2025-2026 Way too Early Women's Team Outlook

So looking ahead to next year because I know that's what a lot of us and especially I love to do… our women's team will be loaded and I mean loaded! We all knew coming into this season that our men's team was full of seniors and all Americans. Next year we will have a strong women's squad.

Starting with sprints, our dynamic duo will be back and will be absolutely stronger. Jasmine Montgomery and Camryn Dickson who are versatile enough to go 100-200-400-4x100-4x400. What more can you say about this duo and all they've done this year. Our 2nd and 4th leg of our sprint relay. And just wait because we're bringing in one of the fastest, if not fastest sprinters from the high school ranks in Taylor Nunez. She is the most decorated UIL Track and Field Athlete of all time with 16 state gold medals. Yes 16, 4 every year. She can make some finals in the 100/200 and will bolster our 4x100 like crazy. If we had her now, we probably win today. We'll also add Aysha Shaheed who has a 11.32 best and will be an amazing lead off leg on that relay.

We'll also bring back hurdlers Jaiya Covington and Jasmine Harmon. We all know what Jaiya can do, she's the 60 hurdle indoor national champ. Harmon was on her way to making it to Eugene before a fall led her to miss. They're both gonna be unstoppable next year and can both be on that relay. We have no 400 hurdlers on the roster as of yet, that's a position we need to fill.

400 wise we'll return pretty much only Tyler Lowe who both made the regional meet. Jaydan Wood, Latasha Smith, and Kennedy Wade are all gone. We added a 54 second runner Nia Trammell. We have so much work to do in this 400 group. It's been Pat Henry's bread and butter and we're being out performed and our recruited here heavily. It hurts. We need some help here badly…

800 wise, we don't have any 800 meter specialist. At least not anyone who can score on a national level. We have not recruited an 800 first type runner. Just long distance runners who can drop down to the 800. However, incoming freshman Sophia Bendet can run extremely well at this distance with her 2:04 personal best. But I think the 1500/1600 will be her primary event. San Juanita Leal is also a really strong 800 runner, but I think when healthy her best race will be the 5k. Maddie Jones and Avery Perkins are long distance runners who can run here.

Distance wise our women will be loaded and return every one aside from Elise Smoot. We'll be lead by Debora Cherono who we know is an amazing steeple runner. She can also run the 1500 really well too. Kennady Fontenot will be in the same category as Cherono and she can run a strong 5000 as well. Megan Roberts will be a monster the next 3 years in the 5000/10000. San Juanita Leal was hurt this season but if healthy, she's an amazing amazing talent that can run anywhere from the 800-10000. I'm really excited for her. Shewaye Johnson looked great at the end of the season in the 5000/10000. Avery Perkins and Maddie Jones can be great 1500 runners. Emma Little can threaten to make the national meet in the steeplechase and I expect a big jump from Staucie Lees in this event. Sophia Bendet could be one of our best 1500/1600 runners, as will another incoming freshman Alexandra Fox. Her high school teammate Ava Cole will be a strong 3k/5k runner. I'm excited for what this team will do in the fall.

We also return Winny Bii who could possibly win the triple jump today. We could use some more horizontal jump help behind her. We have some solid triple jumpers, but are lacking in the long jump. However Taylor Nunez is a consistent 20+ foot long jumper and has a 21'0 jump. Sofia Iakushina can also be a national contender in the long jump as well. High jump we return Milenna Chevallier who I hope can go 6+ next year. Pole Vault wise we lose Heather Abadie but we add freshman Lily Carlson who's gone 14 feet and Magdalena Rauter who's gone 13'9.

Throws wise we return Abigail Martin and Carlie Weiser. Martin scored in the discus last year but failed to qualify this year, hopefully she bounces back strong. Weiser was the prize recruit from the 2023 class. Hopefully things click for her as in upperclassmen. Javelin wise we have Katelyn Fairchild, one of the nation's best who missed all of this season. Her sister McKenzie had a great season but didn't advance to nationals despite being ranked up high. We also return Ana De La Garza and added a solid freshman in Emily Harbach. Hopefully we can add a strong shot put and discus thrower that can score nationally, but it's an event we hardly ever recruit elite transfers in or fail to do so. But a healthy Katelyn Fairchild can score at a national meet as can Martin.

Multi wise, we'll have one of the best in the country in Sofia Iakushina. Rylee Lydon was the top recruit in this event two years ago, but had an Achilles in jury that sidelined her during her freshman year. This past season was returning from that injury. Hopefully she's 100% this coming year. We also have Mercy Freeman who red shirted this year and added Bradie Mennegati a talented high school multi. Henry loves this event so I assume we'll add another here.

This women's team will be stacked with Dickson, Montgomery, and Nunez in the sprints. They return a very strong distance group and have weapons in the throws. Returning Winny Bii, one of the best in the nation in the triple jump will be amazing as will returning Sofia Iakushina.

But also summer is the key in this sport as that's when many transfers are moving around, especially grad transfers. With coaching changes and roster changes, during the summer and fall is when you can reload your roster with additional pieces. I really like what we have, we'll be a 400/800 runner or field event star from national title contention. Also we can go overseas and add some big points like our men did with Aleksandr Solovev. It's the name of the game now, so doing that is a must. Let's just see who we add. The publicity we're getting from success of our international athletes is excellent. We have pipelines from Jamaica, Grenada, now Kenya and Russia. Let's keep it going!

Great job Ags!!

2025-2026 Way Too Early Men's Team Outlook

(Insert Will Smith Standing Alone in Room In Fresh Prince of Bel Air Meme)

Oh where did all my friends go! Aggie Legends, All Americans, Conference Champions, National Champions, all gone. Sam Whitmarsh, Auhmad Robinson, Cutler Zamzow, Kimar Farquharson, Cooper Cawthra, Antonie Nortje, Caden Norris, Mason Mangum, Bryce McCray, Ernest Campbell, John Baker, DeVantae Mount, Jonathan Chung, Carter Bajoit… all gone. A legendary class, all done in the maroon and white. So glad they got their national championship.

But with an ever evolving landscapes in collegiate track and field. It's easier to rebuild now, than it may ever be. They will count us out, but it's time we reload. We already added some great impactful transfers, but we're going to have a busy busy summer and fall trying to reload. I'm sure we have lots of scholarships to hand out.

Sprints
We saw the emergence of Ernest Campbell late, but he's transferring to play football at a mid major. We lose Mason Mangum and DeVante Mount as well. However we added some elite speed. We grabbed grad transfer David Foster of Cal. One of the fastest 60 meter sprinters in the country! Who also has a best of 10.14 (10.06w) and 21.14. From the high school ranks we added Richard Lee who has a 10.15 and a 20.49 best, which is crazy as well as, Matthew Maldima who has a 10.11 and 20.89 best. We also return Blake Holland who ran really well as a freshman. That's a strong group, and I'm sure we're not done adding to it.

400 wise we lose a huge chunk of our team. We will return Hossam Hatib who I believe has a year left. We also have Eric Hemphill III, Musa Isah, and Demarco Escobar. We'll see who can step and fill some big shoes. We already added Michael Francois who's the Junior College 400 champion who ran a lifetime best 45.40 to win! This is a great grab for us! And I'm sure we'll add 2-3 more 400 guys. We are 400 Meter U, duh!

Mid Distance
800 U, oh how can we replace you! Sam Whitmarsh my glorious king! Our NCAA Champion! An Aggie Legend. You can't replace someone like him. You also have to replace Kimar Farquharson and Caden Norris. Two All Americans, Two all conference members. 3 amazingly talented runners, who just so happened to be seniors at the same time! Behind them we have mid distance star (and a name the track world will know very well next year) in Luca Santorum. He may be one of the most dynamic 800/1500 runners in the NCAA next year. Look for Grant Ashby to take a big step up. And we signed a 1:49 high schooler Stephon Dodoo. I'm sure we'll be looking to add another. Our 800 coach Paul Ereng is a great recruiter, I'm sure he'll pull in some major talent!

1500 wise, Luca Santorum can take a big step and establish himself as one of the best 1500 runners in the ncaa! Behind him we're bringing in transfer Youssef Asslouj who has a 3:42 PR. He comes from the same NAIA school as Santorum. Thank you Cumberlands We also return Gilbert Rono, Ondrej Gajdos, and Diego Heredia. We also bring in 2 high school recruits Gavin Chapa and Caden Gary who have 4:07 miles.

5000/10000/Steeple
In this group we return some talent. Jack Johnston had himself a great year. Zack Munger was hurt but I expect him to be a big contributor next year as will Carter Gordy. Chapa and Gary will be great 5k runners as well. Victor Kibiego is a great 5k runner, and with a healthy summer and fall will return as one of the best steeplers in the country. Hunter Jackson tan great as well in the steeple.

Hurdle wise, how do you replace Ja'Qualon Scott who was the most dynamic hurdler in the ncaa! We've added Jasiah Rivera who's gone 13.5. But I'm sure we'll be looking to add another. I'd also love a strong 400 hurdler, lots of international talent at the event.

Jumps
Aleksandr Solovev. Please come back lol! If he returns, he can score 20 points for us, 10 indoors and 10 outdoors. If he were to return, oh what a blessing that will be. Sticking with the vaults, we also return Jack Mann III, Leo Bowen, Ryley Klefstad, and Nico Signorelli. What a group.

Triple Jump wise, we'll be strong. Gavin Champ will be back from injury and I bet he'll be scoring nationally. Jayson Shield had an awesome freshman season and Jaden Harris will be back as well. Long jump wise we lose John Baker and Mason Mangum. I believe Khybah Dawson has another year left and it will be huge for us. We also added a dynamic long jumper from UTRGV in Jedidiah Udunna, he has a best of 26 feet. I bet we go after another long jumper in the portal. High jump we added one of the best high school prospects in Etoro Bassey. He has a best of 7'2, and he's jumped that multiple times. Our jumps crew will be sneaky good next year, and I'm sure we'll add more!

Throws wise, we've failed to recruit at this event year after year. Whether we go after anyone is a question on its own. But we have no hammer throwers or shot putters or weight throwers on the roster. We have one discus thrower in Ethan Sanders. Just 1. Javelin wise we return Thomas Jackman but he'll need to take a huge step up. It's a question whether Sam Hankins will return. He's scored nationally before, but like Katelyn Fairchild on the women's side, he missed the entire year due to injury. If he returns, hopefully he's healthy and can get back to his old self! We really need some help in the throes area, lots of it. Hopefully we can add a piece, but aside from javelin. We aren't an elite destination for throwers which hurts my heart…

Multi wise, we return Blake Harris! He's an amazing talent, who unfortunately missed this outdoor season due to injury. He made nationals indoors and was expected to easily make nationals outdoors and possibly even score in my opinion. God willing he's healthy next year! It's a hard event to recruit out of high school in the US, but we added Adam Averett of Aledo who's a young talent! He's a great 400 runner, pole vaulter, and discus thrower. It's also an event we can add talent through the international ranks.

The story of this men's team this off-season will be how we reload. So many holes to fill. After winning a national championship, who wouldn't want to be come part of this team. Many want to run like Sam Whitmarsh, many want to join 400 U. We have the resources, we have the facilities, we have the history, we have the coaching, and we have a national championship, I don't want to hear the word rebuild. I want to reload. Stay tuned thi summer and watch who we add. Soon I'll start a recruiting thread for next years team. The road to back to back national championships has already begun! Talk Soon!

Congrats to the women, who ironically scored two more points than the men but ended up in third. USC women scored six more points than their men but ended up in 2nd. Georgia women were just dominant, and this year were untouchable. Hats off to them.

We ran a season's best in the 4x400 and managed to get second in the pack of 4 teams placing third through sixth. We really can't complain. I think we just about got every point that we could reasonably expect.

Great year for Coach Henry and all our men and women track and fielders.

It's crazy to have a javelin focused coach when it's only 1 event throughout the indoor and outdoor season. Compared to: indoor shot put, out door shot put, weight throw, discus, hammer throw. We have some beautiful throwing facilities. Basically an entire track outside the stadium just for throwing. We have an indoor facility to practice shot put and weight throw. We also have spaces inside Cushing that are throwing rooms designed for indoor practices where they can throw implements into the net. Additionally, there is so much talent in state that we never capitalize on. I really hope we can turn it around and start attracting some top talent in the throws.

Georgia women went and added 3 elite throwers in one offseason and they won them a national championship…

And for those that tuned in for these track championships and enjoyed it all! Stay tuned over the summer and into the fall for cross country season! I'll start that thread soon after I do some write ups for the volleyball board! In the cross country thread I'll preview the team, give you an insight into each runner, and preview some rival teams in our region and the SEC! So stay tuned for that! Cross country is a lot of fun and we're expected to compete and hopefully send both squads to nationals! We're going to have some loaded teams!!

Victoria Cameron of Tarleton is quitting soccer and only focusing on track. Wonder if that means she'll consider other schools now! Bring her home Henry

Maybe start a portal thread? Keep us posted Swift on any and all recruiting related news! Thanks again.

Reflecting back on the women's results:
3rd TEAM BRONZE 43pts Bested Formchart
3rd 4x100 42.8 Season best 9th seed
4th 4x400 3:27 Season best 6th seed
* Those are phenomenal sprint performances. Kudos to Henry and Kirk for facing the negative
narrative that A&M isn't a sprint school, overcoming recruiting rumors against the staff, AND
ACTUALLY developing these girls into quality MULTI THREAT SCORERS.

If you look at the sprint events 100,200, 400 several teams had multi scorers coming into the meet:
Geo 400m; USC 100,200; and these teams finished at the top of the podium. A&M also finished near
the top of the podium(3rd) thanks to these overachieving performances.

The whole team did well shooting their bullets. Before the women started penultimate day I tallied:
4x100, Iakushina, Covington, Bi, Cherono, Montgomery, & 4x400 affirming these DO have winning potential:
3rd, 3rd, 2nd, 1st, 5th, 5th, 4th. WOW!!! 7 events, 7 bullets, & 7scores: nothing wasted. These girls came to the meet & competed & achieved as a team.
Further our 4x400 looked inept at times during the year; I had 4 SEC teams ahead of us & Duke, USC, & UCLA as more consistent teams all year and we only lost to 3 teams without any true quartermilers!! WOW - that is an overachieving performance by these girls and the coaches. Bi killed it and the highest ranking freshmen got 5th in NCAA in the steeple. If not for HJ, our other freshmen might have won the Hep. Just drastic accomplishments by the ladies. Kudos to the entire staff!!

having Smith back at leadoff in the 4x400 helped us out.

Are there still scholarship limitations for track and field? I believe that the House settlement essentially did away with those limits for at least softball and baseball.

I'd also be interested in discussing the non-US citizens who seem to be prevalent in track and field. So many of the foreign players seem to be at best semi-professionals before they every start competing in the NCAA meets. In addition, at least for a while there didn't seem to be age restrictions on those players.

Finally, it seems to me that certain colleges have established pipelines to non-US locations. For the SEC, Arkansas and now Alabama have appeared to me to fill all their distance runners and some of their field athletes from overseas.

I know A&M has had their share of non-US athletes, but I'd like to use this current period of "change" to re-think whether NCAA events shouldn't be limited to US athletes.

taylorswift13_ said:

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Just realized the UGA women scored 39 in field events, 34 on the track

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Davidson should've been scoring for us. They got their hammer thrower from Harvard who won.

I like to hope that we get a really good coach to come in since we have been a top tier program the last 20 years with top tier facilities. Then I sadly remember that our Athletic department has been pretty bad with bringing folks in