PISCATAWAY, N.J.  – Rutgers track and field welcomes 25 student-athletes to the 2020-21 roster, Director of Track & Field Bob Farrell announced. The newcomers include 18 signees and seven walk-ons.
 
"We are very excited to welcome our incoming class to the RU Family!  This is an outstanding group of athletes with a competitive fire and enthusiasm to be Scarlet Knights," said Farrell. "They are game changers who are highly motivated and ready to help take our program to new heights.  Unfortunately, they all saw their spring seasons cancelled, which would have unquestionably produced some exciting personal records.  But they've been working hard in the off season and ready to get to work this September."
 

WOMEN

Ka'Leila Abrille
Freshman | Pole Vault
Woodstock, Ga. | Riverwood International Charter School
Personal Records: Pole Vault - 13' 0.25"
Prior to Rutgers: No. 1 ranked in Georgia…three-year letterwinner in track a& field and four-time letterwinner as a cheerleader ... owns the school record in the pole vault ... established a personal record, clearing a height of 13' 0.25" ... named to the Principal's honor roll four-straight years (2017-2020).
 
Alivia Ash
Redshirt Junior | High Jump
Merrillville, Ind. | Merrillville (Louisville)
Personal Records: High Jump - 5' 10"
Prior to Rutgers:  Won the high jump at the 2019 ACC Indoor Championship with a career-best of 5' 10" (1.78m) … competed at Louisville, earning All-ACC honors ...  cleared 5' 8" (1.73m) in the high jump at the ACC Indoor Championships for a third place finish in 2020 ... earned First Team All-ACC honors ... named First Team All-ACC honors with second place at the 2019 Outdoor ACC Championship ... four-year letterwinner in track & field at Merrillville ... 2015 USATF Athlete of the Year... 2013 USATF National Champion ... 2014 USATF National Champion ... 2015 USATF National Champion ... 2015 Indiana state runner-up ... 2014 Indiana state seventh place finish.
 
Bailey Bertrand
Freshman | Throws
Marengo, Ill. | Marengo Community
Personal Records: Discus - 137' 6"; Shot Put - 39'
Prior to Rutgers: No. 1 returning discus thrower in Illinois…letterwinner in volleyball (2016-19), basketball (2016) and track & field (2016-20) …four-time all-conference selection in track & field ... four-time all-area honoree in track & field All-Area ... was a two-time all-state selection in track & field.
 
Alicia Campbell
Freshman | Throws/Jumps
Jersey City, N.J. | Henry Snyder
Personal Records: Discus - 125' 1"; Shot Put - 40' 11.5"; Javelin - 117' 4"; long jump - 18' 6"; Triple Jump - 37' 2.75"; Pentathlon - 2,855; Heptathlon - 3,798 - and 55 meter - 7.44
Prior to Rutgers: Four-time letterwinner in track & field and volleyball ... named first team all-county in shot put indoor 2018-20 ... first team all-county discus 2018-19 ... first team all-county triple jump (2018-19) ... first team all-county javelin in 2019 ... first team all-county in long Jump (2019-20) ... received NJSIAA 2020 Scholar Athlete Award ... placed fifth in the long jump at the New Jersey State Championships in 2018-19 ... New Jersey State Championships placed seventh in the shot put in 2019-2020.
 
Claire Chapeau 
Sophomore | Distance 
Jersey City, N.J. | McNair Academic (Northeastern) 
Personal Records: 1,600m – 5:08; 3200m – 10:56; 5000m – 17:52; XC – 18:35
Prior to Rutgers: Transferred from Northeastern, three-time letterwinner on the McNair track & field team ... named to the Honor Roll every quarter from 2015 through 2019 ... school record holder in 1,600m, 3,200m and 5K ... county record holder in the 5K ... 2019 NB Nationals qualifier for 5K ... National AP Scholar ... four-time Sectional Champion ... first Meet of Champions qualifiers for McNair ... owns personal records in 1,600m (5:08), 3,200m (10:56), 5,000m (17:52) and cross country 5K (18:35). 
 
Gillian Gandolfo
Sophomore | Distance
Freehold, N.J. | Freehold Township (Wagner)
Personal Records: 800m - 2:23; 1600m - 5:21; 3200m - 11:36; 5K (XC) - 19:03
Prior to Rutgers: Transferred from Wagner, competing in four cross country races for the Seahawks ... was a four-year varsity member at Freehold in both cross country and track & field...ranks among the top-10 all-time in school history in the 3200m and 4x800m.
 
Emilie Ghalam
Freshman | Throws
Midland Park, N.J. | Midland Park
Personal Records: Javelin - 112' 9"
Prior to Rutgers: Four-year member of the volleyball, basketball and track & field teams ... four-time recipient of the Scholar Athlete Award ... named first team all-league in javelin…first team all-league shot put in 2019 ... earned first team all-league honors in volleyball in 2019 ... won the 2019 Spring Track Coaches Award ... 2019-20 Midland Park High School Athletic Boosters Club Senior Award ... 2020 Bergen County Women Coaches Association Multi-sport Athletic Award ... 2020 United States Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete award earned the Merit Award in 2017 and 2019 ... four-time member of the Honor Roll ... 2018 Spanish National Honors Society ... 2019 World Language Award-Spanish ... 2019 National Honors Society ... 2020 Academic Excellence Award.
 
Kelsey Larkin
Senior| Distance
Ramsey, N.J. | Ramsey (South Carolina)
Personal Records: 3000m Steeplechase - 11:14.38; 3000m - 10:21; Mile - 5:11; 5K (XC) - 18:25; 6K (XC) - 22:44.2
Prior to Rutgers: Transferred from South Carolina ... ran distance and cross country ... ranked third in school history in the 3,000m steeplechase ... named team captain for the 2019-20 cross country and track & field seasons ... 2018 Rookie of the Year in cross country ... recipient of the Leadership Award for cross country in 2019 ... owns personal records in the 3,000m steeplechase (11:14.38), 3,000m (10:21), mile (5:11), cross country 5K (18:25) and 6K (22:44.2) ...A hurdler and middle-distance runner at Ramsey ... finished in the top 245 at the 2016 New Balance Nationals ... twice a top-10 finisher in the NJSIAA Outdoor Group 800-meter run in 2015 and 2016 ... ranked second in the NJSIAA Indoor Group 800m as a senior.
 
Jessica Molina
Redshirt Junior | Throws
Westwood, N.J. | Westwood Regional (Oregon State)
Personal Records: Hammer – 183' 11"; Shot Put – 49' 4"; Weight Throw – 50' 8"
Prior to Rutgers: Transferred from Oregon State, posting a school record in the hammer throw (183' 11") ... sits at No. 4 all-time at OSU in the shot put, 49' 4.25" (15.2m) ... threw a PR 50' 8.25" (15.45m) in the weight throw at the MPSF Championships ... lettered seven times in track & field at Westwood ... two-time New Balance All-American selection in shot put ... in 2015 was ranked 14th in the world for shot put (U17) ... member of the Ecuador World Team in 2016 ... took fourth place in the 2016 South American U23 Championships.
 
Kaitlin Salisbury
Senior | Sprints/Jumps
Hawthorne, N.J. | Hawthorne (Bucknell)
Personal Records: Long Jump – 20'; Triple Jump – 40' 3"; 100m – 11.83; 200m – 24.50
Prior to Rutgers: NJ State Champion in long jump and triple jump…three-time Patriot League champion (60m) (2017, 2019, 2020) as a member of the Bucknell track & field program ... eight-time All-Patriot League (3x First Team, 5x Second Team) ... has scored 72 points at the Patriot League Indoor Championships (60m, triple jump, long jump, 200m) ... has scored 67 points at the Patriot League Outdoor Championships (long jump, triple jump, 100m, 200m) ... five-time All-East ... two-time Patriot League Academic Honor Roll ... holds school record in the outdoor 100m (11.84), outdoor long jump (19-9 1/2), indoor long jump (19-3-1/2) and indoor 60m (7.50) ... also owns the fifth-best outdoor 200 (24.75), third-best outdoor triple jump (39-10-1/2), third-best indoor 200 (24.69), and the third-best indoor triple jump (40-3-1/4)....part of three Bucknell top-ten 4x100 squads.
 
Kameron Scille
Freshman | Sprints
West Palm Beach, Fla. | Wellington
Personal Records: 400m – 54.8; 200m – 24.3; 100m – 11.8
Prior to Rutgers: Letterwinner in track & field ... 2018 County Champ in the 400m ... earned first team all-county from 2017-20 ... named to Honor Roll in 2019-2020 ... captured conference, county district and regional championships.
 
Kristina Tossas
Freshman | Jumps
Westampton, N.J. | Rancocas Valley Regional
Personal Records: Long Jump - 19' 8"; Triple Jump - 38' 4"
Prior to Rutgers: Four-year member of the track & field team ... two-time team captain ... named all-star South Jersey and unsung hero in 2019 ... Group 4 State Champion in the long jump ... owns a pair of school records ... a two-time All-American selection.
 
Meredith Updike
Freshman | Hurdles
Cinnaminson, N.J. | Cinnaminson
Personal Records: 400m H – 60.63
Prior to Rutgers: Placed seventh at New Balance Nationals in the 400IH…Placed third at the NJ State Meet of Champions…qualified in 3 events for the 2019 indoor meet of champions…Four-year member of the track & field team at Cinnaminson
 
Alexandria Yarbrough
Freshman | Sprints
Freeport, N.Y. | Freeport
Personal Records: 400m - 55.39; 200m - 24.74; 300m - 40.02;
Prior to Rutgers: Two-year member of the cross country team and four-year competitor in track & field ... earned all-conference (2016-20), all-county ( 2016-20), all-state (2019-20) and All-American (2019) honors ... 4x400 State Champion in 2019 ... National Science Honor Society (2018) ... National Honor Society (2019-20) ... National Spanish Honor Society (2019-20).
 

MEN

Louis Akpadago
Freshman | Sprints
Ghana | Nottingham
Personal Records: 55m – 6.33; 100m-10.64; 200m – 21.7
Prior to Rutgers: NJ State Champion…55m time of 6.33 ranked No. 1 in NJ and No. 5 in the USA…200m indoor time of 21.76 ranked No. 2 in NJ and No. 19 in USA…NJ State Champion… Four-year letterwinner in track & field at Nottingham High School...also lettered in football at Nottingham.
 
Steve Coponi
Freshman | Javelin
Hazlet, N.J. | Raritan
Personal Records: Javelin – 200' 2"
Prior to Rutgers: Four-year letterwiner in track & field at Raritan High School…2017-18-19 Central Jersey Group 2 State Champion…2019 Shore Conference Champion in javelin…2019 All Shore-Javelin…2019-20 Shore Conference Sportsmanship Award…also a football letterwinner, earning 2019-20 All-Division honors at quarterback…2019-20 Brandon Burlsworth Character Award recipient, a National football award…High Honor Roll student…member of the National Honors Society. 
 
Al-Tariq Dunson
Junior | Hurdles
Paramus, N.J. | East Orange Campus (Hinds Community College
Personal Records: 110m H -13.78; 55m H - 7.32
Prior to Rutgers: Transferred from Hinds Community College, where he finished seventh at NJCAA Nationals in the 60m Hurdles…member of track & field at East Orange Campus High School…New Balance National record holder for shuttle hurdles relay...two-time New Balance Nationals Indoor and Outdoor Champion for shuttle hurdles in 2017 and 2018.
 
Emmanuel "Manny" Lewis III
Sophomore | Throws
Willingboro, N.J. | Willingboro (Rutgers-Camden)
Personal Records: High School Discus – 166'2"
Prior to Rutgers: Transferred from Rutgers-Camden...four-year letterwinner in track & field at Willingboro High School...two-time All-Burlington County and Liberty Division First Team for discus in 2018 and 2019...All-Burlington County and Liberty Division Second Team for shot put in 2019...Group 1 Indoor State Relay Champion for Shot Put in 2019...Group 1 Outdoor State Champion in discus in 2019...Group1 Runner-up in shot put in 2019...All-State First Team in discus in 2019...News 12 Scholar Athlete of the Week and Year...also a four-year letterwinner in soccer...honor roll and Principal's list from 2015-2019.
 
Nick Lundberg
Sophomore | Distance
Freehold, N.J. | Freehold Township (Fordham)
Personal Records: 800 - 1:57; 1600 - 4:18; 3200 - 9:20; 5k (XC) -15:22
Prior to Rutgers: Transferred from Fordham University…four-year letterwinner in track & field and cross country at Freehold Township High School…2019 Shore Conference Champion and three-time A North Champion (2015, 17, 19) with Freehold Township…two-time Monmouth County Champion in 1,600 and 3,200 meter events…two-time North Division Champion in the 3,200 and 5,000 meter events…Shore Conference Champion in the 3,200 meter….an All-Monmouth County, All-Shore Conference, and All-State First Team selection…six-time New Balance Nationals and Meet of Champions qualifier…helped the 4x800 relay qualify for the Penn Relays…finished fifth at the Cross Country Meet of Champions, while taking seventh in the indoor 3,200 meters at the Indoor Track Meet of Champions.
 
Sam Marran
Freshman |Mid-Distance
Mendham, N.J. | West Morris Mendham
Personal Records: 600 - 4:18.99; 800 - 1:57.8; 5K -16:20.60
Prior to Rutgers: individually in 2020, placed third at Indoor States in the 1600m…Four-year letterwinner in track & field and cross country at West Morris Medham High School…three-time Group 3 State Champions in Cross Country (2017-19)…2019 Morris County Champions… …named Most Improved in Winter and Spring Track in 2019…high honor roll student…member of the National Honor Society. 
 
Marco Morales
Freshman | Pole Vault
Franklinville, N.J. | Delsea Regional
Personal Records: Pole Vault – 16' 0"
Prior to Rutgers: Track & field letterwinner at Delsea Regional High School…2019 & 2020 Indoor and Outdoor Group 2 State Champions at Delsea Regional, as well as 2018 Outdoor Group 2 State Champions…2020 Indoor State Relay Champions…2019 Pole Vault Relay State champion…New Jersey Pole Vault Relay State Record holder…named Second Team All-State and First Team All-State Group in 2020…also played soccer…an honor roll student.
 
Nico Morales
Freshman | Pole Vault
Franklinville, N.J. | Delsea Regional
Personal Records: Pole Vault – 15'7"
Prior to Rutgers: Track & field letterwinner at Delsea Regional High School… 2019 & 2020 Indoor and Outdoor Group 2 State Champions at Delsea Regional, as well as 2018 Outdoor Group 2 State Champions…three-time First Team All-South Jersey in the pole vault (2017-19)…owns the Pole Vault Relay State Record and second best mark all-time in south jersey…also a member of Delsea's baseball and soccer teams…an honor roll student. 
 
Ashritth Rachakunta
Freshman | Distance
Plainsboro, N.J. | West Windsor-Plainsboro North
Prior to Rutgers: Four-year letterwinner in track & field and three-year letterwinner in cross country at West Windsor-Plainsboro North...named All-County for cross country in 2020...as a senior, helped lead the team to the Shore Coaches Cross Country team title...sectional champion in cross country...finished fifth at the Meet of Champions.
 
Dana Ridley 
Freshman | Sprints
Hamilton, N.J. | Nottingham
Personal Records: 100m – 10.50; 200m – 21.03
Prior to Rutgers: No. 1 ranked returning NJ sprinter in the 100m and 200m…Placed second at NJ State Meet of Champions (200m)…Placed first at New Balance Nationals Emerging Elite 200m…Four-year letterwinner in track & field at Nottingham High School.
  
Luke Souders
Freshman | Javelin
Whitehall, Pa. | Whitehall
Personal Records: Javelin - 195'2"
Prior to Rutgers: Four-year letterwinner in track & field at Whitehall High School… named EPC honorable mention in 2017, EPC Second team 2018 and EPC Third team in 2019…also competed in basketball and football…crowned District 11 Champions with the football team…high honor roll student….National Honor Society, Science National Honor Society, and English Honor Society member.
 
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