Texas Tech University Athletics
Track Signs Another Stellar Class
February 05, 2009 | Track and Field
Feb. 5, 2009
LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech head track coach Wes Kittley and the track program are taking leaps and bounds to national recognition boasting one of the most talented recruiting classes for the second year in a row.
The Texas Tech track program has announced the signing of five high school track stars to National Letters of Intent. Bryce Lamb, Katie Grimes, Candace Jackson, Shade Weygandt and Julian Wruck plan to attend Texas Tech University in the fall of 2009.
"We are very thrilled with the class we have so far and can not wait to see what the future holds with this group and Texas Tech track," Kittley said. "We are not done yet as we will have more signees in the upcoming weeks as well." Lamb, an all-around athlete from Chandler High School in Chandler, Ariz., comes to
Texas Tech as a long jumper and triple jumper. He is currently the reigning 5A state champion and the No. 1 returning triple jumper in the nation posting a record jump of 52'-5" and the No. 2 returning long jumper with a leap of 25'-9". After being heavily recruited throughout the Big 12 and the Pac-10 conferences as a safety on the football field, Lamb chose Texas Tech to pursue his passion for track and field.
"We're ecstatic with the addition of Bryce Lamb," said Coach Kittley. "He's going to be an immediate impact on the national scene as a freshman. We're excited to have him and the potential that he brings."
Grimes, a five-time state medalist from Canyon High School in Canyon, Texas, will bring her variety of talents as she will train for the heptathlon and pentathlon. As the reigning two-time 3A state champion in the 300 meter hurdles, she posted a career-best 43.60 seconds to win her second title in the event to go along with another gold medal time in the 100 meter hurdles at 14.19, while garnering a silver medal in the triple jump and leading her team to the 2008 state championship title as a junior.
"Katie's a great high jumper, long jumper, hurdler, just a really good all-around athlete who will make a great pent-athlete for us," Kittley said of Grimes.
Jackson, a sprinter from Dallas Skyline High School in Dallas, Texas, placed second at the 5A state meet in the 200M and has a personal-best time of 23.78. She is a member of the 4x100M and 4x400M relays that are both second fastest returning in the state of Texas for 2009. The Dallas native was named a first-team member of the Dallas Morning News All-Area team in 2007-2008.
"Candace will add so much to our 4x100m relay and our 4x400m relay," Coach Kittley said. "She's going to be a really great utility runner for us."
Weygandt, the top returning pole-vaulter in the nation, joins Texas Tech from Mansfield High School in Mansfield, Texas. The three-time state champion is the overall state of Texas record holder with a jump of 13'-10" as well as the No. 1 women's pole-vaulter in the world as listed by the 2008 Top List Outdoor Youth Women. She currently holds the junior outdoor national record at 13'-9.5". She was named to the USA Today Newspaper High School National Track and Field team as a sophomore and a junior. This Junior Olympic champion chose to sign with Texas Tech after considering Big 12 foe Nebraska, and San Diego State.
"We are very fortunate to get Shade," said Kittley of signing Weygandt. "She will provide so much immediate impact nationally as a freshman for us." Wruck, from Milton, Brisbane in Australia, brings much to the table as a thrower. This 6'-5" senior is the current Junior Australian record-holder in the discus with a toss of 199'-9". He has competed in the World Youth Distance throw, the Australian Athletics Championships and numerous state and national championships throughout his high school career, as well as garnering as much success on the international level in elite competitions such as the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, India.
"Julian's going to be a great kid, he's young, only 17, so he's only going to develop and get better," Kittley said. "We're really excited to see what he can do once he's here."
Texas Tech football signee Derrick Mays of Killeen Shoemaker High School in Killeen, Texas, has also made a commitment to run track for the Red Raiders as well. Mays finished fourth with a time of 21.19, to current Red Raider Markus Henderson, at the Texas Class 5A 200M last spring.
"He's really going to add to our relays and we're excited to have him as a part of our team." Kittley said of Mays.
Players Mentioned
