Baton Rouge, La. – LSU head track and field coach Dennis Shaver is pleased to welcome the 2020 Signing Class to campus over the next couple of days. Shaver inked 18 athletes in what is regarded as one of the finest classes in the country.
“I’m really excited to get this group to campus and begin working with them,” Shaver said. “We have a lot of well-rounded individuals in this group that I know will make our program better. I can’t thank my staff enough for the amount of effort they put into getting this class to Baton Rouge.
“We really hit on all the event areas needed to have a good track and field program. We signed high-quality sprinters, hurdlers, throwers, distance runners, and jumpers. Some of this group will be able to come in and score right away for us on a conference and national level, and that’s always what you are looking for in a class.”
The class of 18 includes 16 prep athletes and two transfers. Three internationals will be making their way to Baton Rouge with the additions of Jon Nerdal (Bergen, Norway), Molly Canham (Teignmouth, England), and Lorena Rangel (San Luis Potosi, Mexico). Nerdal is a grad transfer from the University of Minnesota, while Canham and Rangel will be big boosts to the distance corps as freshmen.
Nerdal is one of two transfers in the class and he is joined by Noah Williams who comes to LSU by way of the University of Akron. Both Nerdal (weight throw) and Williams (400 meter dash) were qualified to compete at the 2020 NCAA Indoor Championships for their respective schools. Nerdal is a thrower and Williams is a sprinter.
Sean Burrell (Louisiana) and Sean Dixon-Bodie (Connecticut) both come to LSU as the Gatorade Track and Field Athletes of the Year from their respective states in 2020. Burrell, a native of Zachary, La., is actually a two-time winner of the Gatorade award. Burrell is an uber talented 200/400 meter runner, and Dixon-Bodie is known for his triple jump exploits. Annie Fink (Baton Rouge) is Louisiana grown and was the 2019 Gatorade Cross Country Athlete of the Year during her senior campaign on the cross country circuit at Runnels School.
Leah Phillips will give Shaver a stout hurdling group in the spring of 2021. A seven-time New Balance National Champion, Phillips is one of the most talented sprint/hurdle dual recruits in the class. Monique Hardy comes to LSU with the second-best weight throw ever by a prep athlete in American history – she registered her personal best mark of 66′ 11.25″ at the 2020 Millrose Games. Da’Marcus Fleming, a sprinter from Miami, Fla., brings PRs of 10.55 in the 100 meter dash and 20.55 in the 200 meter dash; both of those times were recorded in the spring of 2020 and ranked No. 2 amongst prep athletes in the country.
A full list of the 17 recruits with accompanying bios are listed below in alphabetical order.
Isabelle Brown – Baton Rouge, La. – St. Joseph’s Academy – Distance
2x LHSAA Indoor State Champion
Prior to LSU
2020 LHSAA indoor state champion in the 4×800 meter relay with a time of 9:59.93 … state champion in the 1,600 meter competition with a PR of 5:23.04 at the 2019 LHSAA Indoor State Championships … winner in the 1,600 meter run at the 2020 Last Chance indoor meet with a time of 5:21.83 … second place finisher in the 1600m with a time of 5:26.05 at the 2019 LHSAA 3A-4A-5A State Outdoor Meet … Set a PR of 5:22.80 in the 1-Mile race at the 2019 Mobile Challenge of Champions … Winner of the 3200m race at the 2019 LSU HS Classic with a PR of 11:48.11 … Crossed the finish line in first place in the 800m race at the LHSAA Region II –5A with a PR of 2:22.06.
JB Bullock – Leland, N.C. – North Brunswick HS – Jumps
4x NCHSAA 3A State Champion
2019 New Balance Indoors National Champion – Long Jump
Prior to LSU
Swept NCHSAA 3A indoor state titles in the long jump (22′ 7″) and high jump (6′ 4″) in 2020 as a senior … finished third in the 55 meter hurdles at the 2020 NCHSAA 3A State Championships with a PR of 7.61 … his season best long jump of 24 feet in 2020 ranked No. 3 amongst prep competitors in America … won two state titles at the 2019 NCHSAA 3A outdoor state meet in the high jump (6′ 8″) and long jump (23′ 1″) … has PRs of 24′ 5″ in the long jump and 6′ 10.25″ in the high jump … leaped out to a mark of 24′ 4.25″ at the 2019 New Balance Indoors national meet to win the title … finished third in the high jump (6′ 10.25″) and fourth in the long jump (24′ 5″) at the 2019 New Balance Outdoors national meet.
Sean Burrell – Zachary, La. – Zachary HS – Sprints
2x Louisiana Gatorade Track & Field Athlete of the Year (2019, 2020)
6x LHSSA 5A State Outdoor Champion
5x LHSSA D1 State Indoor Champion
2018 USATF Junior Olympic Champion – 200 Meters
2018 USATF Junior Olympic Champion – 400 Meters
Prior to LSU
Won four state indoor titles at the LHSAA meet during the 2020 indoor season in the 60 meter hurdles (8.06), 400 meter dash (48.71), 4×200 meter relay (1:29.10), and 4×400 meter relay (3:23.06) … captured a pair of LHSAA state outdoor titles in 2019 with wins in the 200 meters (20.79) and 400 meters (46.52) … captured three outdoor LHSAA state titles in 2018 as a sophomore with wins in the 200 meters (21.18), 400 meters (45.74), and 110 meter hurdles (14.39) … 2018 LHSAA state champion in the indoor 400 meter dash (48.29) … won his first state title in 2017 as a freshman with a time of 46.29 in the outdoor 400 meter dash … brings personal bests of 20.79 (200 meters), 45.74 (400 meters), 7.98 (60 meter hurdles) and 14.04 (110 meter hurdles) to LSU … his PR of 45.74 in 2018 was the No.2 prep time that season.
Molly Canham – Teignmouth, England – Torquay Girls’ Grammar School – Distance
Prior to LSU
Has PRs of 2:07.44 (800 meters) and 4:19.71 (1,500 meters) … winner of the 1,500 meter run at the 2019 BMC Grand Prix with a time of 4:24.49 … won the 1,500 meter race at the 2019 BMC Gold Standard Races with her pR of 4:19.71 … competed at the 2019 U20 European Championships while representing Great Britain … placed third overall at the BMC Gold Standard Races in the 800 meter run with a time of 2:10.39 … first place finisher in the 1,500 meter run at the BMC Gold Standard Races with a time of 4:19.71 … crossed the finish line in third place with a time of 2:12.33 at the BMC Regional Races in the 800 meter run … finished second in the 1,500 meter run at the 2019 England Athletics U20 meet with a time of 4:27.46 … finished third at the 2017 Bedford, England, U17 Championships in the 800 meter run with a time of 2:09.03 … 2016 champion at the Bedford, England, U17 Championships with a 800 meter run time of 2:08.59.
Will Dart – Shreveport, La. – Loyola College Prep HS – Distance
Prior to LSU
Finished in fifth place in the 1600m at the 2019 Great Southwest Classic with a personal best time of 4:27.49 … Crossed the finish line in fourth place at the LHSAA Class 5A State Championship in the 3-mile race with a time of 16:00.5 … Set a PR of 16:10.0 in the 5k at the 2017 Marcus I Invitational (27th place finish) … Runner up in the 3-mile race at the 2016 District 1 5A Championships with a season best time of 16:03.0.
Sean Dixon-Bodie – Bloomfield, Conn. – Bloomfield HS – Jumps
American All-Time Prep No. 3 – Triple Jump (Indoors) – 52′ 1.75″
2020 Gatorade Track & Field Athlete of the Year – Connecticut
9x CIAC Class S State Champion
Prior to LSU
Registered the third-best prep indoor triple jump of all-time with a bound of 52′ 1.75″ at the 2020 Millrose Games to claim gold … collected a mark of 51′ 6.50″ in the triple jump at the 2020 Hispanic Games to claim gold … went an unblemished 6-0 in the triple jump during his senior season … won CIAC Class S state titles in the long jump (22′ 9.25″) and high jump (PR of 6′ 6″) in 2020 … 2020 CIAC Open state champion with clearance of 6′ 4″ in the high jump … swept three state titles at the 2019 CIAC Class S Outdoor State Championships in the high jump (6′ 6″), long jump (22′ 3″) and triple jump (48′ 1.50″) … placed fifth at the 2019 New Balance Nationals outdoors with a leap of 50′ 5.25″ in the triple jump.
Annie Fink – Baton Rouge, La. – Runnels School – Distance
2019 Gatorade Cross Country Athlete of the Year – Louisiana
Prior to LSU
2019 LHSAA Class B state champion in cross country with a winning time of 18:25.10 in the three-mile run … she beat the next nearest competitor by over a minute … won five of eight races during her senior season in cross country … won 2018 Baton Rouge Metro XC meet with a three-mile time of 18:14.8 … placed fourth in the 1,600 meter run (5:43.94) and seventh in the 3,200 meter run (12:43.40) at the 2020 LHSAA Indoor Championships … owns PRs of 2:29.54 (800 meters), 5:20.87 (1,600 meters), and 11:52.90 (3,000 meters) on the track … runner up at the 2019 LHSAA Class B track and field outdoor championships in the 800 meters (2:25.67) and 1,600 meters (5:20.87) … won the 2018 LHSAA Class B state title in cross country with a three mile time of 21:29.0.
Da’Marcus Fleming – Miami, Fla. – Miami Northwestern HS – Sprints
Prior to LSU
Elite sprinter that ranked No. 2 in America amongst preps in the 100 meter dash (10.33) and 200 meter dash (20.55w) … 3x FHSAA state champion … won 2019 state titles in the 100 meter dash and 200 meter dash with times of 10.62 and 21.01, respectively … won all three of his 100 meter dash races in 2020 … did not lose a 200 meter dash either going a perfect 3-0 … helped Miami Northwestern to FHSAA district title in 2019 with a 4×100 meter relay time of 41.74 … ran sub 21 seconds over the 200 meters three times in 2020 … dipped below 10.50 seconds twice in 2020.
Monique Hardy – Webster, N.Y. – Webster Thomas HS – Throws
American All-Time Prep No. 2 – Weight Throw – 66′ 11.25″
Prior to LSU
Moved up to No. 2 on the all-time American prep list in the weight throw with a toss of 66′ 11.25″ at the 2020 Millrose Games to claim gold … won three straight New York state titles in the weight throw in 2018, 2019, and 2020 … won the 2020 New York state title with a meet record throw of 63′ 10.50″ … dating back to her sophomore season, she won 20 of her 21 weight throw competitions … owns a PR of 43′ 5.75″ in the shot put that she set at the 2019 New York outdoor state championships to claim silver … tossed the discus a personal best of 133′ 4″ at the 2019 New York section state qualifier to claim gold … 2019 New Balance Nationals indoor champion in the weight throw with a toss of 64′ 7.25″ … took sixth at the 2019 New Balance Nationals outdoor meet in the hammer throw (159′ 3″) … 2018 USATF Junior Olympic champion in the hammer throw with a mark of 170′ 5.25″.
Rachel James – Humble, Texas – Kingwood HS – Distance
Prior to LSU
Champion of the 800 meter competition 2018 College Park Invitational with a time of 2:20.85 … winner of the 2018 UIL 6A Area 21/22 in the 1600 meters with a PR of 5:07.93 … set a PR of 11:11.16 at the 2018 Atascocita Invitational in the 3200m … member of the winning 4×800 meter relay team at the Kingwood Zoe Simpson Invitational with a time of 9:48.04 … first place finisher in the 1600 meter race at the 2018 Klein True Team with a time of 5:10.91 … crossed the finish line in seventh place at the 2019 College Park Invitational with a time of 5:29.72 in the 1,600 meters … helped the DMR to a second place finish at the Zoe Simpson Invitational with a time of 13:10.90.
Ashely Lajocies – Eagle, Idaho – Eagle HS – Distance
Prior to LSU
Idaho state champion in the 4×800 meter relay in 2019 with a time of 9:12.44 … finished runner up at the 2019 IHSAA State Championships in the 3,200 meter run with a PR of 10:43.42 … collected bronze at the 2019 IHSAA State Championships in the 1,600 meters (4:59.69) … finished second in the 3,200 meters (11:03.37) and third in the 1,600 meters (5:00.23) at the 2018 IHSAA State Championships … owns PRs of 4:59.27 (1,600 meters) and 10:43.42 (3,200 meters).
Mahalia Mitchell – Brampton, Ontario, Canada – St. Marguerite D’Youville – Jumps
Prior to LSU
Winner of the triple jump at the 2019 OFSSA Provincial Championships with a personal best distance of 13.06 meters … finished in third place at the 2018 St. Edmund Campion Invitational with a time of 27.84 in the 200 meter dash … third place finisher in the long jump with a distance of 5.53m at the 2019 OFSSA Provincial Championships … set a PR of 26.58 in the 200 meters and placed 12th at the 2018 Ontario OFSAA Track and Field Championship … placed first overall in the long jump at the 2018 St. Edmund Campion Invitational with a distance of 5.16 meters.
Jon Nerdal – Bergen, Norway – University of Minnesota – Throws
Prior to LSU
Comes to LSU after spending the last four seasons at the University of Minnesota … will have one season of eligibility left for indoors, two for outdoors … 2020 All-American in the weigh throw … registered career-best weight throw of 21.72 meters (71′ 3.25″) at the Meyo Invitational … finished sixth at the 2020 Big Ten Indoor Championships with a weight throw of 21.39 meters (70′ 2.25″) … 3x scorer for Minnesota at the Big Ten Championships (weight throw x2, hammer throw x1) … brings PRs of 67.01 meters (219′ 10″) in the hammer throw and 21.72 meters (71′ 3.25″) in the weight throw.
Leah Phillips – Port Tobacco, Md. – Bullis School – Hurdles
7x New Balance National Champion
Prior to LSU
One of the premier dual hurdle/sprint recruits in the nation … ran PR of 8.31 in the 60 meter hurdles at the 2020 UK Invitational to rank No. 2 amongst prep competitors in America for the 2020 season … did not lose a finals race during her senior season in the hurdles going 6-0 between the 55 and 60 meter hurdles … 2019 New Balance Nationals outdoor champion in the 4×400 meter relay (3:39.62) and 4×100 meter shuttle hurdles (56.74) … won total of 48 races during her time competing for Bullis School … ranked No. 3 amongst preps during the 2019 outdoor season with a time of 40.82 in the 300 meter hurdles … 2018 New Balance Indoor National champion in the 60 meter hurdles (8.49) … 2017 Texas Relays champion in the 100 meter hurdles (13.94) … took fifth in the 400 meter hurdles (58.45) and sixth in the 100 meter hurdles (13.67) at the 2019 U20 USA Championships … 2019 New Balance Nationals indoor champion in the 4×200 meter relay (1:38.35) … finished runner up in the 100 meter hurdles (13.68) at the 2018 USATF Junior Olympic Championships … claimed gold at the 2018 USATF Junior Olympic Championships in the 400 meter hurdles (1:00.57) … 2018 New Balance Nationals indoor champion in the 4×200 meter relay (1:34.75) and 4×400 meter relay (3:39.86) … 2017 New Balance Nationals indoor champion in the 4×400 meter relay (3:39.70) … 2016 AAU U15 national champion in the 100 meter hurdles (14.75) … brings PRs of 13.67 (100 meter hurdles), 58.45 (400 meter hurdles), 8.31 (60 meter hurdles), 23.68 (200 meters), and 55.22 (400 meters) to LSU.
Lorena Rangel – San Luis Potosi, Mexico – Francisco Martinez De La Vega HS – Distance
2019 U18 Mexican Champion – 800 Meters
2019 U18 NACAC Champion – 800 Meters
Prior to LSU
Brings a personal best of 2:06.09 to LSU in the 800 meter run … competed twice in 2020 and had a season best of 2:08.98 in the 800 meters … PR of 2:06.09 came in 2019 at the Mexican Championships to place third … 2019 U18 Mexican champion in the 800 meters (2:09.13) … claimed gold at the 2019 NACAC U18 Championships in Queretaro in 2019 with a time of 2:10.28 in the 800 meter run … finished fourth at the 2019 U20 Pan American Championships with a readout of 2:08.59 in the 800 meters.
Shelby Spoor – Coppell, Texas – Coppell HS – Distance
Prior to LSU
Finished in second place in the 3200m at the 2019 Marcus Invitational with a time of 11:38.59 … Holds a PR of 5:13.93 in the 1600m which was set at the 2019 UIL 6A District 06 where she finished in seventh place … Crossed the finish line in fifth place in the 1600m at the 2019 Cougar Invitational with a time of 11:23.94 … Winner of the 5k race at the 2018 Texas Distance Festival with a season best time of 18:39.23 … Placed second overall in the 800m with a time of 2:32.0 at the 2018 Fossil Ridge Panther Relays.
Noah Williams – Rochester, N.Y. – University of Akron – Sprints
Prior to LSU
Five time Mid-American Conference champion during his time at the University of Akron … placed fifth in the 400 meter dash at the 2020 USATF Indoor Nationals … NCAA qualifier in the 400 meters during the 2020 indoor season … tabbed the MAC Men’s Most Outstanding Track Performer of the Year for 2020 … tallied 20.5 points for Akron at the 2020 MAC Indoor Championships with a first-place finish in the 400 meters (46.13), a first-place finish as a member of the 4×400 meter relay (3:07.89) and silver in the 200 meters (20.89) … NCAA East Preliminary participant in the 400 meters during the 2019 outdoor campaign … won outdoor MAC titles in the 400 meters, 4×100 meter relay, and 4×400 meter relay during the 2019 season … owns PRs of 6.92 (60 meters), 20.89 (200 meters), and 45.72 (400 meters) … runner-up in the 400 meters at the 2018 MAC Indoor Championships.
Luke Witte – Gainesville, Fla. – IMG Academy – Throws
Prior to LSU
High school All-American … has only been throwing the hammer for two seasons … had the No. 5 prep hammer throw in the country for 2020 with a toss 220′ 10″ at the NSAF x AthleticNET Virtual Nationals … his father, Paul Witte, was a decathlete for the University of Florida … can deadlift 765 lbs., squat 650 lbs., and bench 450 lbs.