Texas Tech Director of Track and Field and Cross Country announced the addition of 13 athletes to the program.

Feb. 13, 2013

LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Wes Kittley announced today the addition of 13 student-athletes to national letters of intent.

A total of nine athletes have been added to the Lady Raiders' squad while four athletes have been added to the Red Raiders' squad.

"Our signing class has added depth overall to our team," Kittley said. "Depth has been our goal this year. There are places we need to fill and this class has helped us do that. We really helped our women's team depth with a balanced class of distance runners and jumpers. All of these kids are good academically and allows us to know they will be here for four years and be developed."

That depth will look to benefit a program that boasts the current No. 6 men's team in the country and a Lady Raider program that has two athletes and its 4x400 relay team currently ranked in the top-20 nationally.

Texas Tech will compete next week at the Big 12 Indoor Championships scheduled for Feb. 22-23 in Ames, Iowa.

CLARK BLUNT

Distance
Frisco, Texas - Frisco Heritage High School

Finished 18th at the 4A State Cross Country meet with a time of 16:36.90...placed third at the 2012 4A Region II meet with a time of 15:46.90...recorded a personal-best time of 4:37.15 in the 1,600-meter run...recorded a personal-best time of 9:52.18 in the 3,200-meter run...recorded a personal-best time of 15:42.90 in the 5,000-meter run.

Texas Tech Head Cross Country Coach Jon Murray on Clark Blunt -
"Clark is going to add depth to our distance group. He is an up and coming runner with lots of potential. Clark showed tremendous improvement this fall in cross country and I anticipate his times in track to dramatically improve. It is exciting to watch the direction that Clark is going in his running."

KYLE COLLINS

Jumps/Sprints
DeSoto, Texas - DeSoto High School

Nationally ranked long jumper...member of the 2012 UIL 5A State Champion team at DeSoto...personal-best of 23'-11" in the long jump...personal-best time of 48.45 in the 400-meter...No. 1 ranked returning senior long jumper in the state of Texas ...No. 4 ranked returning senior 400-meter runner in the state of Texas...coached by Donald Miller and Mark Brady.

Assistant Coach James Thomas on Kyle Collins -
"Kyle is a versatile and talented football/track athlete from a DeSoto program that knows how to win. He has traded in his cleats for his spikes in hopes of becoming one of the nation's elite level collegiate track and field athletes. We are all excited about his potential."

ALIYAH HARMON

Jumps
Chicago, Ill. - Rich Central High School

Competed in the horizontal jumps in high school...recorded a personal-best mark of 19'-11.00" in the long jump.

Assistant Coach Victor Houston on Alyah Harmon -
"Aliyah is another young athlete that has tremendous upside in the jumps and will be a great addition to field events."

ANDI MORGAN

Combined Events Athlete
Sunnyvale High School - Sunnyvale High School

Finished third overall at the 2012 3A Texas State Meet in the 100-meter hurdles...2012 Texas State Meet qualifier in the 300-meter hurdles...current school record holder in the 100-meter hurdles, 300-meter hurdles, high jump and long jump...coached by Kristen Davis.

Assistant Coach James Thomas on Andi Morgan -
"Andi has a strong desire to be coached and developed in the combined events. She is a Texas high school tri-sport athlete who will now have the opportunity to work solely on track and field. Andi has the versatility, athleticism, and heart to make an impact in our program"

AMANI NESMITH

Long Jump
Philadelphia, Pa. - Swanson Arts & Technology High School

Mulit-event athlete in high school who will compete in the long jump at Texas Tech...recorded a personal-best long jump mark of 19'-4.00"...also competed in the hurdles and sprints in high school.

Assistant Coach Victor Houston on Amani Nesmith -
"Amani is a very versatile young lady who has competed in the sprints jumps and hurdles with her best event being the long jump. Amani is relatively young in these events and still have a lot to learn but with hard work and dedication we do believe she will help our team out a great deal."

DEE PAUL

Sprints
Munday, Texas - Munday High School

Six-time 1A Texas State Champion....2012 1A State Champion 300-meter hurdles with a time of 37.58...2012 1A State Champion in the long jump with a mark of 7.00-meters (22'-11.75")...anchored the 2012 1A State Champion 4x400 relay team ...anchored the 2012 1A State Runner-Up 4x100 relay team...2012 1A Regional Champion in the long jump...finished second at the 2012 1A regional meet in the triple jump...All-State selection in football...multi-sport athlete who will also play football at Texas Tech.

Texas Tech Head Coach Wes Kittley on Dee Paul -
"I cannot be more excited about the signing of Dee Paul. He is from my hometown, and a small school, but is an athlete with tremendous heart and a humble spirit about him. He is going to be a great addition to our 4x400 relay team and another great 400-meter hurdler in our long history of hurdlers. He can do anything - long jump , hurdle and sprint. What an addition to our team."

JESSICA PRICKETT

Distance
Burleson, Texas - Burleson High School

Finished third at the 4A UIL State Cross Country Championship with a time of 18:07.80....placed seventh in the 3,200-meter run at the 2012 4A UIL State Track Championships with a time of 11:09.67...placed 18th at the USA Cross Country Championship running a time of 22:10.80 in the 6,000-meter run...personal-best of 5:22.51 in the 1,600-meter run...personal-best time of 11:09.67 in the 3,200-meter run...personal-best time of 17:46.40 in the 5,000-meter run...personal-best time of 22:10.80 in the 6,000-meter run in cross country.

Head Cross Country Coach Jon Murray on Jessica Prickett -
"She is a great add to our program. Jessica has shown steady progress in the UIL 4A classification and I anticipate her to continue this success. Jessica has a great love and attitude toward running which is going to serve her well in college."

MADELINE RANEY

Combined Events
Tyler, Texas - Bishop Gorman High School

2011 Texas TAPPS State Qualifier in both the 4x100 and the 4x200 relay team.

Texas Tech Assistant Coach James Thomas on Madeline Raney -
"Maddie is a private school Texas girl who really wants the opportunity to compete with and against the best. It is typically pretty easy to look an athlete in the eyes and see if there is fear or uncertainty. I did not sense any such thing when I explained what Big 12 and NCAA Division I track & field is all about. That's the attitude any coach would want from their athlete."

RAASHAAN REASON

Sprints
Mesquite, Texas - West Mesquite High School

Competed in the sprints and as a member of the sprint relays at West Mesquite High School...recorded a personal-best time of 21.94 in the 200-meter dash during the 2012 outdoor season...helped the 4x100 relay team advance to the regional qualifying meet.

Texas Tech Associate Head Coach and Sprints Coach Dion Miller on Raashaan Reason
"We are excited about the addition of Raashaan Reason to our team. We feel like he can do some good things at Texas Tech and become a quality sprinter for our program."

PAETYN REVELL

Triple Jump
DeSoto, Texas - DeSoto High School

Ranked No. 6 nationally in the triple jump...recorded a personal best mark of 40'-11"...2012 Texas State Meet Runner-Up...ranked No. 1 in Texas in the indoor triple jump...ranked as the No. 1 returning outdoor jumper...helped lead DeSoto to a 2012 third-place finish at the Texas State UIL State Meet...coached by June Villers.

Assistant Coach Victor Houston on Paetyn Revell -
"Paetyn is extremely new to the triple jump, but has shown an incredible amount of success in a short time. Paetyn has an uncanny ability to learn, duplicate, and execute technique that likely comes from her extensive dance experience. She will be a great addition to an already young group of women."

MACY SCHULTE

Distance
Comanche, Texas - Comanche High School

Finished third at the 2012 2A UIL State Championship with a time of 12:05.00...won the 2012 UIS 2A State Track Championship in the 1,600-meter run with a time of 5:07.75...finished fifth in the 3,2000-meter run with a time of 11:34.77...personal-best of 5:07.75 in the 1,600-meter run...personal-best of 11:34.77 in the 3,200-meter run.

Head Cross Country Coach Jon Murray on Macy Schulte -
"Macy is an outstanding small school athlete who I feel is ready to take the jump to the big time. Macy's potential is outstanding. Her development will come by getting stronger and using her strength which is her speed."

REECE TIMMONS

Pole Vault
Robinson, Texas - Robinson High School

Finished fourth at the 3A UIL State Track and Field meet...cleared a seasonal-best 12'-0" last year.

Volunteer Assistant Coach Tom Slagle on Reece Timmons -
"Reece was a 3A state qualifier in the pole vault last year, and we are looking for her to continue to jump at a high level. We are really looking forward to her coming in and giving us some quality depth in the women's pole vault."

BLAKE WOOD

Pole Vault
Hico, Texas - Hico High School

Finished second at the 2A Texas State Meet...personal-best of 11'-9.00".

Volunteer Assistant Coach Tom Slagle on Blake Wood -
"Blake is a multisport athlete in high school, and is highly competitive young lady. She was one of the top 2A vaulters in the state last year, and will be great addition to our women's pole vault crew."