USF Athletics

Track and Field Signing Class Packed with Talent

June 30, 2020

TAMPA, FLA., JULY 1, 2020 – The USF track and field team has bolstered its roster in a big way for next season.

Head coach Erik Jenkins announced on Wednesday a signing class that includes 27 new student-athletes that will join the program for the 2021 season.

"I am excited about the talented group of young people that the staff has assembled in this class," Jenkins said. "We have added several individuals with the ability to score at the AAC Championships and perform at the NCAA level. I look forward to watching them grow, persevere and succeed as members of the Bulls family."

Learn more about USF's signing class below.

MEN
Kobe Babin | Niceville, Fla. | Niceville HS
Pole Vault | 16-3.00
"Kobe is the defending state champion in Florida and is one of the top pole vaulters in the nation. We are anxious for him to join the ranks of our outstanding pole vaulters at USF." — Assistant Coach Don Marsh

Bryce Cullen | Miami, Fla. | St. Thomas Aquinas HS
High Jump | 6-8.00
"Bryce is coming to us from St. Thomas Aquinas where he competed in the long jump and high jump. Bryce has the ability to be a contributor in both jumps." — Assistant Coach Don Marsh

Tyler Dunigan | Sarasota, Fla. | Indian Hills CC
60m | 6.78 | 100m | 10.52 | 200m | 21.87
"Tyler has only competed in track and field for two years and has shown growth each season. We are looking forward to his continued growth, and we expect him to help us with depth in the sprints group." — Assistant Coach Abigi Id-Deen

Jovan Ferguson | Miami, Fla. | Miami Northwestern HS
400m | 47.63
"Jovan was a state finalist in the 400 meters as a junior and we expect he would have improved this year. He is a welcomed addition to the 400 meters group." — Head Coach Erik Jenkins

Ahykeem "Dee" Jennings | Crosshill, S.C. | Coastal Carolina
60m hurdles | 8.05 | 110m hurdles | 14.14 | 400m hurdles | 52.27
"Dee comes to us as a graduate student with a lot of experience at the conference and regional level. We look for him to make the next step and make it past the regional meet. He will help us in both hurdles and relays." — Assistant Coach Abigi Id-Deen

Stefone Moore-Green | Sicklerville, N.J. | Bucknell
200m | 21.62 | 400m | 47.77
"Stefone is a multi-sport talent who will narrow his focus to track and the sprint events this year. His potential is boundless and I look forward to his growth in the 200 and 400 meters." — Head Coach Erik Jenkins

Dre'Shaun Sanders | Raytown, Mo. | New Mexico CC
200m | 21.27 | 400m | 48.08
"Dre'Shaun really started to take off under the guidance of Coach Henry at New Mexico CC. He brings a welcomed versatility from 60 to 400 meters to the sprint group." — Head Coach Erik Jenkins

Malachi Shannon | Clermont, Fla. | East Ridge HS
100m | 10.83 | 200m | 21.61 | 400m | 48.55
"Malachi is a local product that has range and we believe he could develop into a quality sprinter." — Head Coach Erik Jenkins

Victor Steiner | La Libertao, El Salvador | IMG Academy
110m hurdles | 14.06 | Long Jump | 23-1.00
"Victor is a versatile athlete who will help us with depth in the hurdles and jumps. His attention to detail has helped him in the classroom as well as with his progress with track and field." — Assistant Coach Abigi Id-Deen

Elijah Wright | Naples, Fla. | UALR
200m | 21.86 | 400m | 47.62
"Elijah returns to Florida with a year of collegiate experience. He was an all-conference performer and has the raw tools to develop into a good long sprinter." — Head Coach Erik Jenkins

JANUARY 2020 SIGNEES     
Duncan Agyemang | Nkawie, Ghana | WKU
400m | 46.59 | 400m hurdles | 52.58
"Duncan brings NCAA championship experience with him. He was an all-conference performer in two events and was a member of one of the nation's best 4x400 meter relay teams." — Head Coach Erik Jenkins

Akeem Bradshaw | Tortola, British Virgin Islands | Iowa Central CC
Long Jump | 25-6.00 | Triple Jump | 50-0.00
"Akeem joined us in the spring 2020 semester. In junior college, he won multiple regional titles in the long jump and finished in the top three in the triple jump at the national meet. Akeem also represented the British Virgin Islands as a youth athlete and brings a great amount of energy and drive to the jumps team here at USF." — Assistant Coach Remuro Henry

Danelson Mahautiere | Roseau, Dominca | St. Mary's Academy
100m | 10.40 | 200m | 21.07
"Danelson joined our program in January, and we look forward to having a complete year of training with him to fully show his abilities in the sprints." — Assistant Coach Abigi Id-Deen

Lavonte Valentine | Melbourne, Fla. | South Carolina
100m | 10.44 | 200m | 21.69
"Lavonte came to USF with a little bit of collegiate experience, and he will benefit a great deal with a full year of training under his belt. His competitive edge will continue to help the group." — Assistant Coach Abigi Id-Deen

WOMEN
Zahria Allers | Miami, Fla. | St. Thomas Aquinas HS
100m | 11.76 | 200m | 23.58
"I have had the opportunity to watch Zahria compete multiple times and she has proven herself as a great competitor. She has done well in the classroom and has the versatility to help us as an individual as well as on both relays." — Assistant Coach Abigi Id-Deen

Elayna Bahr | Winter Springs, Fla. | Winter Springs HS
800m | 2:13.63 | 1600m | 5:10.13 | 3200m | 11:29.91 | 5000m | 17:58.60
"Elayna has excellent range from 800 meters to 5000 meters. She is the type of athlete that can make an immediate impact on our program." — Assistant Coach Damon Griffiths

Jadaja Baxter | Sandy Springs, Ga. | Riverwood International HS
100m | 11.90 | 200m | 23.89 | Long Jump | 19-6.00
"Jadaja is an athlete that can compete in multiple events. She is the daughter of USF alumni Jimmy Baxter, who was part of the basketball and track and field teams. Jimmy was an All-American in the high jump at USF. Jadaja is excited to become a Bull to create her own legacy like her father." — Assistant Coach Remuro Henry

Shaniya Benjamin | Tampa, Fla. | Alonso HS
200m | 24.06 | 400m | 55.69 | Long Jump | 18-11.00 | Triple Jump | 39-5.00
"Shaniya brings great energy and personality to our track and field program. Shaniya was a bronze medalist in the triple jump at the Florida State Championship Meet. With the ability to do multiple events, she'll be a great asset to our team." — Assistant Coach Remuro Henry

Alliya Boothe | Bloomfield, Conn. | Bloomfield HS
Shot Put | 44-11.00 | Weight Throw | 54-8.75
"Alliya is an athlete that can compete in the shot put, discus, hammer and weight throw. She is a very positive and hard-working individual, and she is going to be a great addition to the USF track and field family." Assistant Coach Mariami Kevkhishvili-Machavariani

Lauren Flannery | Downingtown, Pa. | Downingtown West HS
800m | 2:23.38 | 3200m | 11:32.00 | 5000m | 19:34.60
"Lauren is just scratching the surface of her potential. She should be able to step right in and add depth to the team and another piece to the puzzle." — Assistant Coach Damon Griffiths

Maguire Holahan | Niceville, Fla. | Niceville HS
Pole Vault | 11-5.00
"Maguire is a versatile athlete who competed in running events while specializing in the pole vault. She is a two-time state placer in the pole vault and we are looking forward to her progress at the collegiate level." — Assistant Coach Don Marsh

Jae'Nisa Heckstall | Phoeniz, Ariz. | Purdue
100m hurdles | 13.72 | 400m hurdles | 59.30
"Jae'Nisa comes to USF as a conference finalist and NCAA preliminary round qualifier. She has the ability to not only be a national level performer in the hurdles, but she also has the ability to help us in both relays." — Assistant Coach Abigi Id-Deen

Zayne Jack | Lutz, Fla. | Steinbrenner HS
100m | 11.87 | 200m | 24.32
"We are serious about being an option for Florida student-athletes, and Zayne being local was a no-brainer for us. She was someone that we identified right away. She has done an excellent job in the classroom and on the track, and she will help us as we continue to build the program." — Assistant Coach Abigi Id-Deen

Jasmine Knowles | Nassau, Bahamas | St. Anne's School
400m | 54.91 | 800m | 2:09.49
"Jasmine brings championship experience at the international level, as she is a Carifta Games champion. She has great speed to be an elite middle distance runner." — Assistant Coach Damon Griffiths

Kendall McDaniel | Loganville, Ga. | Grayson HS
High Jump | 5-7.00 | Long Jump | 18-4.00
"Kendall will be an outstanding performer in the high and long jump for the Bulls. She also competed in the 400 meters in high school." — Assistant Coach Don Marsh

A'Kyrah O'Banner | Tallahassee, Fla. | Godby HS
200m | 24.59 | 400m | 56.73
"A'Kyrah brings a different dynamic to the group because of her versatility in the sprints and jumps. She has a bright future in several events." — Head Coach Erik Jenkins

Patricija Roshofa | Limbazi, Lativia | Fresno State
200m | 24.17 | 400m | 54.19
"Patricija brings collegiate and international experience to the team. She has qualified for the NCAA preliminaries and has been an all-conference performer in the 400 meters." — Head Coach Erik Jenkins

To stay up-to-date on the latest USF track and field news, follow the Bulls on social media (Twitter / Instagram).

About USF Track and Field
The USF track and field team has produced 22 All-America selections since 2008 and at least one All-American in nine of the last 11 years. 2016 graduate Matthew O'Neal is USF's first six-time NCAA All-American. USF has posted two NCAA runner-up finishes since 2013 - O'Neal (triple jump, 2016) and Courtney Anderson (high jump, 2013). The Bulls hosted the 2018 NCAA Track and Field East Preliminary at the USF Track and Field Stadium.