Track and field reloads with 10 new recruits

HUNTSVILLE — The Sam Houston State track and field programs has signed more student-athletes to compete for the Bearkats, head coach Dave Self announced Wednesday.

The Bearkats have added nine signees to the men's team and one on the men's side. Joining the men are Cobe Graham (throws), Kevin Kindt (throws), Dalton Page (endurance), Christian Rivera (endurance), Colton Stunkard (endurance), Kyan Wallace (endurance), Erin Brown (sprints), Everett Tippins (sprints), Bryce Barbay (combined events) and Charlee Salinas (throws) has signed with the women.

The SHSU men's program won both the indoor and outdoor Southland Conference Championships last year, while the women's program finished seventh at the indoor and sixth at the outdoor championships.

Charlee Salinas | Throws | Mission, Texas | Veterans Memorial HS
Salinas put up career bests of 132 feet, six inches in the discus and 43 feet, 3 inches in the shot put her junior season for coach Larry Howell at Veterans Memorial High School. Her discuss mark ranks 46^th in the state for returning student-athletes and is the 14^th best in the class of 2020. The daughter of Carly and Javier Salinas placed seventh at UIL 5A Track and Field Championships in the discus last season and was fourth in the shot put.

"During the recruiting process with Charlee, we have come to know each other quite well," throws coach Jon Tipton said. "She comes from a great family and program. Her coach is one of the most respected coaches in Texas and has established great fundamentals. We look forward to continuing to build on what she has already accomplished and we are excited to see how her high school career finishes and how her college career begins."

Cobe Graham | Throws | Kingston, Jamaica | Calabar HS
Graham has career bests of 16.28 meters in the shot put and 18.88 meters in the 6kg shot put while throwing for coach Julian Robinson at Calabar High School. The son of Maxine and Howard Graham was a gold medalist at the Jamaican U20 Championships and at the CARIFTA Games U20 Championships.

"Cobe brings a wealth of championship experience to this program," Tipton said. "Not only is he the Jamaican U20 Champion in the shot put, but he is also the CARIFTA games champion. Competing at major international championships for his home country of Jamaica, we expect Cobe to be an immediate contender in the Southland Conference and a regular representative at NCAA Championships. This young man is hard working and talented. We couldn't be happier for him and his family, and we look forward to a bright and successful career as a Bearkat."

Kevin Kindt | Throws | Bryan, Texas | Rudder HS
Kindt put up career bests of 54 feet, 4 ¼ inches in the shot put and 149 feet, 11 inches in the discus as a junior last season at Bryan Rudder High School. His shot put distance ranks ninth among returning student-athletes and is the fifth best in the class of 2020. The son of Renee and David Kindt placed fourth at the UIL 5A Track and Field Championships in the shot put last year and finished fifth at the Region III 5A Championships in 2018.

"Throughout the recruiting process, the Kindts have welcomed us in to their home like family," Tipton said. "We knew almost immediately that this was going to be a great fit and a great relationship. We are enthusiastic to watch this young man mature over the next four to five years.

"He has an excellent support system, a tremendous work ethic and drive to be great. He is a great addition to our family, and we can't wait to begin working with this talented athlete. Being from Bryan he is a local kid that we wanted to keep close to home so he can share in his successes with his family and friends."

Dalton Page | Endurance | Eustace, Texas | Eustace HS
Page turned in career bests of 4:31.7 in the 1,600-meter run and 9:51.50 in the 3,200 as a sophomore for coaches Josh Sypert and Kenneth Henderson at Eustace High School. The son of Cindy and Daron Page is a two-time medalist at the state cross country meet.

"Dalton has been a medalist at the state cross country meet each of the past two years and has led the Eustace boys' cross country team to a state team championship each of those years," endurance coach Jesse Parker said. "I've always placed an added value on athletes who understand what it takes to win as a team and I know Dalton brings that quality into our program. Additionally, he has a strong academic record and an interest in studying criminal justice. With all of these factors taken into consideration, it was a no-brainer for us, and I can't wait to start working with him."

Christian Rivera | Endurance | Houston, Texas | Kaufman HS
Rivera posted career bests of 4:22.25 in the 1,600-meter run and 9:16.39 in the 3,200 for coaches Denver Stane and Kristal Harris as a junior at Kaufman High School. His 3,200 time is 24^th for the class of 2020. The son of Antonio Rivera and Lourdes Azua is a four-time state medalist, three in cross country and one in track.

"I've been impressed with Christian through every evaluation marker that we've covered in the recruiting process," Parker said. "He ranks among the top 3,200-meter runners in the state for the class of 2020 and has been competing at both the state meet in cross country and track and field since he was a freshman. On top of his athletic ability, he is a phenomenal student in the classroom. Anytime I find a great athlete who is also a great student, I want to do everything I can to make them a Bearkat. I'm excited about being able to bring Christian into our program."

Colton Stunkard | Endurance | Texas City, Texas | Texas City HS
Stunkard put up career bests of 4:40.90 in the 1,600-meter run and 10:12.13 in the 3,200 as a sophomore for coach Greg Sharpe at Texas City High School. The son of Casey Stunkard and Liza Chapa placed fifth at the UIL Region III 5A Cross Country Championships in the fall.

"A bit of a late bloomer, Colton caught our eye at the UIL Regional Cross Country Championships when he finished fifth overall," Parker said. "He followed that up with a great race at the state championships two weeks later. He has shown tremendous physical growth this past Fall and he executed great races when it mattered the most. On his visit he fit in very well with our current athletes, and we know his performances thus far are just the tip of the iceberg for him."

Kyan Wallace | Endurance | Tomball, Texas | Tomball Memorial HS
Wallace turned in career bests of 4:29.18 in the 1,600-meter run and 9:48.30 in the 3,200 as a junior at Tomball Memorial High School for coaches Devin Theriot and Jessica Mulkey as a junior. The son of Jennifer and Parker Wallace placed second at the District 14-6A Cross Country Championships in the fall.

"Kyan's range and consistent improvement from season to season were the first two things that caught my attention," Parker said. "I love to see athletes that can run well over multiple distances, and I love to see athletes who understand that true development takes place over multiple season, not just within a single season. He has already run personal bests this season in both the 1,600 and 3,000 and 3,200, and I can't wait to see how he keeps improving throughout his senior season. I'm excited about getting him into a Bearkat uniform."

Erin Brown | Sprints | Hutchins, Texas | Dallas Roosevelt HS
Brown recorded a career best time of 22.04 in the 200-meter dash indoors as a senior and 48.40 in the 400 outdoors as a junior at Franklin D. Roosevelt High School. His time of 48.40 in the 400 ranks as the 12^th best in the state for the class of 2020. The son of Tijwanike Brown placed ninth in at UIL 4A Track and Field Championships in the 400 and was first at the Region II 4A Championships in the 400 last year.

"Erin is a very motivated athlete that will benefit from our structure and has potential for great long-term development," head coach Dave Self said. "He trains alone most of the year. Having him in the long-sprint group should really pay off for both him and us.

"He will arrive as a true freshman with an associate's degree. He is a very dedicated student-athlete that will be a great addition to the 200 and 400 groups."

Everett Tippins | Sprints | Houston, Texas | Cy Falls HS
Tippins ran a career best 6.84 in the indoor 60-meter dash as a senior and he posted his best marks in the 100 meters (10.66) and 200 (21.49) as a junior. His time in the 100 is the 23^rd best in the state's class of 2020, and his mark in the 400 is 15^th. The son of Traci Tippins placed second in the area championships in the 100 and first in the 200 last season.

"I am very excited about Everett. He will help us continue with the great sprint tradition we have built at Sam Houston over the last decade," Self said. "He has marks right now that would score in the Southland Conference championships. His contributions to the 100- and 200-sprint group are going to be immediate. He is another very motivated athlete that also is accomplished in the classroom."

Bryce Barbay | Combined Events | Jasper, Texas | Jasper HS
Barbay posted career bests in the decathlon (5,947 points), pole vault (15 feet, 3 inches) and 110-meter hurdles (14.75) as a junior at Jasper High School. He performances in decathlon rank second for returning competitors in the state and first for the class of 2020 and 34^th in the country for returners and 10^th in this recruiting class. The son of Tracy and Bryan Barbay placed second at the UIL 3A Track and Field Championships in the pole vault and ninth at the New Balance Nationals Outdoor in the decathlon in 2019.

"The track and field program is excited to announce the signing of Bryce," combined events coach Cutter Bernhard said. "He is a very talented pole vaulter with a lot of potential to in the decathlon. In the state of Texas there are few athletes that get the experience of competing in the decathlon, and Bryce brings that experience as he has competed at national-level competition in his junior year at Jasper.

"We look forward to the maturity and developmental process for Bryce during his tenure at Sam Houston State."

Track and field reloads with 10 new recruits

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