Texas Tech Signs State High Jump Champion
August 04, 1999 | Indoor Track
Aug. 4, 1999
LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech Men's track and field coaches announced today the signing of high jumper Michael Beasley out of Abilene Wylie High School. Beasley signed a National Letter of Intent with Texas Tech on July 31 and will compete with the Red Raiders in the upcoming season.
Beasley won the 1999 3-A state championship in the high jump, and his best jump of 7'-11/2" was the fourth best jump in the country by a high school athlete. In 1997 and 1998 Beasley was runner-up at the state meet in the high jump competition.
The addition of the Abilene Wylie star comes less than a week after Texas Tech announced the hiring of Wes Kittley as the new track and field director. Kittley had coached at Abilene Christian University since 1985 where he had won a record 29 Division II national championships.
"Michael will be a tremendous asset to the program," said track and field assistant coach Chris Beene. "I see him contributing both as a high jumper and possibly as a decathlete."