Track & field, cross country signs 16 new students

Sixteen individuals, including 14 incoming freshmen and two junior college transfers, have signed National Letters of Intent with the Arizona State University track and field program Greg Kraft, the Director of Track & Field at ASU, announced today. All 16 signees will join the Sun Devil program this fall, including nine runners that will compete with the Sun Devil cross country teams.

Overall, eight men and eight women were signed to NLIs this year, including nine in the distances (five women, four men), four in the sprints/hurdles (one woman, three men) and two in the field events (one woman, one man). The signees also hail from six different states and two countries, including the states of Arizona, California, Iowa, Ohio, Oregon and Pennsylvania, as well as one individual from Canada. The class also includes one woman and four men who hail from Arizona.

The signees that will join the cross country program this fall include women’s runners Macy Bricks (Clovis, Calif./Buchanan HS), Shaina Corbin (Ashland, Ohio/Ashland HS), Shelby Houlihan (Sioux City, Iowa/East HS), Carly Paracholski (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada/Sisler HS) and Payton Schutte (Portland, Ore./Jesuit HS) and men’s runners Domenic D’Acquisto (Redding, Calif./Enterprise HS), Ryan Herson (Mission Viejo, Calif./Trebuco Hills HS), Heyden Wooff (Camarillo, Calif./Camarillo HS) and Daniel Wong (Tucson, Ariz./Canyon del Oro HS).

The remainder of the class is comprised of five sprinters, including women’s signees CeKarri Nixon (St. Francis, Calif./St. Francis HS) and Brianna Tate (Reno, Nev./McQueen HS), and men’s signees Michael Ingrassia (Phoenix/Desert Vista HS), Daryl Morales (Abington, Pa./Butler (Kan.) CC) and Cameron Taylor (Mesa, Ariz./Westwood HS). Four of those five newcomers are rookies, with the lone exception being Morales, who spent the past two years at Butler Community College.

The field events will add a pair of signees, including transfer Lacey Palmer (Mesa, Ariz./Mesa CC) to the women’s roster, and incoming freshman Edmund Baker (Phoenix/Desert Vista HS) to the men’s roster. Palmer comes to ASU after two years at Mesa Community College where she competed in the pole vault and multi-events while Baker joins the program after finding success in the high and triple jump events at Desert Vista.

As a group, the 16 signees come to ASU after capturing 23 state or provincial championship crowns and two National Junior College titles with Houlihan leading the way as a nine-time champion a the Iowa high school meet. In her career, Houlihan won eight track titles and one in cross country with five coming in her senior season (2010 cross country and 2011 outdoor track titles in the 400m, 800m, 1,500m and 4x400m relay) while the other four came on the track with wins in the distance medley and 4x400m relays in both 2009 and 2010. Houlihan also walks away from her high school competitions with the state record in the 800m run (2:07.35) and 1,500m run (4:29.97) while also helping East HS to state records in the distance medley (4:00.39) and the 4x400m relay (3:48.39).

Five other incoming rookies also won titles, including five by Paracholski at the Manitoba Provincial Championships and, three each by Tate (Nevada state) and Taylor (Arizona state), two by Wong at the Arizona state meet and one by Ingrassia, also in Arizona. Paracholski, who holds the Canadian Youth record in the 800m run (2:05.99 set at the 2010 IAAF World Junior Championships), won the 400m dash and 4x100m relay in 2009 before capturing the crowns at 100m, 200m and 400m in 2010.

Tate’s titles came in the 400m event as she won the individual crown her senior season and was on the victorious 4x400m relay in 2010 and 2011. Taylor, the 110m high hurdle champion in 2010, defended his crown in 2011 and added the 300m hurdle title as well. Wong, running for Corona del Oro in Tucson, swept the 1,600m and 3,200m events at the 2011 state meet. Like Paracholski, Wong has competed on a large international stage as he ran 5:57.29 to finish eighth in the 2,000m steeplechase at the 2010 World Youth Olympics. Ingrassia gives ASU another state champion in the hurdles as he was victorious in the 300m hurdles at the 2009 championships.

Palmer, who finished in the Top 4 in the pole vault at the Arizona meet her junior and senior seasons when current Sun Devil Cara Carpenter won the event both times, competed in a wide array of events for Mesa CC and finished her four NJCAA meets with seven Top 5 finishes, including her two victories. In 2010, she helped the Thunderbirds win the indoor 4x800m relay national crown before heading outdoors, where she won the title in the pole vault. Her other Top 5 finishes have come in the pole vault (three times) and the heptathlon (second in 2010).

The 2011-12 seasons for the program get underway with the opening race of the cross country season on September 3 at the George Kyte Invitational in Flagstaff. The track and field seasons will begin with the indoor season toward the end of January while the outdoor season will start at home in Tempe in mid-March with the Baldy Castillo Invitational. Check back to TheSunDevils.com for full schedules and updated rosters for all six Sun Devil squads as they become available.

Quick Facts on the 2011-12 Signing Class - Women
Macy Bricks • Fr. • Clovis, Calif. • Buchanan HS • Distance
Participated in the California State Championships her final three years... ran the 1,600m event all three times, posting a best finish of 10th in the 2009 race... placed fifth in the 3,200m run at the 2011 state meet, running 10:22.67, the No. 17 time in the nation that year... placed 16th in the 3,200m run in 2009... in cross country, competed in the state meet three times... finished ninth overall in 2010 and 11th in 2009... among Division I runners, she placed seventh and sixth, respectively.
Bests: 4:53.72 (1,600m) • 10:22.67 (3,200m)

Shaina Corbin • Fr. • Ashland, Ohio • Ashland HS • Mid-Distance
Competed at the Ohio State Championships her last two seasons... placed seventh in the 1,600m run as a junior and fifth in the same event as a senior... fourth in the 1,600m run at the 2011 Midwest Meet of Champions... finished 53rd at the state cross country meet after taking seventh in the region and runner-up in the district... fifth at the state indoor meet in the 800m run in 2010.
Bests: 2:15.24 (800m) • 4:58.28 (1,600m)

Shelby Houlihan • Fr. • Sioux City, Iowa • East HS • Mid-Distance
One of the top runners in the nation in 2011, winning state titles at 400m, 800m and 1,500m, as well as with the 4x400m relay and in cross country... four other state titles in the relays, including the 4x400m and distance medley in both 2009 and 2010... finished third in the state in cross country her first three years of high school... added state runner-up finishes on the track in the 800m run (2009, 2010), 1,500m run (2009) and 4x400m relay (2008)... holds the state record in the 1,500m run (4:29.97) and the 800m run (2:07.35), as well as with the 4x400m and distance medley relays... ranked sixth in the nation in the 1,500m run (4:26.92 at the USA Junior Championships), eighth in the 800m (2:07.69), fourth in the mile (4:43.64) and 19th in the 3,000m run (9:56.71)... national Top 100 ranking in the 400m dash as well.
Bests: 55.52 (400m) • 2:07.35 (800m) • 4:26.92 (1,500m) • 4:43.64 (mile) • 9:56.71 (3,000m)

CeKarri Nixon • Fr. • St. Francis, Calif. • St. Francis HS • Sprints
Advanced to the California State Championships in the sprints all four years... finished eighth overall in the 200m dash in 2009 and helped the 4x100m relay finish 14th overall... made the meet in the 200m and 400m dashes in 2011... competed in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay as a junior and the 4x100m relay as a freshman... holds the school record in the 100m dash, 200m dash and with all the sprint relays.
Bests: 11.92w/12.03 (100m) • 24.29 (200m) • 55.97 (400m)

Lacey Palmer • Jr. • Mesa, Ariz. • Westwood HS/Mesa CC • Pole Vault/Multis
Competed for Mesa Community College for the past two years... won the 2010 NJCAA Outdoor Pole Vault Championship, clearing 12-11.50 to win the crown... that clearance stood as the NJCAA record (all-time and meet) until this past season... also took runner-up honors in the heptathlon at the same meet... national runner-up in the pole vault at the 2011 outdoor meet... helped the 4x800m relay team to the national title at the 2010 indoor meet... finished third (2008) and fourth (2009) at the AIA State Championships for Westwood HS.
Bests: 12-11.50 out/11-11.75 in (pole vault) • 4,768 points (heptathlon) • 2,993 points (pentathlon)

Carly Paracholski • Fr. • Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada • Sisler HS • Mid-Distance
Five-time Manitoba Provincial champion in the sprints, including wins in the 100m, 200m and 400m events in 2010 after winning the 400m and 4x100m relay in 2009... rising star in the 800m run... holds the Canadian youth record in the 800m run at 2:05.99... clocked the record time at the 2010 IAAF World Junior Championships in Canada to finish 15th overall... also helped the 4x400m relay team to a fifth place finish at the World meet... finished seventh at the provincial cross country championships, leading her team to the overall title.
Bests: 54.95 (400m) • 2:05.99 (800m)

Payton Schutte • Fr. • Portland, Ore. • Jesuit HS • Distance
Ran for a highly successful Jesuit team that captured seven team titles in her four years, including the last four in cross country and track titles in 2008, 2010 and 2011... in cross country, posted a trio of Top 5 finishes, placing second in the state in 2009, third in 2010 and fifth in 2008... also was 12th as a freshman... on the track, placed in the Top 6 in both the 1,500m and 3,200m runs for three years in a row... her time of 4:37.24 in the 1,500m ranks as the No. 32 time in the U.S. in 2011.
Bests: 4:37.24 (1,500m) • 10:06.95 (3,000m)

Brianna Tate • Fr. • Reno, Nev. • McQueen HS • Sprints
Three-time state champion for McQueen High School, including the 400m champion in 2011 with a personal-best time of 55.16, which was nearly two seconds ahead of the runner-up... also helped her teammates win the 4x400m relay in both 2010 and 2011... state runner-up in the 200m dash and 4x800m relay in 2011... helped three other relays to third-place finishes, including the 4x100m relay in 2009 and 2010 and the 4x200m in 2009.
Bests: 55.16 (400m)

Quick Facts on the 2011-12 Signing Class - Men
Edmund Baker • Fr. • Phoenix, Ariz. • Desert Vista HS • Jumps
Competed in AIA State Championships his final two years at DVHS... took runner-up honors in the high jump as a junior before finishing fourth as a senior... qualified to compete in the triple jump both years, finishing in the Top 12 both times... in the high jump as a senior, won the Chandler Rotary, Tempe City, Arcadia Open and the Arizona Meet of Champions.
Bests: 6-10.00 (high jump) • 44-04.25 (triple jump)

Domenic D’Acquisto • Fr. • Redding, Calif. • Enterprise HS • Distance
Advanced to the finals of the California State Championships in two events his senior season... finished eighth overall in the 1,600m run in 4:11.76... also took 24th in the 3,200m run... ran 4:10.54 earlier in the season in the 1,600m run, ranking him among the Top 30 in the U.S. in 2011... also ranked among the Top 30 in two other events, including No. 8 in the U.S. in the 3,000m run at 8:29.52 and No. 26 in the 3,200m run at 8:59.58... competed in the state cross country meet four times... placed 23rd overall in 2010 and was second among Division 3 runners... posted Top 25 finishes in the Division 3 races in both 2007 and 2008.
Bests: 4:10.54 (1,600m) • 8:29.52 (3,000m) • 8:59.58 (3,200m)

Ryan Herson • Fr. • Mission Viejo, Calif. • Trabuco Hills HS • Distance
Competed in the 3,200m run at the Arcadia Invitational where he ran a life-time best of 9:11.42... finished 40th at the 2010 California State Cross Country Championships (Division 1) and was 85th overall (all divisions combined)... added a pair of Top 5 finishes at the conference cross country meet over his last two year with THHS, including race runner-up honors as a senior.
Bests: 9:11.42 (3,200m)

Michael Ingrassia • Fr. • Phoenix, Ariz. • Desert Vista HS • Hurdles
Won the 2009 AIA State Championship in the 300m hurdles, running 37.98 for the win... placed in the Top 5 in three other events during his prep career at the state meet, including third in both the 300m hurdles and the high jump as a freshman... incoming freshman Cameron Taylor (Westwood) finished sixth in the race Ingrassia won at the 2009 state meet.
Bests: 14.96 (110m hurdles) • 37.94 (300m hurdles)

Daryl Morales • Jr. • Abington, Pa. • Abington HS/Butler CC • Sprints
Competed for Butler Community College (El Dorado, Kan.) for two years... advanced to the National Junior College (NJCAA) meets both years... finished fourth in the 400m dash outdoors in 2011 after taking fifth indoors... in his first year (2010), qualified for the indoor meet in the 400m dash before helping the 4x100m relay team take fifth outdoors... competed for Abington HS in Pennsylvania... finished third in the 400m dash at the 2008 state meet.
Bests: 10.62 (100m) • 21.33 (200m) • 47.42 (400m)

Cameron Taylor • Fr. • Mesa, Ariz. • Westwood HS • Hurdles
Swept the hurdle events at the 2011 AIA Division I State Championships, running 13.81 and 37.05 to win the 110m hurdles and 300m hurdles, respectively... won his first state title at the 2010 meet, taking the 110m hurdles in 14.13... also finished seventh in the 300m hurdles and ninth in the triple jump that year... placed in the Top 7 in both hurdles and the triple jump in 2009.
Bests: 13.81 (110m hurdles) • 37.04 (300m hurdles)

Heyden Wooff • Fr. • Camarillo, Calif. • Camarillo HS • Distance
Ran a life-time best of 8:55.13 to finish fifth in the 3,200m run at the California State Championships in 2011... that time ranked 11th overall among high school runners in 2011... advanced to the state meet as a sophomore as well, running a nearly identical time of 8:55.16 to finish third overall in the meet... that time ranked him among the Top 15 in the U.S. that year... ran at three state cross country meets, finishing ninth overall in 2009 (fifth in D2) and was 17th overall (ninth D2) in 2008.
Bests: 4:14.64 (1,600m) • 8:55.13 (3,200m)

Daniel Wong • Fr. • Tucson, Ariz. • Canyon del Oro HS • Distance
Two-time Arizona state champion after capturing the 1,600m and 3,200m races at the 2011 AIA Division II Championships... one year earlier, ran in three events at the state meet, finishing second in the 3,200m run, third in the 1,600m run and fifth in the 800m run... took fourth in the 3,200m run at the 2009 meet... represented Team USA at the 2010 World Youth Championships, finishing fifth overall in the 2,000m steeplechase in 5:57.29, the third-fastest time by an American that year.
Bests: 1:54.66 (800m) • 4:16.90 (1,600m) • 9:04.62 (3,200m) • 5:57.29 (2,000m steeple)

2011 National Letter of Intent Signees to Arizona State Track & Field/Cross Country
Women (8)
Macy Bricks (Fr. • Clovis, Calif. • Buchanan HS) - Distance
Shaina Corbin (Fr. • Ashland, Ohio • Ashland HS) - Mid-Distance
Shelby Houlihan (Fr. • Sioux City, Iowa • East HS) - Mid-Distance
CeKarri Nixon (Fr. • St. Francis, Calif. • St. Francis HS) - Sprints
Lacey Palmer (Jr. • Mesa, Ariz. • Westwood HS/Mesa CC) - Pole Vault/Multis
Carly Paracholski (Fr. • Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada • Sisler HS) - Mid-Distance
Payton Schutte (Fr. • Portland, Ore. • Jesuit HS) - Distance
Brianna Tate (Fr. • Reno, Nev. • McQueen HS) - Sprints

Men (8)
Edmund Baker (Fr. • Phoenix, Ariz. • Desert Vista HS) - Jumps
Domenic D’Acquisto (Fr. • Redding, Calif. • Enterprise HS) - Distance
Ryan Herson (Fr. • Mission Viejo, Calif. • Trabuco Hill HS) - Distance
Michael Ingrassia (Fr. • Phoenix, Ariz. • Desert Vista HS) - Hurdles
Daryl Morales (Jr. • Abington, Pa. • Abington HS/Butler CC) - Sprints
Cameron Taylor (Fr. • Mesa, Ariz. • Westwood HS) - Hurdles
Heyden Wooff (Fr. • Camarillo, Calif. • Camarillo HS) - Distance
Daniel Wong (Fr. • Tucson, Ariz. • Canyon del Oro HS) - Distance