Cross Country and Track & Field Adds 17 to 2019 Signing Class

BLOOMINGTON, Ind.—Indiana Track & Field Head Coach Ron Helmer and his staff have announced their 2019 signing class. 17 women from the across the country have signed their National Letter of Intent to represent the Cream & Crimson this fall.

Meet The Class
Elizabeth Stanhope
Hometown: Indianapolis, Ind.
High School: Pike High School
400 Personal Best: 57.62
800 Personal Best: 2:06.62
1600 Personal Best: 5:00.00
State Champion in the 800m Run at the 2019 IHSAA State Championships
Indiana State Record Holder in the 800m Run
#3 Senior 800m Runner according to Milesplit.com

From Coach Helmer:
"Elizabeth is a big time talent in the middle distance events and has the range to run anywhere from 600m to high level cross country. Early on, she'll have an opportunity to compete on the track with the best in the Big Ten and NCAA, and we're excited to see how she continues to develop over the next four years."

Mikaela Ramirez
Hometown: Chino Hills, Calif.
High School: Ayala High School
800 Personal Best: 2:11.89
1600 Personal Best: 4:48.44
3200 Personal Best: 10:19.42
3^rd in the 2018 CIF State Cross Country Championship
29^th at the 2018 Nike Cross Country Nationals
#11 Senior 3200m Runner according to Milesplit.com

From Coach Helmer:
"Mikaela took a big jump as a junior and senior towards becoming one of the best distance runners in the country. She's got exceptional range, and we're excited about all of the different ways that she will positively impact our distance group."

Alyssa-Simone Robinson
Hometown: Indianapolis, Ind.
High School: North Central High School
100 Personal Best: 11.69
200 Personal Best: 24.35
5^th in the 100 at the 2019 IHSAA State Championships
4^th in the 200 at the 2019 IHSAA State Championships
4x100m Relay State Champion at the 2019 IHSAA State Championships
4x400m Relay State Champion and State Record Holder at the 2019 IHSAA State Championships
#17 Senior 100m Runner according to Milesplit.com

From Coach Helmer,
"Alyssa put together an outstanding senior season and was a major contributor for some all-time great Indiana relays. We really liked her after her junior year and her visit last winter, and it's exciting, now that she's starting to realize her big potential, to think about all the ways she can improve our team."

Lauren Thomas
Hometown: West Lafayette, Ind.
High School: West Lafayette High School
100 Personal Best: 12.21
200 Personal Best: 25.54
400 Personal Best: 54.92
2^nd in the 400m Dash at the 2019 IHSAA State Championships
10^th in the 100m Dash at the 2019 IHSAA State Championships

From Coach Helmer:
"Lauren did a nice job as a junior and senior of continuing to get better and becoming a versatile sprinter. We expect that Lauren will be a great add to our long sprint group due to her work ethic, and we're excited to help her become a really good Big Ten and NCAA level sprinter."

Maria Anderson
Hometown: Noblesville, Ind.
High School: Noblesville High School
400 Personal Best: 56.03
11^th at the 2019 IHSAA State Championship in the 400m Run
3x Individual State Qualifier in the 400m Dash

From Coach Helmer:
"Maria has been very consistent in the 400 and has been a consistent member of her high school's all-state 4x4 and 4x8 relays. She's really excited to get to work, and she'll be a great add to our 400/800 group."

Beth Barnes
Hometown: Indianapolis, Ind.
High School: Bishop Chatard High School
100mh Personal Best: 14.84
300mh Personal Best: 43.76
400mh Personal Best: 1:04.07
2018 IHSAA State Champion in the 300mh
7^th in the 100mh at the 2019 IHSAA State Championship

From Coach Helmer:
"While Beth is a defending state champion, we're really excited about the way in which she competes in multiple events week in and week out. We expect Beth to become one of our hardest working athletes and have a big impact on her training group while continuing to improve in her events."

Nile Brown
Hometown: Clinton, M.D.
High School: Archbishop Carroll High School
100mh Personal Best: 14.20
300mh Personal Best: 43.54
60mh Personal Best: 8.68
Long Jump Personal Best: 18'11"
2019 DCSAA Outdoor Track and Field Champion in the 100mh
2019 DCSAA Outdoor Track and Field Champion in the 300mh
2^nd in the Long Jump at DCSAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship

From Coach Helmer:
"Nile had a great season by becoming a very dominant two event hurdler and relay carry in the DC area. She has a wealth of big meet experience and a great understanding of what it will take to compete at our level, and we're excited to help her continue to improve."

Shynae Deas
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
High School: Gahanna Lincoln High School
400 Personal Best: 58.04
800 Personal Best: 2:10.14
4^th at the 2018 OHSAA State Track and Field Championships
2019 OHSAA State Champion in the 4x400m Relay
2^nd in the 4x800m Relay at the 2019 OHSAA State Track and Field Championships
6^th in the 4x200m Relay at the 2019 OHSAA State Track and Field Championships

From Coach Helmer:
"Shynae has been one of the top 800m runners in the Midwest since her sophomore year, and she's been a valuable relay carry for her schools' 4x4 and 4x8 relays that have won multiple state championships. She'll bring a hardworking, team-oriented attitude and we expect her to thrive in the Big Ten and NCAA in multiple events."

Katie Dietrick
Hometown: Indianapolis, Ind.
High School: Bishop Chatard High School
400 Personal Best: 56.81
7^th in the 400m Dash at the 2017 IHSAA State Track and Field Championships

From Coach Helmer:
"Katie ran really well as a sophomore and has been a consistent relay carry for one of the top 4x4's in the state of Indiana. She has the tools to develop into a competitive Big Ten athlete, and Katie will have a chance to compete at a high level as she works to become more consistent."

Makeda Ellis
Hometown: St. John, Ind.
High School: Lake Central, IN
Shot Put Personal Best: 45'8"
3^rd in the Shot Put at the 2019 IHSAA State Championships
4^th in the Shot Put at the 2019 Midwest Meet of Champions

From Coach Helmer:
"Makeda took a nice jump in performance this year and competed really well at both the state championship and the Midwest Meet of Champions. She has all the tools that coach Martin seeks and has a chance to be a really good Big Ten thrower."

Abby Green
Hometown: Fort Wayne, Ind.
High School: Carroll High School
1600 Personal Best: 5:02.44
3200 Personal Best: 10:38.18
4^th in the 3200m Run at the 2019 IHSAA State Championships
9^th at the 2018 IHSAA State Cross Country Championships

From Coach Helmer:
"Abby has been one of the top distance runners in the state since her freshman year, and we've been excited to watch her grow throughout her high school career. She'll be a great add by bringing a great attitude, and we expect she'll become a big part of our distance group."

Jordenne Hudson
Hometown: Merrillville, Ind.
High School: Andrean High School
100mh Personal Best: 14.45
3^rd in the 100m hurdles at the 2019 IHSAA State Championships
6^th in the 100m hurdles at the 2019 Midwest Meet of Champions

From Coach Helmer:
"Jordenne did a nice job as a senior to place third in the state meet and improve all year long. She's excited about the challenge of the Big Ten, and we're excited to add another Indiana athlete that wants to challenge herself and continue to get better."

Janii Jenkins
Hometown: Beach Park, Ill.
High School: Warren High School
200 Personal Best: 24.91
400 Personal Best: 55.02
3^rd in the 400m Dash at the 2019 IHSA State Championships
Individual State qualifier in the 100m, 200m, and 400m Dashes

From Coach Helmer:
"We're really excited about Janii and the fast times that she's run, but her versatility and willingness to compete in a variety of events on a weekly basis will allow her to grow into a great athlete. Janii will immediately impact our team in both relays and we're excited to help her continue to get better."

Jada Reedus
Hometown: Indianapolis, Ind.
High School: Franklin Central High School
800 Personal Best: 2:19.79
1600 Personal Best: 4:58.92
4^th in the 1600m Run at the 2019 IHSAA State Championships
6^th in the 1600m Run at the 2019 Midwest Meet of Champions

From Coach Helmer:
"Jada has consistently posted some of the better times in Indiana in both cross country and track. She missed significant time as junior in track, but took a big jump as a senior and is excited to take on a bigger challenge. We expect her to hit the ground running as a freshman."

Alyssa Skorge
Hometown: Jasper, Ind.
High School: Jasper High School
800 Personal Best: 2:21.24
1600 Personal Best: 5:00.45
7^th in the 1600m Run at the 2019 IHSAA State Championships

From Coach Helmer:
"Alyssa was a really good dual sport athlete that took a big jump as a senior as she focused on track and field. After dropping over 15 seconds as a senior to medal at the state meet, so we're excited to integrate her into the group and see how much better she can be."

Shaunyae Sowell
Hometown: Indianapolis, Ind.
High School: North Central High School
Long Jump Personal Best: 18'5.5"
10^th in the Long Jump at the 2019 IHSAA State Championships

From coach Helmer
"Coach Erb has done a nice job developing athletes like Shaunyae into Big Ten level scorers. Shaunyae is excited about that challenge and the work required to continue to get better, and she can become a great add to our jumps group."

Gracie Sprankle
Hometown: Powell, Ohio
High School: Olentangy Liberty High School
1600 Personal Best: 4;58.78
3200 Personal Best: 10:39.07
6^th at the 2018 OHSAA State Cross Country Championships
3^rd at the 2017 NXR Regional Cross Country Meet

From Coach Helmer:
"Gracie has run some exceptional cross country and track races in some of the biggest meets in the country. We believe that more consistency and adding her to our training group will go a long way in helping her compete at that level each and every season, and we're excited for what she might bring as freshman."

Cross Country and Track & Field Adds 17 to 2019 Signing Class

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