Eight talented student-athletes have signed national letters of intent to attend the University of Kentucky and compete on the track and field team during the initial signing period.
The initial portion of the signing class is highlighted by a U.S. Olympian who holds the world U18 and U20 records in the 400m hurdles and the U.S. indoor high-school record in the 400m, in addition to having won 17 national titles at different levels in multiple events – all before her senior year in high school.
In all the class has combined to earn three USATF non-senior titles, two AAU National Titles, eight high-school national championships, three junior college national championships and 23 high-school state titles.
The initial group of signings represent four countries: The United States (five), Ghana, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.
Abubakar, Clarke and Riggins will arrive on campus in January 2017.
The eight signings are listed below with brief biographies alphabetically by last name.
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Personal Bests: LJ: 25’3.25” | TJ: 50’4.75” Mohammed Abubakar was 2016 National Junior College Silver Medalist in the long jump. He won the indoor NJCAAA Region VI title in the event, and was third at indoor nationals. He placed fifth in the triple jump at Junior College Nationals a year ago. |
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Personal Bests: LJ: 25’5.75” | TJ: 49’ Saahir Bethea was a top-10 finisher in the outdoor long jump and triple jump at the 2016 National Junior College Championships. In high school he won the 2015 Pennsylvania State Championship indoors and outdoors in the long jump. Placed third at New Balance Nationals in the long jump that season. Also Pennsylvania Bronze Medalist in the triple jump indoors and out in 2015. |
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Personal Best: 100m: 11.43 | 200m: 23.16 Kayelle Clarke is an accomplished sprinter at the junior college level, having won the National JuCo Title in the 200m outdoors in 2016 and indoors in 2015. She has won five NJCAA medals in the last three seasons. She competed for Trinidad and Tobago at the 2014 IAAF World Junior (U20) Championships in 2014 in Eugene, Oregon, in the 200m, reaching the semifinal round and missing the final by just one spot. She has also competed at T&T nationals, having earned the Bronze Medal in the 200m in 2014. |
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Personal Best: HJ: 5’9”Carly Hinkle was USATF National Junior Olympic Champion in the high jump in 2016. She was West Virginia State Champion in the high jump in 2016. Jumped a PR 5’9” at the USATF Region Five Championships in July. She Placed second in the UK High School Invitational in 2016, after placing fourth in 2015 and 2014. |
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Personal Best: PV: 16’8.5” Matt Peare was Ohio State Pole Vault Champion in 2015. He placed seventh at indoor New Balance Nationals in 2016. Also a quality hurdler, he placed third in the state 60m hurdles championships in 2016, after placing fourth the year prior. His sister Ally was multiple-times All-America and All-SEC as a middle distance runner. |
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Personal Bests: 100m: 11.56 | 100H: 13.50 | 200m: 23.65 | 400m: 54.12Danielle Riggins is a four-time National Champion – twice at the junior college level and twice at the AAU level – in addition to being a five-time state champion as a prep. She was Wisconsin Indoor Champion in the 55m hurdles in 2013 and 2014. She went on to win the Junior College national title in the 60m hurdles in 2016 after taking silver in 2015. She won the Junior College title in the 100m hurdles in 2016, and won AAU Junior Olympics in the event in 2014 after winning the state title in both 2013 and 2014. She won the AAU Junior Olympic Title in the 200m in 2014, as well as the state title in that event. Her excellence extends to the 300m hurdles in which she was State Bronze Medalist in 2013, as well as the 400m dash where she was NJCAA Silver Medalist in 2015. |
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Personal Bests: 100H: 13.34 | 400H: 54.15 | 400m: 51.84 Sydney McLaughlin will arrive at UK as one of the most decorated teenage athletes in history. She was 2016 USATF and Track & Field News Youth Athlete of the Year. McLaughlin set World U18 and U20 records in the 400-meter hurdles to qualify for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team, finishing third in 54.15. McLaughlin initially broke the 32-year-old world junior record with her victory at the New Balance Nationals in June, crossing in 54.46. McLaughlin is undefeated in high school races since June 14, 2014. McLaughlin placed fifth in her opening round heat in 56.32 in the 400m hurdles at the Olympic Games in Rio to advance into the semifinal round. In the semis, she placed fifth in 56.22. McLaughlin was named Gatorade National Track & Field Athlete of the Year and went on to become only the second female non-senior to win Gatorade National Athlete of the Year. She has won the 2015 IAAF World U18 400m hurdles title, a USATF U18 championship and a USATF U20 title, and eight high-school national titles. |
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Personal Bests: 200m: 23.66 | 400m : 54.37 Christine Moss is an accomplished 200m and 400m sprinter. She earned the Bronze Medal in the 400m at the 2016 Junior College National Championships. She has also placed highly at collegiate meets hosted by NCAA Division I schools, including winning the New Mexico Classic 400m in 2016. She placed fifth in the NJCAA 200m Outdoor Final in 2016. |
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For more information contact:
Jake Most