WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue track & field and cross country coach Norbert Elliott has announced that 16 student-athletes have signed to join the Boilermaker program for the 2020-21 season.
This year's signing class features Jaleah Alston (Mobile, Alabama), Naomi Campbell (Techier Village, Point Fortin, Trinidad and Tobago), Geno Christofanelli (Crown Point, Indiana), Alex Frey (Indianapolis), Mya Hagerty (Bloomington, Indiana), LJ Hill (Hoover, Alabama), Joey Humes (Maybee, Michigan), Joey Kasch (Park Ridge, Illinois), Leah Keesling (Modoc, Indiana), Jahn Riley (Indianapolis), Nikia Smith (Miami Gardens, Florida), K'Ja Talley (Dearborn, Michigan), Payne Turney (Clinton, Illinois), Katelyn Wasson (Zionsville, Indiana), Caleb Williams (West Lafayette) and Cierra Williams (Indianapolis).
The class, which will don the Purdue uniform for the first time during the 2020-21 cross country and indoor and outdoor track & field campaign, consists of nine distance runners, six sprinters and one jumper. Eight signees hail from the state of Indiana, two are from Alabama, two are from Illinois, two are from Michigan and one comes to West Lafayette from Florida and another from Trinidad and Tobago.
"I am excited to welcome the 16 newest Boilermakers to the Purdue Track & Field and Cross Country family," Elliott said. "This is a great group of student-athletes that will make a big impact on our team. This class fits the blueprint of our program, both on and off the track, and is a group that will represent Purdue very well. We are looking forward to having them competing as Boilermakers."
JALEAH ALSTON – SPRINTS, MOBILE, ALABAMA (CAMPBELL HIGH)
A native of Mobile, Alabama, Jaleah Alston comes to Purdue from Campbell High, where she was a sprinter for coach Randy McClure. A state champion and Junior Olympic champion in 2019, Alston earned all-region accolades in 2020 and served as a team captain in 2019-20. She holds three Campbell records, in the 200 and the 4x100 and 4x400 relays. Alston's personal-best marks are 11.8 seconds in the 100, 23.8 in the 200 and 55.0 in the 400. She also played basketball.
Alston plans to major in exploratory studies and aspires to become a physical therapist after she earns her degree. Her mom is Jacquetta, and she has six siblings.
Alston on Purdue: "Purdue is highly-coveted among high schoolers all across the nation. From academics to athletics to extracurricular activities, Purdue offers a variety of opportunities that students take advantage of and mold to fit their tastes. I'm attending Purdue because I want to make a difference not just in my life, but in the world as well. Just by looking at the campus and going on a virtual tour, the vibe there is amazing and I want to be a part of that culture."
NAOMI CAMPBELL – SPRINTS, TECHIER VILLAGE, POINT FORTIN, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO (VESSIGNY SECONDARY SCHOOL)
Naomi Campbell comes to West Lafayette from Techier Village, Point Fortin, Trinidad and Tobago, where she attended Vessigny Secondary School and competed for coach Eric McCree. Campbell earned Victrix Ludorum Under 14 honors from Vessigny. The sprinter set a personal-record time in the 100-meter event at the senior championships in 2019 with a mark of 11.87 seconds and notched a best time of 24.39 in the 200 at the 2020 Carifta Trials. In 2018, Campbell earned the Educational Excellence Award for Outstanding Performance in C.S.E.C and was honored with her school's academic achievement award.
Campbell looks to major in accounting and hopes to further her accounting career towards becoming an auditor following a professional athletics career. Her parents are Sharon and Brian, and she has nine siblings.
Campbell on Purdue: "I chose Purdue because I strongly believe that their coaching staff would be able to work with me on improving in my sport. Academically, I believe Purdue will be the right fit for me in pursuing my career both on and off the track."
GENO CHRISTOFANELLI – DISTANCE, CROWN POINT, INDIANA (CROWN POINT HS)
From Crown Point, Indiana, Geno Christofanelli graduated from Crown Point High, where he was a distance runner for coach Keith Iddings and Eric Forehand. A DAC cross country champion in 2018 and 2019, Christofanelli placed ninth overall at the state cross country meet in 2019 and also earned all-state accolades in 2018. He was the semi state runner-up in both 2018 and 2019. Christofanelli has a personal-best time of 9:19 in the 3,200-meter event.
Christofanelli plans to major in accounting or business at Purdue. His parents are Karen and John, and he has a twin sister.
Christofanelli on Purdue: "I chose Purdue for many reasons. Every time I visited, just for track meets, I liked running around the campus and I could picture myself attending school here. Furthermore, while taking a campus tour with (cross country assistant) coach (John) Oliver, I found out Purdue really knows how to take care of their student athletes, both academically and athletically. The main reason I chose Purdue was the people, all the coaches, academic advisers and the athletes. Everyone I talked to threw off positive, feel-good vibes and made me feel very welcomed."
ALEX FREY – DISTANCE, INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA (NORTH CENTRAL HS)
An Indianapolis native, Alex Frey attended North Central High and was a distance runner for coach Taylor Marshall. In 2019, Frey won the conference title in the 3,200-meter event and helped his team to a track & field state title and runner-up finish in the 4x800. He also placed sixth overall in the 3,200 at the state meet. On the cross country course, Frey won the 2018 conference championship and was a team captain in 2019. His personal-best marks are 15:17 in the 5,000, 9:12 in the 3,200, 4:16 in the 1,600 and 1:58 in the 800. Frey earned academic all-conference and all-state accolades in 2019.
Frey hopes to pursue a degree in computer science at Purdue, and would like to work in computer science following graduation. His parents are Kuk and Stephen, and he has one sibling.
Frey on Purdue: "Purdue has the perfect balance of athletics and academics for my intended major and sport: computer science and running. The academics are challenging and yield high results while the athletics, specifically regarding cross country and track and field, have been steadily growing in the last couple of years. This challenging atmosphere has drawn me to Purdue with the goal in mind of becoming smarter and faster in the next four to five years."
MYA HAGARTY – DISTANCE, BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA (BLOOMINGTON HS NORTH)
Mya Hagarty comes to Purdue from Bloomington, Indiana, where she attended Bloomington High North and was a distance runner for coach Justin Helmer. Hagarty won a cross country conference title in 2018 and three track conference crowns, in 2018 and 2019. She earned three career all-state accolades and helped her team to two cross country conference championships and two track conference victories. Hagarty and her team won sectionals and regionals four times in cross country and once in track. Her personal-record time in cross country is 18:16 in the 5,000-meter, and in track, 11:16 in the 3,200, 5:15 in the 1,600 and 2:20 in the 800. Hagarty also played on the varsity soccer team as a freshman and is a two-time Academic All-State honoree and is a recipient of Purdue's Trustee's Scholarship.
Hagarty is undecided on her major at Purdue and her career aspirations following graduation. Her parents are Tanya and Nathan, and she has one sibling.
Hagarty on Purdue: "The rigorous academics, outstanding coaching and quality team culture immediately stood out to me when I visited Purdue. I truly believe that the distance program is in the process of being built into something great, and I want to be a part of that process. I know I will be challenged and pushed both academically and athletically in a positive way, and also that I will be provided with tons of support in order to succeed. When it comes down to it, in the end people say to trust your gut when making a college decision, and I knew right away that Purdue was the right fit for me."
LJ HILL – JUMPS, HOOVER, ALABAMA (HOOVER HS)
LJ Hill is a jumper from Hoover Alabama, where he competed for coach Devon Hind at Hoover High. In 2020, Hill won a state team title and a relay title in the 4x200, was named an All-American in the 4x200, earned three first team all-state honors and was ranked in the top-30 in the country indoors in the 60-meter hurdles and triple jump and outdoors in the triple jump. Hill won two team state championships and collect all-state honors in the triple jump in 2019. He owns personal-best marks of 22'10 in the long jump, 47'3 in the triple jump, 8.06 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles, 14.68 seconds in the 110-meter hurdles and 39.19 in the 300-meter hurdles. Academically, Hill was named to the A/B Honor Roll all four years.
Hill would like to earn a degree in environmental health sciences and wants to be a safety manager after graduating. His parents are Robin and Lloyd Sr., and he has one sibling.
Hill on Purdue: "I was looking for a school in the north to go to college, and Purdue was one of my top choices. After I got in contact with the coaches, we scheduled an official visit. When I was on my visit, it felt like I was at home and the vibe of the campus just felt right to me. The team treated me like family and the whole men's side of the team was like a brotherhood, and I wanted to join. The coaching staff was also pretty cool as well."
JOEY HUMES – DISTANCE, MAYBEE, MICHIGAN (HILLSDALE COLLEGE, MILAN HS)
A distance runner from Maybee, Michigan, Joey Humes transfers to Purdue from Hillsdale College and will be a senior for the Boilermakers in 2020-21. He earned multiple Division II All-America accolades at Hillsdale and was coached by R.P White. Humes was named the cross country and indoor track & field conference freshman of the year in 2016-17 and won a pair of indoor conference titles in 2019, in the 3,000 and the mile. At Milan High, he was a multiple-time all-state honoree under coach Chad Lawver. Humes' personal-best times are 8.14 in the 3,000, 3:48 in the 1,500 and 14:25 in the 5,000.
Humes will be a graduate student in Purdue's chemical engineering program, and wants to pursue a career in engineering. His parents are Pat and Renee Humes, and he has three siblings.
Humes on Purdue: "I chose to come to Purdue because it had everything I was looking for. Purdue is known worldwide for its top-notch engineering program, so being accepted into their master's program, especially as a chemistry major, was a big incentive to come to the school. Purdue also has a cross country and track program that is improving at a significant rate. If one looks at meet results from a couple years ago, Purdue was almost never mentioned as being a contending team. However, things have definitely changed, and I am so excited to be a part of a team that is trying to do something great. The team camaraderie, the respect and admiration for Coach Oliver, and the overall pursuit of excellence is why I decided to run for Purdue."
JOEY KASCH – DISTANCE, PARK RIDGE, ILLINOIS (MAINE SOUTH HS)
From Park Ridge, Illinois, Joey Kasch attended Maine South High and ran for coach Greg Nordahl. The distance runner collected multiple all-state honors in both track and cross country. Kasch's personal-record time in the 1600 is 4:19, while he owns a PR of 14:26 in the three-mile event.
Kasch hopes to major in business at Purdue and would like to have a career in business. His parents are Mary and Mark.
Kasch on Purdue: "Purdue for me was the perfect balance between great academics, great athletics and a great overall environment. From the coaches to the athletes, it's clear how hardworking this team is. It's something I felt I must be a part of."
LEAH KEESLING – DISTANCE, MODAC, INDIANA (RANDOLPH SOUTHERN JUNIOR-SENIOR HS)
Leah Keesling hails from Modac, Indiana, where she was a distance runner for coach Tyler Hostetler and graduated from Randolph Southern Junior-Senior High. A three-time conference and sectional cross country champion and 2018 regional champion, Keesling helped her team to two conference and four county titles. In track & field, she is a five-time conference champion and earned all-state accolades three times. Keesling owns four school, conference and county records, in the 5,000-meter, 1,600, 800 and 4x800. Her personal-record times are 18:41 in the 5,000, 5:06 in the 1,600, 2:23 in the 800 and 11:17 in the 3,200. Keesling has earned multiple academic honors, including regional and county recognition.
Keesling looks to major in food science and minor in nutrition/dietetics. Upon graduating, she hopes to provide more sustainable food sources for people in third world countries or work to create food sources that better support athletes. Keesling's parents are Lisa and Brad, and she has two siblings.
Keesling on Purdue: "From a very young age, it has always been my dream to attend Purdue University. Many members from both sides of my family have attended Purdue, and my older sister is currently studying engineering there. Purdue also has a superb program for what I want to study and pursue as a career. I also love the unique, exciting, welcoming and familiar atmosphere that Purdue offers. Lastly, I'm thrilled to be part of Purdue's distance program that is experiencing such positive growth."
JAHN RILEY – SPRINTS, INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA (PIKE HS)
An Indianapolis native, Jahn Riley graduated from Pike High and was a sprinter for coach Courtney Bishop. In 2019, he won the state title in the 400-meter, claimed two conference titles and scored 23 of the team's 41 points to help Pike earn a runner-up finish, the best finish in school history. Riley also was a three-time sectional champion and three-time regional champion in both 2018 and 2019. He was a team captain and earned the distinguished athlete award in 2019-20. Riley owns school records in three events, the 100 (10.63), 200 (21.31) and 400 (47.53).
Riley would like to earn a degree in civil engineering and aspires to run for Team USA and own his own construction business following his Purdue tenure. His parents are Marnita and Paul, and he has five siblings.
Riley on Purdue: "I chose Purdue University because of their engineering program. I wanted to go to a college where I could work on my track career as well as working towards becoming a civil engineer with a good support system, and I felt that Purdue showed that greatly. I also loved the coaching staff and team members of the Purdue Track & Field family. Staying close to home was a big factor in choosing what college I wanted to attend for the next four years."
NIKIA SMITH – SPRINTS, MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA (SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS HS)
Nikia Smith is a sprinter from Miami Gardens, Florida, where she graduated from Saint Thomas Aquinas High and ran for coach Alex Armenteros. Smith is a two-time state champion, in 2017-18 and 2018-19, finished third at the state meet in 2018 and was a state finalist from 2017-19. A 2018 All-American in the 4x100, she was named to the Principle Honor Roll from 2017-20 and the First Honor Roll from 2016-19. Smith's personal-best times are 13.97 seconds in the 100 hurdles, 25.3 in the 200 hurdles and 44.37 in the 300 hurdles.
Smith will pursue a degree in law & society and would like to go to law school and become a lawyer following her Boilermaker athletic and academic career. Her parents are Marsha Hanley and Nakia Smith, and she has three siblings. Smith's mother, Marsha, ran track at Arkansas.
Smith on Purdue: "Purdue's longstanding history of leadership and innovation attracted me the most. Every person has the power to change the world and help people. My dream is to eventually make my mark and help the world move forward. Being around so much history and like-minded people, I know Purdue is the right fit for me."
K'JA TALLEY – SPRINTS, DEARBORN, MICHIGAN (WARREN CENTRAL HS, INDIANAPOLIS)
A sprinter from Dearborn, Michigan, K'Ja Talley attended Warren Central High in Indianapolis and ran for coach Legretta Smith. Talley helped her team to an indoor and outdoor state championship in 2017, a state title indoors and an outdoors runner-up finish in 2019 and an indoors runner-up showing in 2018. She won four individual or relay state titles and was runner-up twice, claimed nine sectional or regional crowns and five conference championships. Talley broke the state record in the 4x400 relay in 2019 with a time of 3:47.16. Her PRs are 14.29 in the 100 hurdles and 42.90 in the 300 hurdles. Talley also played basketball, where she won the 2018 4A state championship and was named IBCA All-State in addition to eclipsing 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 150 steals in her career.
Talley plans to major in pharmacy at Purdue and would like to work in a hospital. Her parents are Kim Cannon and Kevin Talley Sr., and she has two siblings.
Talley was high school teammates with fellow 2020 Purdue signee Cierra Williams.
Talley on Purdue: "I chose Purdue because in my eyes, they will bring out the best in me athletically and educational wise. Purdue is Purdue, and the University itself always has a great story to its name! I feel that Purdue will make a major impact on my life with the support from my coaches, teammates and supervisors to help guide me to the right path to better my future. I am truly honored and proud to be a Boilermaker!"
PAYNE TURNEY – DISTANCE, CLINTON, ILLINOIS (CLINTON HS)
Payne Turney comes to Purdue from Clinton, Illinois, where she attended Clinton High and was a distance runner for coach Rachel Lyons and Leann Sosamon. The 2019 2A state champion in the 800-meter, Turney won the cross country conference title in 2016 and 2018. She is a three-time cross country all-state honoree and holds three school records. Turney's personal-best times are 1:00.98 in the 400-meter, 2:15.59 in the 800, 5:05.70 in the 1,600 and 11:11.28 in the 3,200. She also was a team captain for the Clinton High swim team, a 2019-20 Illinois State Scholar and class valedictorian.
Turney hopes to major in biochemistry and aspires to be a research scientist upon graduating. Her parents are Jodi and Josh, and she has one sibling.
Turney on Purdue: "I chose Purdue because I wanted to compete at a high level athletically while also getting a high-quality education. Purdue allows for me to explore research opportunities within my major and hone in on my interests as a scientist. At Purdue, I feel confident that I will leave with the skill set to accomplish my goals, personally and professionally."
KATELYN WASSON – DISTANCE, ZIONSVILLE, INDIANA (ZIONSVILLE COMMUNITY HS)
Zionsville, Indiana, native Katelyn Wasson graduated from Zionsville Community High and was a distance runner for coach Suzanne Rigg. A multiple-time all-state honoree, Wasson was the state runner-up in the 3,200-meter event. Her personal-best times are 4:57 in the 1,600 and 10:31 in the 3,200.
Wasson would like to major in actuarial science and wants to pursue a career involving math. Her father, Jay Wasson, is the Associate Vice President of Physical Facilities at Purdue, and she has one sister.
Wasson on Purdue: "I am so excited to be a member of Purdue's cross country and track programs! I chose Purdue because of the strong relationships I built throughout the recruiting process with Coach Oliver and the women on the team. By the end of my official visit, the campus and the team already felt like home. There's no doubt that the Purdue distance program is on the rise, and I am so excited to work with my teammates, Coach Oliver and the rest of the coaching staff to continue to make this program the best it can be. Boiler up!"
CALEB WILLIAMS – DISTANCE, WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA (HARRISON HS)
From West Lafayette, Caleb Williams comes to Purdue from Harrison High, where he ran for coach Chris Cahee and Walt Prochno. Williams was an all-state cross country honoree in 2018 and 2019 and a state qualifier in the 1,600-meter in 2019 following a conference championship in the event. He won the individual regional cross country title in 2018 and 2019 and earned all-conference cross country accolades three times. Williams holds the school 5,000 cross country record, with a time of 15:25.07, and boasts a 1,600 PR of 4:19.50. He also played basketball.
Williams is undecided on his major at Purdue and career aspirations following graduation. His parents are Christine and Jeff, and he has four siblings. Both of Williams' parents were on the Purdue track & field team, his father from 1982-87 and his mother from 1986-90, while his brother, Jacob, runs collegiately at IUPUI. Williams' grandfather, Jerry Williams, played baseball and basketball at Marion College.
Williams on Purdue: "I grew up in Ohio as a Purdue fan and was greatly influence by frequent visits to the University. When I was 12 years old, my family and I moved to West Lafayette. This allowed me to see the layout and experience the atmosphere of campus, which helped lead me to my final decision. I have always wanted to be a Boilermaker and am excited to be a part of the team that I have looked up to for so long."
CIERRA WILLIAMS – SPRINTS, INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA (WARREN CENTRAL HS)
Cierra Williams is an Indianapolis native, where she attended Warren Central High and was a sprinter for coach Legretta Smith. Williams helped Warren Central to a state championship indoors and a runner-up finish outdoors in 2019. She was named the 2018 most improved athlete and earned the mental toughness award and the sprints/hurdles MVP in 2019. Williams broke the state record in the 4x400 relay with a time of 3:47.16 in 2019. Her personal-best times are 12.19 seconds in the 100 and 56.23 in the 400 outdoors and 7.72 in the 60, 26.06 in the 200 and 59.33 in the 400 indoors.
Williams is planning to pursue a degree in kinesiology at Purdue, and would like to go to physical therapy school. Her parents are Danita Williams and Corey Richards, and she has three siblings.
Williams was high school teammates with fellow 2020 Purdue signee K'Ja Talley.
Williams on Purdue: "I chose to come to Purdue because from the first call, I felt important. I felt like it was genuine and it was a place that was really going to accept me and was serious about it. It was endless calls, and it's still endless calls, and it's just the best feeling. The bond is the type of bond that you're looking for between a coach and athlete and the bond that you're looking for with a newcomer and the ones who are already on the team. It was the feeling that I got when I first came into contact with Purdue, that's the reason I chose Purdue. 3"
For more on the Purdue track and field team, visit PurdueSports.com and follow and connect with the Boilermakers on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
This year's signing class features Jaleah Alston (Mobile, Alabama), Naomi Campbell (Techier Village, Point Fortin, Trinidad and Tobago), Geno Christofanelli (Crown Point, Indiana), Alex Frey (Indianapolis), Mya Hagerty (Bloomington, Indiana), LJ Hill (Hoover, Alabama), Joey Humes (Maybee, Michigan), Joey Kasch (Park Ridge, Illinois), Leah Keesling (Modoc, Indiana), Jahn Riley (Indianapolis), Nikia Smith (Miami Gardens, Florida), K'Ja Talley (Dearborn, Michigan), Payne Turney (Clinton, Illinois), Katelyn Wasson (Zionsville, Indiana), Caleb Williams (West Lafayette) and Cierra Williams (Indianapolis).
The class, which will don the Purdue uniform for the first time during the 2020-21 cross country and indoor and outdoor track & field campaign, consists of nine distance runners, six sprinters and one jumper. Eight signees hail from the state of Indiana, two are from Alabama, two are from Illinois, two are from Michigan and one comes to West Lafayette from Florida and another from Trinidad and Tobago.
"I am excited to welcome the 16 newest Boilermakers to the Purdue Track & Field and Cross Country family," Elliott said. "This is a great group of student-athletes that will make a big impact on our team. This class fits the blueprint of our program, both on and off the track, and is a group that will represent Purdue very well. We are looking forward to having them competing as Boilermakers."
We are excited to welcome the 16 newest student-athletes to the Boilermaker family!https://t.co/PQ3jer6dg9#BoilerUp 🚂 pic.twitter.com/eP4TgF4Xq3
— Purdue Track & Field / Cross Country (@PurdueTrackXC) June 29, 2020
JALEAH ALSTON – SPRINTS, MOBILE, ALABAMA (CAMPBELL HIGH)
A native of Mobile, Alabama, Jaleah Alston comes to Purdue from Campbell High, where she was a sprinter for coach Randy McClure. A state champion and Junior Olympic champion in 2019, Alston earned all-region accolades in 2020 and served as a team captain in 2019-20. She holds three Campbell records, in the 200 and the 4x100 and 4x400 relays. Alston's personal-best marks are 11.8 seconds in the 100, 23.8 in the 200 and 55.0 in the 400. She also played basketball.
Alston plans to major in exploratory studies and aspires to become a physical therapist after she earns her degree. Her mom is Jacquetta, and she has six siblings.
Alston on Purdue: "Purdue is highly-coveted among high schoolers all across the nation. From academics to athletics to extracurricular activities, Purdue offers a variety of opportunities that students take advantage of and mold to fit their tastes. I'm attending Purdue because I want to make a difference not just in my life, but in the world as well. Just by looking at the campus and going on a virtual tour, the vibe there is amazing and I want to be a part of that culture."
NAOMI CAMPBELL – SPRINTS, TECHIER VILLAGE, POINT FORTIN, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO (VESSIGNY SECONDARY SCHOOL)
Naomi Campbell comes to West Lafayette from Techier Village, Point Fortin, Trinidad and Tobago, where she attended Vessigny Secondary School and competed for coach Eric McCree. Campbell earned Victrix Ludorum Under 14 honors from Vessigny. The sprinter set a personal-record time in the 100-meter event at the senior championships in 2019 with a mark of 11.87 seconds and notched a best time of 24.39 in the 200 at the 2020 Carifta Trials. In 2018, Campbell earned the Educational Excellence Award for Outstanding Performance in C.S.E.C and was honored with her school's academic achievement award.
Campbell looks to major in accounting and hopes to further her accounting career towards becoming an auditor following a professional athletics career. Her parents are Sharon and Brian, and she has nine siblings.
Campbell on Purdue: "I chose Purdue because I strongly believe that their coaching staff would be able to work with me on improving in my sport. Academically, I believe Purdue will be the right fit for me in pursuing my career both on and off the track."
GENO CHRISTOFANELLI – DISTANCE, CROWN POINT, INDIANA (CROWN POINT HS)
From Crown Point, Indiana, Geno Christofanelli graduated from Crown Point High, where he was a distance runner for coach Keith Iddings and Eric Forehand. A DAC cross country champion in 2018 and 2019, Christofanelli placed ninth overall at the state cross country meet in 2019 and also earned all-state accolades in 2018. He was the semi state runner-up in both 2018 and 2019. Christofanelli has a personal-best time of 9:19 in the 3,200-meter event.
Christofanelli plans to major in accounting or business at Purdue. His parents are Karen and John, and he has a twin sister.
Christofanelli on Purdue: "I chose Purdue for many reasons. Every time I visited, just for track meets, I liked running around the campus and I could picture myself attending school here. Furthermore, while taking a campus tour with (cross country assistant) coach (John) Oliver, I found out Purdue really knows how to take care of their student athletes, both academically and athletically. The main reason I chose Purdue was the people, all the coaches, academic advisers and the athletes. Everyone I talked to threw off positive, feel-good vibes and made me feel very welcomed."
ALEX FREY – DISTANCE, INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA (NORTH CENTRAL HS)
An Indianapolis native, Alex Frey attended North Central High and was a distance runner for coach Taylor Marshall. In 2019, Frey won the conference title in the 3,200-meter event and helped his team to a track & field state title and runner-up finish in the 4x800. He also placed sixth overall in the 3,200 at the state meet. On the cross country course, Frey won the 2018 conference championship and was a team captain in 2019. His personal-best marks are 15:17 in the 5,000, 9:12 in the 3,200, 4:16 in the 1,600 and 1:58 in the 800. Frey earned academic all-conference and all-state accolades in 2019.
Frey hopes to pursue a degree in computer science at Purdue, and would like to work in computer science following graduation. His parents are Kuk and Stephen, and he has one sibling.
Frey on Purdue: "Purdue has the perfect balance of athletics and academics for my intended major and sport: computer science and running. The academics are challenging and yield high results while the athletics, specifically regarding cross country and track and field, have been steadily growing in the last couple of years. This challenging atmosphere has drawn me to Purdue with the goal in mind of becoming smarter and faster in the next four to five years."
MYA HAGARTY – DISTANCE, BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA (BLOOMINGTON HS NORTH)
Mya Hagarty comes to Purdue from Bloomington, Indiana, where she attended Bloomington High North and was a distance runner for coach Justin Helmer. Hagarty won a cross country conference title in 2018 and three track conference crowns, in 2018 and 2019. She earned three career all-state accolades and helped her team to two cross country conference championships and two track conference victories. Hagarty and her team won sectionals and regionals four times in cross country and once in track. Her personal-record time in cross country is 18:16 in the 5,000-meter, and in track, 11:16 in the 3,200, 5:15 in the 1,600 and 2:20 in the 800. Hagarty also played on the varsity soccer team as a freshman and is a two-time Academic All-State honoree and is a recipient of Purdue's Trustee's Scholarship.
Hagarty is undecided on her major at Purdue and her career aspirations following graduation. Her parents are Tanya and Nathan, and she has one sibling.
Hagarty on Purdue: "The rigorous academics, outstanding coaching and quality team culture immediately stood out to me when I visited Purdue. I truly believe that the distance program is in the process of being built into something great, and I want to be a part of that process. I know I will be challenged and pushed both academically and athletically in a positive way, and also that I will be provided with tons of support in order to succeed. When it comes down to it, in the end people say to trust your gut when making a college decision, and I knew right away that Purdue was the right fit for me."
LJ HILL – JUMPS, HOOVER, ALABAMA (HOOVER HS)
LJ Hill is a jumper from Hoover Alabama, where he competed for coach Devon Hind at Hoover High. In 2020, Hill won a state team title and a relay title in the 4x200, was named an All-American in the 4x200, earned three first team all-state honors and was ranked in the top-30 in the country indoors in the 60-meter hurdles and triple jump and outdoors in the triple jump. Hill won two team state championships and collect all-state honors in the triple jump in 2019. He owns personal-best marks of 22'10 in the long jump, 47'3 in the triple jump, 8.06 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles, 14.68 seconds in the 110-meter hurdles and 39.19 in the 300-meter hurdles. Academically, Hill was named to the A/B Honor Roll all four years.
Hill would like to earn a degree in environmental health sciences and wants to be a safety manager after graduating. His parents are Robin and Lloyd Sr., and he has one sibling.
Hill on Purdue: "I was looking for a school in the north to go to college, and Purdue was one of my top choices. After I got in contact with the coaches, we scheduled an official visit. When I was on my visit, it felt like I was at home and the vibe of the campus just felt right to me. The team treated me like family and the whole men's side of the team was like a brotherhood, and I wanted to join. The coaching staff was also pretty cool as well."
JOEY HUMES – DISTANCE, MAYBEE, MICHIGAN (HILLSDALE COLLEGE, MILAN HS)
A distance runner from Maybee, Michigan, Joey Humes transfers to Purdue from Hillsdale College and will be a senior for the Boilermakers in 2020-21. He earned multiple Division II All-America accolades at Hillsdale and was coached by R.P White. Humes was named the cross country and indoor track & field conference freshman of the year in 2016-17 and won a pair of indoor conference titles in 2019, in the 3,000 and the mile. At Milan High, he was a multiple-time all-state honoree under coach Chad Lawver. Humes' personal-best times are 8.14 in the 3,000, 3:48 in the 1,500 and 14:25 in the 5,000.
Humes will be a graduate student in Purdue's chemical engineering program, and wants to pursue a career in engineering. His parents are Pat and Renee Humes, and he has three siblings.
Humes on Purdue: "I chose to come to Purdue because it had everything I was looking for. Purdue is known worldwide for its top-notch engineering program, so being accepted into their master's program, especially as a chemistry major, was a big incentive to come to the school. Purdue also has a cross country and track program that is improving at a significant rate. If one looks at meet results from a couple years ago, Purdue was almost never mentioned as being a contending team. However, things have definitely changed, and I am so excited to be a part of a team that is trying to do something great. The team camaraderie, the respect and admiration for Coach Oliver, and the overall pursuit of excellence is why I decided to run for Purdue."
JOEY KASCH – DISTANCE, PARK RIDGE, ILLINOIS (MAINE SOUTH HS)
From Park Ridge, Illinois, Joey Kasch attended Maine South High and ran for coach Greg Nordahl. The distance runner collected multiple all-state honors in both track and cross country. Kasch's personal-record time in the 1600 is 4:19, while he owns a PR of 14:26 in the three-mile event.
Kasch hopes to major in business at Purdue and would like to have a career in business. His parents are Mary and Mark.
Kasch on Purdue: "Purdue for me was the perfect balance between great academics, great athletics and a great overall environment. From the coaches to the athletes, it's clear how hardworking this team is. It's something I felt I must be a part of."
LEAH KEESLING – DISTANCE, MODAC, INDIANA (RANDOLPH SOUTHERN JUNIOR-SENIOR HS)
Leah Keesling hails from Modac, Indiana, where she was a distance runner for coach Tyler Hostetler and graduated from Randolph Southern Junior-Senior High. A three-time conference and sectional cross country champion and 2018 regional champion, Keesling helped her team to two conference and four county titles. In track & field, she is a five-time conference champion and earned all-state accolades three times. Keesling owns four school, conference and county records, in the 5,000-meter, 1,600, 800 and 4x800. Her personal-record times are 18:41 in the 5,000, 5:06 in the 1,600, 2:23 in the 800 and 11:17 in the 3,200. Keesling has earned multiple academic honors, including regional and county recognition.
Keesling looks to major in food science and minor in nutrition/dietetics. Upon graduating, she hopes to provide more sustainable food sources for people in third world countries or work to create food sources that better support athletes. Keesling's parents are Lisa and Brad, and she has two siblings.
Keesling on Purdue: "From a very young age, it has always been my dream to attend Purdue University. Many members from both sides of my family have attended Purdue, and my older sister is currently studying engineering there. Purdue also has a superb program for what I want to study and pursue as a career. I also love the unique, exciting, welcoming and familiar atmosphere that Purdue offers. Lastly, I'm thrilled to be part of Purdue's distance program that is experiencing such positive growth."
JAHN RILEY – SPRINTS, INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA (PIKE HS)
An Indianapolis native, Jahn Riley graduated from Pike High and was a sprinter for coach Courtney Bishop. In 2019, he won the state title in the 400-meter, claimed two conference titles and scored 23 of the team's 41 points to help Pike earn a runner-up finish, the best finish in school history. Riley also was a three-time sectional champion and three-time regional champion in both 2018 and 2019. He was a team captain and earned the distinguished athlete award in 2019-20. Riley owns school records in three events, the 100 (10.63), 200 (21.31) and 400 (47.53).
Riley would like to earn a degree in civil engineering and aspires to run for Team USA and own his own construction business following his Purdue tenure. His parents are Marnita and Paul, and he has five siblings.
Riley on Purdue: "I chose Purdue University because of their engineering program. I wanted to go to a college where I could work on my track career as well as working towards becoming a civil engineer with a good support system, and I felt that Purdue showed that greatly. I also loved the coaching staff and team members of the Purdue Track & Field family. Staying close to home was a big factor in choosing what college I wanted to attend for the next four years."
NIKIA SMITH – SPRINTS, MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA (SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS HS)
Nikia Smith is a sprinter from Miami Gardens, Florida, where she graduated from Saint Thomas Aquinas High and ran for coach Alex Armenteros. Smith is a two-time state champion, in 2017-18 and 2018-19, finished third at the state meet in 2018 and was a state finalist from 2017-19. A 2018 All-American in the 4x100, she was named to the Principle Honor Roll from 2017-20 and the First Honor Roll from 2016-19. Smith's personal-best times are 13.97 seconds in the 100 hurdles, 25.3 in the 200 hurdles and 44.37 in the 300 hurdles.
Smith will pursue a degree in law & society and would like to go to law school and become a lawyer following her Boilermaker athletic and academic career. Her parents are Marsha Hanley and Nakia Smith, and she has three siblings. Smith's mother, Marsha, ran track at Arkansas.
Smith on Purdue: "Purdue's longstanding history of leadership and innovation attracted me the most. Every person has the power to change the world and help people. My dream is to eventually make my mark and help the world move forward. Being around so much history and like-minded people, I know Purdue is the right fit for me."
K'JA TALLEY – SPRINTS, DEARBORN, MICHIGAN (WARREN CENTRAL HS, INDIANAPOLIS)
A sprinter from Dearborn, Michigan, K'Ja Talley attended Warren Central High in Indianapolis and ran for coach Legretta Smith. Talley helped her team to an indoor and outdoor state championship in 2017, a state title indoors and an outdoors runner-up finish in 2019 and an indoors runner-up showing in 2018. She won four individual or relay state titles and was runner-up twice, claimed nine sectional or regional crowns and five conference championships. Talley broke the state record in the 4x400 relay in 2019 with a time of 3:47.16. Her PRs are 14.29 in the 100 hurdles and 42.90 in the 300 hurdles. Talley also played basketball, where she won the 2018 4A state championship and was named IBCA All-State in addition to eclipsing 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 150 steals in her career.
Talley plans to major in pharmacy at Purdue and would like to work in a hospital. Her parents are Kim Cannon and Kevin Talley Sr., and she has two siblings.
Talley was high school teammates with fellow 2020 Purdue signee Cierra Williams.
Talley on Purdue: "I chose Purdue because in my eyes, they will bring out the best in me athletically and educational wise. Purdue is Purdue, and the University itself always has a great story to its name! I feel that Purdue will make a major impact on my life with the support from my coaches, teammates and supervisors to help guide me to the right path to better my future. I am truly honored and proud to be a Boilermaker!"
PAYNE TURNEY – DISTANCE, CLINTON, ILLINOIS (CLINTON HS)
Payne Turney comes to Purdue from Clinton, Illinois, where she attended Clinton High and was a distance runner for coach Rachel Lyons and Leann Sosamon. The 2019 2A state champion in the 800-meter, Turney won the cross country conference title in 2016 and 2018. She is a three-time cross country all-state honoree and holds three school records. Turney's personal-best times are 1:00.98 in the 400-meter, 2:15.59 in the 800, 5:05.70 in the 1,600 and 11:11.28 in the 3,200. She also was a team captain for the Clinton High swim team, a 2019-20 Illinois State Scholar and class valedictorian.
Turney hopes to major in biochemistry and aspires to be a research scientist upon graduating. Her parents are Jodi and Josh, and she has one sibling.
Turney on Purdue: "I chose Purdue because I wanted to compete at a high level athletically while also getting a high-quality education. Purdue allows for me to explore research opportunities within my major and hone in on my interests as a scientist. At Purdue, I feel confident that I will leave with the skill set to accomplish my goals, personally and professionally."
KATELYN WASSON – DISTANCE, ZIONSVILLE, INDIANA (ZIONSVILLE COMMUNITY HS)
Zionsville, Indiana, native Katelyn Wasson graduated from Zionsville Community High and was a distance runner for coach Suzanne Rigg. A multiple-time all-state honoree, Wasson was the state runner-up in the 3,200-meter event. Her personal-best times are 4:57 in the 1,600 and 10:31 in the 3,200.
Wasson would like to major in actuarial science and wants to pursue a career involving math. Her father, Jay Wasson, is the Associate Vice President of Physical Facilities at Purdue, and she has one sister.
Wasson on Purdue: "I am so excited to be a member of Purdue's cross country and track programs! I chose Purdue because of the strong relationships I built throughout the recruiting process with Coach Oliver and the women on the team. By the end of my official visit, the campus and the team already felt like home. There's no doubt that the Purdue distance program is on the rise, and I am so excited to work with my teammates, Coach Oliver and the rest of the coaching staff to continue to make this program the best it can be. Boiler up!"
CALEB WILLIAMS – DISTANCE, WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA (HARRISON HS)
From West Lafayette, Caleb Williams comes to Purdue from Harrison High, where he ran for coach Chris Cahee and Walt Prochno. Williams was an all-state cross country honoree in 2018 and 2019 and a state qualifier in the 1,600-meter in 2019 following a conference championship in the event. He won the individual regional cross country title in 2018 and 2019 and earned all-conference cross country accolades three times. Williams holds the school 5,000 cross country record, with a time of 15:25.07, and boasts a 1,600 PR of 4:19.50. He also played basketball.
Williams is undecided on his major at Purdue and career aspirations following graduation. His parents are Christine and Jeff, and he has four siblings. Both of Williams' parents were on the Purdue track & field team, his father from 1982-87 and his mother from 1986-90, while his brother, Jacob, runs collegiately at IUPUI. Williams' grandfather, Jerry Williams, played baseball and basketball at Marion College.
Williams on Purdue: "I grew up in Ohio as a Purdue fan and was greatly influence by frequent visits to the University. When I was 12 years old, my family and I moved to West Lafayette. This allowed me to see the layout and experience the atmosphere of campus, which helped lead me to my final decision. I have always wanted to be a Boilermaker and am excited to be a part of the team that I have looked up to for so long."
CIERRA WILLIAMS – SPRINTS, INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA (WARREN CENTRAL HS)
Cierra Williams is an Indianapolis native, where she attended Warren Central High and was a sprinter for coach Legretta Smith. Williams helped Warren Central to a state championship indoors and a runner-up finish outdoors in 2019. She was named the 2018 most improved athlete and earned the mental toughness award and the sprints/hurdles MVP in 2019. Williams broke the state record in the 4x400 relay with a time of 3:47.16 in 2019. Her personal-best times are 12.19 seconds in the 100 and 56.23 in the 400 outdoors and 7.72 in the 60, 26.06 in the 200 and 59.33 in the 400 indoors.
Williams is planning to pursue a degree in kinesiology at Purdue, and would like to go to physical therapy school. Her parents are Danita Williams and Corey Richards, and she has three siblings.
Williams was high school teammates with fellow 2020 Purdue signee K'Ja Talley.
Williams on Purdue: "I chose to come to Purdue because from the first call, I felt important. I felt like it was genuine and it was a place that was really going to accept me and was serious about it. It was endless calls, and it's still endless calls, and it's just the best feeling. The bond is the type of bond that you're looking for between a coach and athlete and the bond that you're looking for with a newcomer and the ones who are already on the team. It was the feeling that I got when I first came into contact with Purdue, that's the reason I chose Purdue. 3"
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