Nigerian Julius Umechukwu, Odey Jeff, and Aloni Ransom.  Their versatility in the sprint/hurdles area will continue to build that event area and help to push the relay events as well.  They are also very strong students in the classroom.
 
One of the key things that we looked for in this recruiting class was athletes that were versatile.  For example, the sprinters can all run 100-400m, a couple of the distance crew are capable of also running the steeple, and our last two signees demonstrate that as well. Estonian Meelika Toom will take on the heptathlon event, while also showing promise in the hurdles, HJ and possibly shot put as well. Thrower Reynaldo Escobar comes the Tyler with great potential in the shot and discus, but also in the hammer throw. His athletic ability would indicate that Coach Brannen has a diamond in the rough within all the throwing disciplines.
 
All of these young men and women are outstanding students, and we expect them to continue to develop themselves academically, athletically and socially while representing UT Tyler at the highest level."