Rutgers University Track & FIeld Recruiting Class of 2023

College Track and Field Recruiting

Rutgers track and field unveiled its 2023 recruiting class as the newest group of Scarlet Knights brings with it game-changing talent and continued high-level depth. The program is coming off record-setting performances at the Big Ten Championships and a streak of NCAA Championship qualifiers.

"I am very excited to announce our incoming class of 2023-2024," said Bobby Farrell, director of track & field and cross country. "This is easily one of the most talented recruiting classes in school history.

"The sprint/hurdle recruiting class boasts some of the fastest sprinters in New Jersey history. We have high expectations for the future of that group. The jumps program has been fortified with multiple state champions and some key additions in areas of need. The throws unit continued to build Big Ten talent depth across all the events and the distance squad has signed its most competitive class with multiple state champions and top ranked New Jersey athletes."

The men's side added 22 newcomers, while the women's program added 21 Scarlet Knights to its roster. Rutgers track and field is coming off an indoor season that included a school record five Big Ten Champions and a total of eight medalists at the conference meet. The squad also sent three to the 2023 Indoor Track and Field Championships with each representative earning second team All-America honors. RU capped off the outdoor season with an individual Big Ten championship, tied a school record with 19 NCAA East Preliminary Round qualifiers and advanced two Scarlet Knights to the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

"Over the last two years since forming this coaching staff, we have welcomed over 86 new athletes into the program," Farrell added. "Now our returning upperclassmen, who comprise multiple Big Ten champions and All-Americans will lead these first and second-year Scarlet Knights into a new era of Rutgers cross country and track and field.

MEN'S SQUAD

SPRINTS

Chiemelie Anosike (East Brunswick High School) PRs: 110mH - 14.32, 400mH - 54.36

Jahmere Beasley (Sterlin High School/Rowan) PRs: 200m - 20.91; 400m - 47.86; 100m - 10.63 Division III All-American

Lathan Brown (Deptford High School) PRs: 400mH - 52.65; 400m - 48.76; 800m - 1:56.42

Wesley Noble (Bishop Loughlin High School) PRs: 400m - 47.14; 600m - 1:18.35 USA #3 (600m) Four-time New York State Champion

Bryce Tucker (Pennsauken High School) PRs: 400mH - 50.96; 110mH - 13.87; 400m - 47.50 US #1 (400mH), NJ #1 (400mH) Three-time New Jersey MOC Champion 400m Hurdles U20 Pan American Champion – 400IH

Shamali Whittle (Nottingham High School/Georgia) PRs: 200m - 20.55; 100m - 10.48; 400m - 47.85, 110mH - 13.86 New Jersey State Record Holder (200m), National Champion, NJ MOC Champion

JUMPS

Donovan Anderson – (Bergenfield High School/ESU) PRs: Long Jump - 7.63m/25' 0.5"; Triple Jump - 15.15m/49"8.5" Two-time All American

Noah Kriesman (C(herry Hill East High School/Rider) PRs: Pole Vault - 15' 7"

Brian O'Sullivan (Hillsborough High School) PRs: Pole Vault - 16' 6" New Jersey State Champion

THROWS

Carlos Bermudez (Ridgewood High School) PR: Discus - 186' 9" NJ #3 (Discus)

Dylan Powell (Hackensack High School/Saint Peter's) PRs: Hammer Throw - 55.21m/181' 2"; Weight Throw - 16.35m/53' 7.75

DISTANCE

Marty Brophy (Princeton High School) PRs: 1600m - 4:18.18; 5K XC - 15:50.60

Damani Brown (Rahway High School) PRs: 1600m - 4:20.40; 800m - 1:54.55; 5K XC - 15:57.32

Hisham Ettayebi (Clifton High School) PRs: 1600m - 4:20.90; 3200m - 9:25.60; 5K XC - 16:16

Micah Lawson (Rahway High School) PRs: Mile - 4:11.58; 3200m - 9:11.97; 800m - 1:53.31 2022 New Jersey Cross Country Gatorade Player of the Year New Jersey MOC Triple Crown Winner 2022-23 (XC, Indoor 1600, Outdoor 1600)

Sean Matthews (Wayne Valley High School) PRs: 1600m - 4:22.57; 3200m - 9:22.85

Gabriel Rodriguez (Union High School) PRs: 800m - 1:50.82; 400m - 48.77 New Jersey MOC 800m Champion 2023

Johnny Scalia (Westfield High School) PRs: 800m - 1:54.50 State Sectional Champion 800m Outdoor 2023

Chris Shay (Middletown South High School) PRs: 3200m - 9:21.03; 1600m - 4:25.72; 5K XC - 15:37.28 State Sectional Champion Cross Country 2022

Brandon Sinclair (Metuchen High School) PRs: 800m - 1:55.07 Group 2 Champion 800m Outdoor 2022

Ryan Smith (Rancocas Valley High School) PRs: 1600m - 4:19.25; 3200m - 9:26.71; 5K XC - 16:02.57

Mark Viggiano (Ocean High School) PRs: 800m - 1:51.52; 1600m - 4:20.33 Two-time Group 2 Champion 800m Five-time State Sectional Champion

WOMEN'S SQUAD

SPRINTS

Cynthia Boakye (Elizabeth High School) PRs: 200m - 23.98; 400m - 54.71; 100m - 11.78 New Jersey MOC Champion (200m) NJ #1 (200m), NJ #2 (100m), NJ #2 (400m)

Anabella Chin (Rancocas Valley High School/Saint Joseph's) PRs: 400mH - 1:01.13, 100mH - 14.29 Saint Joseph's 100mH record holder

Nyjae Shipley (Rahway High School) PRs: 100mH - 14.27

Arianna Smith (Pennsville High School/ Princeton) PRs: 400mH - 57.84; 100mH - 13.73; 400m - 54.74 Princeton 400mH record holder NCAA Qualifier, Ivy League Scorer

JUMPS

Ayotunde Folawewo (Toms River High School) PRs: Triple Jump - 39' 0.5"; 55mH - 8.46, 100mH - 14.97 State Group Champion Triple Jump

Emma Keating (Pompton Lakes High School) PRs: 13' 0" Three-time NJ State Champion

Jenovia Logan (Sterling High School) PRs: High Jump - 5' 6"; Triple Jump - 37' 11.5"; Long Jump - 17' 10" State Group Champion High Jump 2022 State Sectional Champion Triple Jump 2023

Emily Rogers (Freehold Township High School) PRs: 11' 6"

Kiyanni Simas (Milford High School) PRs: Long Jump - 19' 1"; 55m - 7.19; 100m - 12.20 Three-time MA State Champion Two-time All-American

Alexis Willis (Stuart W. Cramer) PRs: Long Jump - 19' 1"; Triple Jump - 39' 4" Five-time State Champions (3 Triple Jump 2 LJ) 2x All American 6th Place Finished Outdoor Nationals

THROWS

Ciara Demarest (Williamstown High School) PRs: Shot - 44'8"; Discus - 134' 11" NJ #2

Anna Barber (Elmwood High School) PRs: Weight Throw, 49' 4"; Hammer - 152' 1"; Discus - 130' 7" Two-time Ohio State Champion

Talia Lemyre (Seneca High School)

DISTANCE

Rylee Ferretti (New Dorp High School) PRs: 5000m - 17:00.32; 3000m - 9:57.23 5K NB Indoor All-American 2023

Ava Wilmot (Colts Neck High School) PRs: 3200m - 10:55.92; 1600m - 5:00.62; 2K Steeplechase - 7:07.65 2K Steeplechase All-American 2022

Megan Donleive (Shore Regional High School) PRs: 1600m - 5:02.13; 5K XC - 18:19.78 Four-time Group 1 Champion 10-time State Sectional Champion

Jenai Berry (Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School) PRs: 800m - 2:11.23; 400m - 56.88 Three-time State Sectional Champion

Paige Boyce (North Hunterdon High School) PRs: 1600m - 4:59.60; 800m - 2:17.44; 5K XC - 18:51.95 Group 3 Champion - 1600m Indoor 2023

Lillie Widmer (Delsea High School) PRs: 3200m - 10:39.88; 1600m - 5:04.75 Four-time State Sectional Champion

Lorena David (Bridgewater High School) PRs: 3200m - 11:13.89; 5K XC - 19:17.14

Robin Roth (Princeton High School) PRs: 3200m - 11:17.07