Troy University Athletics
Track Programs Sign 19 for 2006-07 School Year
7/11/2006 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
On the women's side, Tiphanie Baker and LaToya Ragland highlight the class. Baker is the state record holder in discus and indoor shotput, while taking home2006 Alabama State High School Class 3A Championships in those events, plus outdoor shot and javelin. Ragland was the Huntsville Times Female Metro Athlete of the Year after winning state titles in six events, including jumps and hurdles.
The men's class features two of the best distance runners in the state in Jeremy Moujoodi and Jake Kidd. The former was runner up at the 2006 Alabama State Class 6A Cross Country Championship, while the latter was runner-up in 1600 meters at the 2005 Alabama State Class 6A Track and Field Championship.
"I think this is the best class we have ever signed, paticularly on the women's side" said Director of Track and Men's Head Coach Bob Lambert. "We think that the athletes we signed will move us toward the top of the Sun Belt Conference, both indoor and outdoor. I am especially pleased that we are doing this with homegrown kids -- there are enough good kids in Alabama, Georgia and the Florida panhandle to make us successful..
Complete biographical sketches on Troy's track and field signees:
Tiphanie Baker, Leeds HS, Leeds, Ala.
The 2006 Alabama State High School 3A Champion in discus (state record holder), indoor and outdoor shot (indoor state record holder) and javelin... Personal best of 132' (discus), 121'4” (javelin), 42' (shot put).... participated in the 2006 Mobile Meet of Champions, winning shot put and discus championships.
Maggie Beck, Mountain Brook HS, Birmingham, Ala.
Finished fourth in the pole vault at the 2005 Alabama State High School 6A championships with a then-personal best of 9'6”... was eighth in 2006 with the same mark... increased her personal best to 10'6” as a senior
Adam Bradley, Walton HS, Marietta, Ga.
Won county and regional cross country championships (5000 meters)... placed 36th at the 2005 Senior Foot Locker race.
Michael Conley, University of New Orleans (transfer), Cordova, Tenn.
Was runner-up in the decathlon (to Troy's Matt Vanzandt) at the 2006 Sun Belt Conference championships... earned a spot in finals of the 110 meter hurdles in 2006... is eligible to compete immediately as UNO dropped its men's track program at the end of the season.
Terrance Dixon, Southwest DeKalb HS, Stone Mountain, Ga.
Placed seventh in the 800 meters at the Georgia Class 4A State Meet... has personal bests of 1:56 for 800 and 49.00 for 400 meters.
Logan Etheridge, Mosely HS, Youngston, Fla.
An intermediate hurdler with a personal best of 39.82
Chris Hale, Sullivan East HS, Bluff City, Tenn.
A decathlete with a range of talents in pole vault, triple jump, long jump and sprints... was a finalist in the pole vault at the Tennessee State 3A High School Meet.
James Hargreaves, Lawton Chiles HS, Tallahassee, FL
The Florida Class 4A state runner-up in the discus with personal best of 157'3”... won the Tallahassee City Championship in shot put with toss of 50'11”.
Mitchel Hutto, Lawton Chiles HS, Tallahassee, Fla.
A Hurdler with personal best of 15.2 in 110 high hurdles and 40.2 in intermediate hurdles
Wes Jackson, Virgil Grissom HS, Huntsville, Ala.
The runner-up in the high jump at the 2006 Alabama State Class 6A Track and Field Championship... has a personal best of 6'6”... awarded Chancellor's Scholarship to Troy.
Jake Kidd, Vestavia Hills HS, Vestavia Hills, Ala.
The 2005 Alabama State Class 6A runner-up at 1600 meters... has posted personal bests of 4:18.68 (1600 meters), 1:57.48 (800 meters) and 9:47.20 (3200 meters)... awarded an Army ROTC Scholarship to Troy.
Brett Lewis, Landmark Christian HS, Jonesboro, Ga.
Won the unseeded mile race at the 2006 Mobile Meet of Champions, posting a time of 4:29.61.... was the GISA State Cross Country Champion in 2003, 2004 and 2005.
Bennie Lewis, Greenville HS, Greenville, Ala.
A walk-on distance runner... will compete in both cross country and track.
Matavis Madden, Valley HS, Valley, AL
A two-time winner of the 400 meter race at the Alabama State Class 5A Track and Field Championships (2004 and 2005)... his personal best is 48.06... redshirted at Troy in 2005-06... .
Jeremy Moujoodi, Hoover HS, Hoover, Ala.
The 2005 Alabama State Class 6A Cross Country runner-up... was a finalist at the 2005 Footlocker South Region meet with a personal best of 15:30 (5,000 meters)... won the 3200 meter race at the Pelham Indoor Invitational with time of 9:27.33... has won multiple Alabama All-State cross country and distance awards.
Martyna Pietryka, Nicholas Copernicus University, Torun, Poland
Finished third at the 2004 Polish Junior National Championship... posted a best time of 2:10.92 at 800 meters... her personal best for 400 meters is 58.54.
Latoya Ragland, Butler HS, Huntsville, Ala.
Won state titles at the 2006 Alabama State Class 5A Track and Field Championship in the long jump (18'10.75”), triple jump (37'5”) and 100 meter hurdles (15.17)... named Huntsville Times Female Metro Athlete of the Year.
Kimberly Tompkins, Enterprise HS, Enterprise, Ala.
A long-distance runner who is returning to running after a year off... was commander of Army Junior ROTC unit at Enterprise as a senior... her bother and sister-in-law were former Troy Cheerleaders.
Megan Young, Rodgers HS, Florence, Ala.
The 2006 Alabama State Class 5A High Jump Champion (personal best of 5'4”)... won the javelin competition at the 2005 state meet with a record throw of 125'5”... has posted a distance of 35'4” in the triple jump... earned a spot in the finals of the 2006 state heptathlon competition... named 2006 Female Athlete of the Year at Rodgers.
