BATON ROUGE -- LSU head track and field coach Dennis Shaver announced the signing of five prep standouts to National Letters of Intent on Tuesday as each is set to compete for the Tigers beginning in the 2008 indoor season.
Sprinters Tenaya Jones and Kenyanna Wilson, middle distance runner Brittany Hall and high jumper Brittni Carter will continue their already stellar careers as members of the women's team, while sprinter Chris Ward looks to add immediate depth to the men's squad.
"This group of early signing period commitments represents the type student-athlete we want to represent LSU in both the classroom and competitive athletic arena," Shaver said. "We have no doubt that they will represent this University in the way we expect as they continue their academic and athletic careers in Baton Rouge."
Brittany Hall (Photo by Gwinnett Daily Post)
Kenyanna Wilson (Photo by azcentral.com)
Hall is one of the premier 800-meter runners in the nation and a former national record holder in the event after clocking a 2:08.47 to capture the USATF Junior Olympic National Championship in Indianapolis, Ind., in July 2005. Her 800-meter time of 2:08.58 this year ranks No. 5 among all high school performers this season.
Hall, a product of Meadowcreek High School in Lithonia, Ga., won the Class 5A state title in the 800 meters in May with her season-low mark and new state record of 2:08.58, eclipsing the previous Class 5A best of 2:08.75 set by Susan Crisp of Brookwood High School in 1985. This also marked the nation's best 800-meter time at that point in the season.
"Brittany is a tremendous talent with a burning desire to compete at the highest level," Shaver said. "With Brittany joining current freshman Latavia Thomas, we look forward to them pushing each other to high performances throughout their careers under the tutelage of Coach (Mark) Elliott."
Carter and Jones are a pair of Texas standouts that have enjoyed tremendous athletic careers with their respective high schools and look to continue that success at the collegiate level with an already talented squad of Lady Tigers.
Carter, who hails from Marshall High School in Missouri City, was named a 2006 American Track and Field Second-Team All-American after posting one of the nation's Top-10 marks with a PR of 5-10 in the high jump. She was also recognized among the top female high school track athletes in the nation by USA Today in June.
Jones, a Lancaster native and product of Lancaster High School, won four gold medals in the spring as she captured Class 4A state titles in the 100-meter hurdles, 4x100-meter relay and 4x200-meter relay along with Lancaster's team state championship. Her personal best time of 13.65 in the 100-meter hurdles is one of the Top-10 times in the nation in 2006.
"Both Tenaya and Brittni will make a positive impact on our team's success with their arrival to our program," Shaver said. "I know Coach (Boo) Schexnayder will do a tremendous job of developing Brittni in the jumping events, and Tenaya is not just an excellent hurdle prospect but can develop her sprint talent with the training program that we have."
Ward signed with LSU in the early signing period after an outstanding high school career at Evans High School in Kissimmee, Fla., that saw him clock the second fastest 400-meter time at 46.97 at the 2006 USATF Youth Outdoor Track and Field Championships in July. This time ranks him among the Top-15 400-meter performers in the Class of 2007.
"We feel Chris is one of the top 400 meter prospects in the United States," Shaver said. "His junior year was interrupted health issues that have since been addressed, and I feel he will have a great senior season in high school. We certainly look forward to his arrival at LSU next season."