NATCHITOCHES – In the wake of national signing day Wednesday afternoon, first year head coach Mike Heimermann has announced nine additions to the Northwestern State Demon and Lady Demon track and field teams for the 2014-15 academic year.
Four jumpers, three distance runners and two throwers make up the talented group on individuals, both in the classroom and on the track.
"We wanted to focus on recruiting student athletes that would show us talent during competition and in the classroom," said Heimermann. "Each of these recruits brings something to the team, and to Northwestern State, that holds a lot of value."
Jacorious Jeter from Haughton High School in Princeton, Deylon Key from Captain Shreve High School in Shreveport, Gabe Tumey from West Ouachita High School in West Monroe and Tanner Owens from The June Shelton School in Plano, Texas, complete the list of jumpers.
Jeter placed top-three in the triple jump at every meet during the 2013 regular season and placed third at the 5A regional meet. He was a 2013 Outdoor State Qualifier, placing seventh and holds a 3.0 GPA.
Key, a 2010 Junior Olympic High Jump All-American, was named 2013 District 1-5A Field MVP where he placed first in the long jump, second in the high jump and fifth in the triple jump.
Tumey was crowned the 2013 District 2-4A champion in the 110m and 300m hurdles, and the long jump. He was a 2013 Outdoor State Qualifier in the 110m hurdles and the long jump, placing seventh and eighth, respectively. Tumey holds a 3.84 GPA and is the son of NSU alum and former football coaching staff member, Don Tumey.
Owens, who placed third in the 2013 USATF Region 12 Junior Olympic Track and Field Championship decathalon, is a 2013 TAPPS Regional Qualifier in the 200m, high jump, long jump, 4x100 and 4x200. Owens placed fifth in the 200m and long jump at the 2013 State Qualifier meet, and currently holds a 3.29 GPA.
For the distance runners, Ashley Adams, from Salado High School in Salado, Texas, was noted cross country academic All-State as a senior and received All-Area recognition her junior and sophomore seasons. Her highest finish, eighth, was at the 2012 state track and field meet in the 3200m and the 1600m races. Adams currently holds a 3.9 GPA
In 2013, Adams placed 18th in the state cross country meet and was voted captain all four letter years.
Kaitlyn tunks, a Westlake native and St. Louis Catholic product, brought home crowns from the 2013 Region I-3A Championships in the 400m and the 800m, as well as in the 800m at the 2013 LHSAA Outdoor State meet and the 400m and 800m at the 2011 District 4-3A Championships.
Rounding out the distance runners is Hunter Wamack from Lakeridge High School in Mansfield, Texas. Wamack placed sixth in the nation at the AAU Junior Olympic Games in 2011, and earned All-District cross country honors in 2013 and 2011. Wamack also collected All-Conference honors in 2012 and was selected to the All-Region team in 2011.
Wamack began seeing success at a young age as he placed top-five in the Tennessee State Meet in 2008 and top-10 in the Coaches Cross Country National Meet in 2008 and 2010, and boasts a 3.2 GPA.
Cedric Paul, a 6'2 thrower from Louisiana's Franklin High School, ranked top-10 in the nation in the shot put in 2013 and finished third at the Junior Olympic Meet back in August. Paul is a three-sport athlete sporting a 3.5 GPA. His father, Clifford, is a 1995 NSU graduate that was a member of the Demon football and track and field teams.
Kelsey Frank, a 5'6 javelin thrower, brought home the State championship for Oberlin High School and ranked in the top 30 in the nation in 2013. A three-time state qualifier, Frank is also a three-sport athlete and holds a 3.3 GPA.
"Each of these individuals are quality additions to our program, who will also help out in other areas in athletics, including football," said Heimermann. "We're really looking forward to see what these young athletes will do."