Track & field inks top-tier Tigers in early signing period

Track & field inks top-tier Tigers in early signing periodTrack & field inks top-tier Tigers in early signing period
Shanna Lockwood/AU Athletics

AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn track & field head coach Ralph Spry announced the signing of 16 new student-athletes slated to join the program during the 2022-23 season Monday morning.
 
"We are extremely excited to welcome such a great, versatile group of signees," Tigers head coach Ralph Spry said. "They will provide us with added depth and talent in a variety of events. Each of them has had tremendous success at their current level, and we know that they will only continue to grow and build on the potential they possess during their careers here on The Plains. We cannot wait for them to join the Auburn family next season."
 
Headlining the class is a slew of state champions, record-holders and MVPs who have also racked up a plethora of accolades in the classroom.
 
Joining the men's team will be distance/cross country runners Rex Green, Trey Hurt, Joseph Perry and Ethan Snyder, jumper Matthew Cless, throwers Matthew Rueff and Keyshawn Strachan as well as sprinter John Edward Paredes.
 
Auburn bolsters its already talented women's roster by signing distance/cross country runners Shelby Balding and Gené Coetzee, jumpers Journey Gurley, Alyssa Quiñones-Mixon and Essence Thomas, and throwers Makenzee Ely, Megan Hague and Maddie Roberts.
 
MEN'S SIGNEE PROFILES
 
Matthew Cless
Hometown: Evanston, Ill.
High School: Evanston Township
Events: High Jump
 
Accolades: IHSA All-State Selection… Member of Evanston Township's National Honor Society, Student Ambassadors and Aviation Explorers.


Rex Green
Hometown: Scottsboro, Ala.
High School: Scottsboro
Events: Middle Distance/XC
 
Accolades: Top-10 AHSAA Outdoor State Championships finisher in the 800m and 1600m… AHSAA Indoor State Championships runner up in the 800m… Personal best 800m is 1:54 and personal best 1600m is 4:16.


Trey Hurt
Hometown: Florence, Ala.
High School: Florence High School
Events: Distance/Cross Country
 
Accolades: Florence High School record-holder in the 800m, mile, 3200m, 5k, 4x400m relay and 4x800m relay… President of FHS's National Honor Society and member of student council and Key Club. 


John Edward Paredes
Hometown: Cali, Valle Del Cauca, Colombia
High School: Instecom
Events: Sprints
 
Accolades: 2021 South American Championship Silver Medalist in the 100m… Winner of the men's 100m at the 2021 Colombian U20 Championship… Top 100m hurdles finisher in 2021 Bogota District Championships.


Joseph Perry
Hometown: Mobile, Ala.
High School: UMS-Wright Preparatory School
Events: Distance/Cross Country
 
Accolades: AHSAA 5A two-time state champion in cross country (2019, 2021)… AHSAA 5A state champion in the 1600m and 3200m for both indoor and outdoor seasons… Clocked 12th-fastest 5k time in Alabama state history at the 2021 Southern Showcase… National Junior Honor Society member and AP Scholar.  


Matthew Rueff
Hometown: Waterman, Ill.
High School: Seven Lakes High School
Events: Shot Put/Discus
 
Accolades: Consistent top-five finisher at Area and Districts throughout high school… Claimed third place in shot put at State Championships with a 61'2 PR throw… Member of National Honor Society who has maintained over a 4.0 GPA.


Ethan Snyder
Hometown: Waxhaw, N.C.
High School: Marvin Ridge High School
Events: Distance/Cross country
 
Accolades: All-Conference and All-Region selection throughout high school career… MRHS record-holder in the 1600m… Voted Most Valuable Runner for both cross country and distance teams… Recognized for outstanding academic performances in both math and microeconomics.


Keyshawn Strachan
Hometown: Andros, Bahamas
High School: North Andros High School
Previous School: St. John's College
Event: Javelin
 
Accolades: 2020-21 St. John's College Most Outstanding Athlete of the Year… Received certificate of Honor and Excellence in both sports and art and craft… Member of the Giant Mind's Club, Z Club and Aviation Club.


WOMEN'S SIGNEE PROFILES
 
Shelby Balding
Hometown: Centennial, Colo.
High School: Cherry Creek High School
Events: distance/cross country
 
Accolades: Two-time CHSAA All-State selection… First Team All-State Academic honoree… Member of CCHS Honor Roll, COLT Club, and juggling club.


Gené Coetzee
Hometown: Johannesburg, South Africa
High School: Helpmekaar Kollege
Events: distance/cross country
 
Accolades: Dual sport athlete in track & field and netball at Helpmekaar Kollege… Voted best athlete for both cross country and track & field for the 2021 season… Helpmekaar Kollege 2021 Leadership Award Winner… Top-50 finisher in the 2019 IAAF U20 World Cross Country Championships.


Makenzee Ely
Hometown: Niceville, Fla.
High School: Niceville High School
Event: Javelin
 
Accolades: 2021 FHSAA state champion… 2021 Florida Panhandle Track & Field Athlete of the Year… 2021 Northwest Florida Co-Athlete of the Year… Recipient of Anne T. Mitchell Academic Excellence Award.


Journey Gurley
Hometown: Hull, Ga.
High School: Madison County High School
Previous School: University of North Georgia
Event: Pole Vault
 
Accolades: Four-time pole vault GHSA state-qualifier and 2019 state champion… 2021 Division II pole vault national champion… UNG program record-holder in pole vault, high jump, triple jump and 4x1… 2021 Peach Belt Conference pole vault champion… 2021 USTFCCCA First Team All-American… 2020 Peach Belt Conference Women's Field Athlete of the Year… Three-time Peach Belt Field Athlete of the Week… 2020-21 DII ADA Academic Achievement Award Winner.


Megan Hague
Hometown: Niceville, Fla.
High School: Niceville High School
Events: Shot put/Discus
 
Accolades: Winner of the Jimmy Everett Track & Field Invitational in both shot put and discus, throwing 13.36m and 45.76m, respectively… Silver medalist in javelin at the 2021 FHSAA 4A Track & Field State Championships with a 37.89m throw.


Alyssa Quiñones-Mixon
Hometown: San Antonio, Texas
High School: Ronald Reagan High School
Event: Pole Vault
 
Accolades: Pole vault PR of 13'0… Member of RRHS's National Honor Society.


Maddie Roberts
Hometown: Tuscumbia, Ala.
High School: Deshler High School
Event: Javelin
 
Accolades: Three-time AHSAA state-qualifier… 2020 Alabama 4A state champion in javelin… AHSAA 4A state record-holder for girl's javelin…. Member of DHS's National Honor Society, yearbook staff, student council, Key Club, DECA and Lockheed Martin Club.


Essence Thomas
Hometown: Galveston, Texas
High School: Dickinson High School
Previous School: University of Oklahoma
Event: Jumps
 
Accolades: Oklahoma program record-holder for triple jump (44-6/13.56m)… Top-25 finisher for triple jump at 2021 Olympic Trials… 2020 NCAA Indoor Championships Qualifier… Six-time Big 12 Indoor/Outdoor Championships scorer… Finished in the top three, three times, at Texas 6A State Championships for triple jump.