South Florida Track and Field Welcomes 31 Athletes in 2026 Recruiting Class

Photo by: Anthony Martini / University of South Florida Athletics

South Florida Track and Field Welcomes 31 Athletes in 2026 Recruiting Class

August 26, 2026 | Track & Field, Cross Country

The Bulls sign 18 transfers and 13 freshmen for the 2026-27 school year

By: Anthony Martini

TAMPA, Fla. (Aug. 26, 2026) – University of South Florida Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Erik Jenkins has announced the Bulls' 2026 signing class. The group consists of 31 athletes, including 18 transfers and 13 freshmen. This class features nine NCAA or NJCAA All-Americans and seven athletes who have represented their country in international competition. Among the new additions, 14 are from outside the state, 11 from other countries, and six native Floridians.

"We are enthused to welcome this talented group of student-athletes to the University of South Florida track and field family," Jenkins said. "This class brings championship experience, depth across event groups on both our men's and women's teams, and a strong desire to compete at the highest level. We believe they will make an immediate impact, help push our teams forward, and contribute to our pursuit of conference and national championship success."

Men
Philemon Azumah
Azumah is a jumper from Akim Takyiman, Ghana, and comes to South Florida from Ghana National College. He was the 2025 GAA national champion and 2025 U20 long jump champion. Azumah earned a silver medal in the triple jump at the 2025 CAA Region 2 Senior Athletics Championships and was the long and triple jump winner at the Central Region Schools and College Sports Championships. His personal-best marks are in the long jump (7.46m / 24' 5.75") and triple jump (16.01m / 52' 6.25").

Javano Bridgewater
Bridgewater is a sprinter from Freeport, Bahamas, and comes to South Florida after spending two seasons at Colby Community College. He was an NJCAA All-American in the outdoor 400m in 2026, and he represented the Bahamas at the 2026 U20 World Championships in the 400m and 4x400m relay. Bridgewater's top marks are in the 200m (20.69) and 400m (46.24).

Piers Cameron
Cameron is a thrower from Marietta, Georgia, and is a transfer from Southern Mississippi. He earned Second Team All-America honors in the indoor shot put in 2026 and is a two-time Sun Belt Conference champion in the shot put. His shot put personal-best is 19.68m (64' 7").

Tyler Dillon
Dillon is a distance runner from Muncie, Indiana, and comes to the Bulls after spending two seasons at Eastern Illinois. He scored points on EIU's fourth-place distance medley relay team at the OVC Indoor Championships. His top times are in the 800m (1:51.73) and the cross country 8K (25:16.8).

Albert Gybaah Kontor
Gybaah Kontor is a jumper from Kintampo, Ghana. He was the 2026 U20 CAA Region 2 champion and finished fourth at the 2026 African Athletics Championships in Accra, Ghana. His top marks are in the triple jump (16.59m / 54' 5") and long jump (7.13m / 23' 4.75").

Javeraih Holland
Holland is a sprinter from Union Hall, Virginia, and is a transfer from Bryant & Stratton. The junior is a five-time NJCAA All-American. His top marks are in the 60m (6.71), 100m (10.29), 200m (20.86), and 400m (46.22).

Carlo Johnson
Johnson is a sprinter from Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania, and is a transfer from Lincoln University. He won a gold medal in the 4x400m relay at the U20 World Championships as a member of the United States national team. He also earned NCAA Division II Second Team All-America honors in the outdoor 4x400m relay in 2026. His top time is in the 400m (46.23).

Zachary Jones
Jones is a thrower from Chester, Virginia, and comes to South Florida after spending three seasons at Virginia Union. He was an NCAA Division II First Team All-American in the discus in 2026 and is a five-time CIAA champion. Jones' personal-best marks are in the shot put (16.93m / 55' 6.5") and discus (58.06m / 190' 6").

Owen Kaye
Kaye is a sprinter from Jacksonville, Florida, and graduated from William M. Raines High School in 2026. He was a two-time All-American and two-time Florida state champion. Kaye's top marks are in the 100m (10.36), 200m (20.87), and 400m (48.29).

Titus Kipchumba
Kipchumba is a distance runner from Kapsowar, Kenya, and graduated from Sang'alo Secondary School in 2026. His personal-best time is in the 3,000m (8:03.22).

Andrew Nuyen
Nuyen is a pole vaulter from Rochelle, Illinois, and graduated from Rochelle Township High School in 2026. He is a three-time state medalist and previously held the Illinois state record with a personal-best pole vault mark of 5.35m (17' 6.5").

Cameron Phillips
Phillips is a jumper from Houston, Texas, and graduated from Humble Summer Creek High School in 2026. He is a two-time state qualifier and was consistently a top-five triple jumper in the nation. His top marks are in the triple jump (15.34m / 50' 4") and long jump (7.14m / 23' 5")

Rios Prude Jr.
Prude Jr. is a sprinter from Rockledge, Florida, and comes to South Florida after three seasons at the University of Florida. The senior is a three-time First Team All-American in the 4x400m relay. His top marks are in the 100m (10.49), 200m (21.04), and 400m (45.51).

Danny Raymond
Raymond is a distance runner from Essex, England, and is a transfer from Queens University. He finished 18^th out of 198 runners in the 800m (1:50.45) at the 2026 Raleigh Relays. Raymond's top marks are in the 800m (1:48.64), 1,500m (3:43.35), and the cross country 8K (24:58.9).

Rafael Rodriguez
Rodriguez is a mid-distance runner from Segovia, Spain, and comes to the Bulls after three seasons at Evansville. He finished fifth in the 1,500m (3:50.94) at the 2026 MVC Outdoor Championships. His top times are in the 800m (1:50.3), 1,500m (3:41.71), and the cross country 8K (24:34.0).

Benjamin Shue
Shue is a thrower from West Caldwell, New Jersey, and is a transfer from the University of Texas. He placed second in the shot put at the UTSA Invitational with a mark of 17.64m (57' 10.5"). Shue's top marks are in the shot put (17.91m / 58' 9.25") and discus (55.74m / 182' 10").

Barrain Smith
Smith is a sprinter and hurdler from St. Elizabeth, Jamaica, and is a transfer from Odessa College. The junior is a four-time NJCAA All-American, earning three All-America honors in 2026. His personal-best times are in the 400m hurdles (51.23) and 800m (1:51.15).

Robert Stitts Jr.
Stitts Jr. is a sprinter from El Cerrito, California, and comes to South Florida after one season at South Carolina. The senior qualified for the 2026 NCAA East First Rounds in the 100m and 200m and was the 2025 California Junior College state champion in the 100m and 200m. His personal-best times are in the 100m (10.18) and 200m (20.65).

Samuel Toili
Toili is a sprinter from Kitale, Kenya, and is a transfer from the University of Oklahoma. The junior is a two-time NCAA West First Rounds qualifier in the 400m and qualified for the NCAA West First Rounds in the 4x400m relay in 2026. His personal-best mark is in the 400m (45.86).

Women
Aliyah Akinbile
Akinbile is a sprinter and hurdler from Tucson, Arizona, and graduated from Catalina Foothills High School in 2026. She is a two-time Arizona state and regional USATF JOS champion in the 400m hurdles and she was the Arizona state and regional USATF JOS champion in the 400m in 2024. Her personal-best marks are in the 300m hurdles (42.30) and 400m hurdles (1:00.55).

Natalia Biskupska
Biskupska is a pole vaulter from Kielce, Poland, and comes to the Bulls from Jan Kochanowski University. She was the Polish U23 indoor champion and Polish U20 indoor champion in the pole vault. Her personal-best mark in the pole vault is 4.20m (13' 9").

Cadence Cray
Cray is a sprinter from Baxley, Georgia, and is a transfer from Albany State. She is a four-time NCAA Division II Second Team All-American, earning three All-America honors in 2026. Cray's personal-best times are in the 100m (11.56) and 200m (23.40).

Naima Durandisse
Durandisse is a jumper from Orlando, Florida, and graduated from Boone High School in 2026. She was the 2026 4A Florida state runner-up in the high jump with a mark of 1.72m (5' 7.75"). Her personal-best marks are in the high jump (1.74m / 5' 8.5") and long jump (5.95m / 19' 6.25").

Malia Hambrick
Hambrick is a distance runner from North Port, Florida, and graduated from North Port High School in 2026. She is a four-time Florida 4A state qualifier in the 800m. Her personal-best marks are in the 800m (2:14.30) and 1,600m (5:09.04).

Alexia Latore
Latore is a sprinter from Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, and graduated from Ecole Salish Secondary School in 2026. She was named the 2026 British Columbia U18 Sprints and Hurdles Athlete of the Year. Her personal-best times are in the 200m (24.11) and 400m (54.17).

Jayce Miller
Miller is a jumper from Tampa, Florida, and graduated from Hillsborough High School in 2026. She is a two-time Florida 3A state runner-up in the triple jump. Her personal-best marks are in the long jump (6.00m / 19' 8.25") and triple jump (12.48m / 40' 11.5").

Sofia Molina
Molina is a sprinter from Bogota, Colombia, and is a transfer from Florida Atlantic. The senior was the U23 Colombian champion in the 800m and earned a silver medal in the 4x400m relay at the Iberia American Athletics Championships for Colombia. Her personal-best times are in the 400m (52.93) and 800m (2:09.32).

Victoria Porter
Porter is a sprinter from Tulsa, Oklahoma, and graduated from Broken Arrow High School in 2026. She is a five-time Oklahoma 6A state champion and 2024 USATF All-American in the 400m. Her personal-best times are in the 100m (11.46), 200m (23.63), and 400m (54.71).

Rayna Raglin
Raglin is a sprinter from Alton, Illinois, and graduated from Alton High School in 2026. She was the 2026 Illinois state champion in the 100m and 200m and holds the Illinois state record in the 100m and indoor 200m. Her personal-best times are in the 100m (11.27), 200m (23.18) and 400m (55.39).

Mikayla Shavers
Shavers is a jumper from Fleming Island, Florida, and graduated from Fleming Island High School in 2026. She is a two-time Florida 3A state champion in the triple jump. Her personal-best marks are in the long jump (5.93m / 19' 5.5") and triple jump (13.09m / 42' 11.5").

Aerin Thompson
Thompson is a sprinter from Cayuga, Texas, and is a transfer from UT Tyler. She was the 2026 NCAA Division II national champion in the indoor 4x400m relay and is a nine-time NCAA Division II All-American. Her personal-best times are in the 200m (23.22) and 400m (52.15).

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About South Florida Track and Field
Erik Jenkins is in his eighth season as the South Florida head coach. The Bulls' 4x400m relay squad— Devontie Archer, Alexavier Monfries, Corey Ottey and Gabriel Moronta — claimed a national title with a program-record time of 3:00.42 at the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships, earning a top-15 finish as a team. This past season, six Bulls athletes earned All-America honors, including Jaleel Croal, Markel Jones, Nathan Metelus, Alexavier Monfries, Shomari Pettigrew, and Kelsey Singleton.

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