NORFOLK, Virginia -- Norfolk State Director of Track & Field Programs Kenneth Giles announced Tuesday the addition of 10 new athletes who will join his men's program for the 2013-14 season.Eight of the 10 are high school recruits, while two were enrolled at NSU but did not compete last year. The 10 recruits consist of two athletes who both jump and sprint, two throwers, two distance runners, one hurdler, one jumper, one pole vaulter and one additional sprinter.
"I feel this is the best group of recruits we've brought in since the 2006 class that led to the resurgence of the program," Giles said. "It helps replace what we lost from the last two years and will keep us at a high level for years to come. All the athletes are strong both academically and athletically."
Below are brief highlights on each recruit:
Shaw Barfield, Norfolk, Va./Lake Taylor HS, Pole Vault
The skinny: Barfield was the Eastern District and Eastern Region pole vault champion during both indoor and outdoor seasons as a senior at nearby Lake Taylor. He also placed fifth in the state Group AAA outdoor meet this spring with a personal-best height of 13 feet, 3 inches.
Giles says: "Shaw will team with Willard Ward to prove an outstanding one-two punch in the pole vault. He is the first all-state pole vaulter we've recruited from Virginia and has the best PR of any incoming pole vaulter we've had in the Division I era."
Joseph Boyd, Fairfax Station, Va./South County HS, Jumps
The skinny: Boyd placed in the top six at the state Group AAA outdoor meet in the long jump, high jump and triple jump as a senior. He owns personal-bests of 6-6 in the high jump, 22-5 in the long jump and 45-2 in the triple jump.
Giles says: "Joseph will provide much-needed help in the triple jump and help replace MEAC champion John James in the high jump."
William Brown, Hampton, Va./Bethel HS, Middle/Long Distance
The skinny: Brown, a 2012 graduate of Bethel, sat out at NSU last season. He is a former AAU Junior Olympics champion in both the 1,500 and 3,000 meters. As a sophomore at Bethel, he was fourth in the state indoor meet in the 1,000, and sixth at the outdoor meet in the 800m. He has PRs of 1:55 in the 800 and 4:20 in the mile.
Giles says: "William will add depth to our cross country team. He is a versatile middle distance runner with range from 800-5,000 meters."
Xavier Collins, Chesapeake, Va./Oscar Smith HS, Sprints
The skinny: Collins ran a leg on Oscar Smith's fourth-place 4x400 relay team at the state Group AAA outdoor meet as a senior. He was also a state qualifier in both the 200 and 400 meters, and placed in the top sixth in both events at the Eastern Region meet.
Giles says: "Xavier should help replace Kenneth Smith as a valuable member of our relay teams."
Romero Hines, Portsmouth, Va./Norcom HS, Jumps/Sprints
The skinny: Hines is a versatile athlete who was Eastern District outdoor champion in the 100m, 200m, long jump and triple jump. He was a state qualifier in the 100m, 200m and long jump, and placed sixth in the state outdoor meet in the 100. Hines was state indoor champion in the long jump as a senior, and has a PR of 23-1.
Giles says: "Romero is a versatile student-athlete who can excel in multiple events. He reminds me of (former All-American) a Marlon Woods-type of athlete."
Da'trail Hockaday, Portsmouth, Va./Churchland HS, Throws
The skinny: Hockaday won the state Group AAA title in the discus throw this past spring with a personal-best effort of 176-0. He was also Eastern District runner-up in the shot put and was a state qualifier in the discus as a junior, as well.
Giles says: "Da'trail is a talented thrower who will help give us a solid nucleus in the throwing events. He is the first state champion discus thrower we've had in our program in the D-I era."
Allan Frye, Smyrna, Ga./Campbell HS, Hurdles
The skinny: Frye is the most decorated high school hurdler to sign with NSU in the Division I era. He ranked fourth in the nation as a senior in the 300m hurdles (36.54) and 11th nationally in the 110m hurdles (13.81). He was Georgia state, sectional and regional champion as well as an outdoor All-American at the New Balance nationals in both distances. He also owns a PR of 52.63 seconds in the 400 hurdles.
Giles says: "Allan is a true blue-chip recruit who was coveted by SEC schools. Before he leaves NSU, I feel he will rewrite the NSU hurdles record book."
David Kibet, Iten, Kenya/St. Patrick's HS, Distance
The skinny: Kibet should be the next in a long line of standout distance runners NSU has recruited from Kenya. He comes to NSU with personal bests of 14:54 in the 5,000 meters and 25:01 for 8,000 meters.
Giles says: "David has the ability to give us a true No. 1 runner on the cross country team, which will make an already solid team even stronger."
Michael Thomas-Brown, Alexandria, Va./Mount Vernon HS, Jumps/Sprints
The skinny: During outdoor season, Thomas-Brown was National District champion in the 100m, 200m and long jump, then went on to win the Northern Region title in the 100m as well as a senior. During indoor season, Thomas-Brown was fifth at the state Group AAA meet in the long jump and sixth in the 55 meters. He boasts PRs of 10.55 in the 100, 21.58 in the 200, 6.42 in the 55, and 23-5.5 in the long jump.
Giles says: "Michael will give us a true sprinter which we really need. He ran faster in the 100m than (NSU All-American) James Taylor did, and he'll also give us a threat in the long jump."
Clifton Thompson, Richmond, Va./Meadowbrook HS, Throws
The skinny: Thompson, who originally enrolled at West Virginia Wesleyan after graduating high school, sat out while attending NSU last year and has three years of eligibility left. As a senior at Meadowbrook, he was Central Region and Central District champ and third at the 2011 state outdoor meet in the discus throw. He was also runner-up at the state meet as a junior and is a former AAU Club national champion. His PR is 175-6.
Giles says: "Clifton is a very strong thrower who will challenge (fellow Spartan) Ian Copeland for conference supremacy in the discus. I feel Clifton would have placed in the MEAC this past year."
By Matt Michalec, Asst. AD/Communications
Norfolk State University
nsuspartans.com
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