MONROE, La. --- ULM track & field head coach J.D. MALONE recently announced the signing of four future Warhawks during the early signing period in November.
Richard Sanders, Josh Howard, Ryan Hisaw, and Ashton Croft will join the ULM men's track & field team in 2007-08.
Sanders, a senior at Redemptorist High School in Baton Rouge, La., was the 2006 3A cross country champion for the Wolves. Last spring, as a junior, he finished second in the state track & field meet in the 800, 1,600, and 3,200-meter races.
"We are very fortunate to have signed a guy like Richard," said ULM distance coach Toby Reep. "He is very devoted to the sport and has a great deal of room for improvement. He will be an asset to this university and this program for years to come."
Howard, Hisaw and Croft will make their contributions to the Warhawks program in the field events.
Howard, a senior at Carencro High School in Carencro, La., was a 5A all-region and all-district honoree in the triple jump in 2006. He leaped a best of 47' 4".
"Josh is an extremely talented young man who has tremendous desire," said ULM throws and jumps coach John Ridgway. "His marks will be immediately competitive in the Sun Belt Conference. He will be an excellent asset to our jumps crew."
Hisaw and Croft are seniors at Durant High School in Durant, Okla. Hisaw finished third in the state in the shot put last season, while Croft finished third in the state in the discus.
"We expect big things from Ryan," said Ridgway. "He should make the transition to the heavier college ball relatively easy. He has proven to be a competitive young man who should walk right in and challenge to be at the top of the conference."
"Ashton's combination of leadership and performance on the track make him invaluable to this recruiting class," continued Ridgway. "He is projected to throw the hammer and discus for us in his career. His tough attitude is exactly what we look for when we are recruiting high school athletes."
The 2007 ULM track & field season gets underway on Jan. 25-26 at the LSU Bayou Bengal Indoor Invitational.