LITTLE ROCK – As Little Rock head track and field coach
J.P. Behnke gets set to begin his second season, he brings in one of the largest freshmen classes in program history. Behnke has signed 17 student-athletes to compete for the Trojan women's program, addressing a handful of needs.
"We have a great group of 17 girls coming to Little Rock in the fall and it has been a pleasure getting to know each of them and their families over the last nine months," Behnke said. "With only 13 returners going into the 2019-20 season, we knew we needed numbers with this class and stressed how they would be the foundation for the future of our women's program. With that said, I put as much importance on academics, leadership and character as on athletic accomplishments."
Behnke was busy searching for those who would make the right additions to the team, signing student-athletes from seven different states as well as a pair from Canada. This group includes multiple all-district and all-state performers, including five state champions.
"We were most aggressive going after jumpers," said Behnke. "With the needs we have on this team, jumpers tend to be the most versatile and can usually contribute in multiple events. We are adding eight jumpers and most of them have also been very successful in sprints, hurdles and relays. We also needed to add depth to our cross country team. Our goal is to get to 15 women on the cross country team by 2020, and adding these five is a big step in helping us reach that goal."
JUMPS
Natalie Arnold
Brownsville, Texas / Brownsville H.S.
Prior to Little Rock: Four year letterwinner at Brownsville High School, competing in the high jump … Two-time UIL district qualifier, placing second as a senior … Placed first at the Mercedes Knights of Columbus Relays … Set a personal-best jump of 5' 1" at the RGVCA Meet of Champions, placing fourth … Finished in the top-three in nine different meets during her high school career.
Breya Clark
El Dorado, Ark. / El Dorado H.S.
Prior to Little Rock: Four year letterwinner at El Dorado High School … Four-time all-state and all-conference selection … Arkansas state 5A champion in both the high jump and triple jump in 2019 while finishing second in the long jump … Triple jump mark of 39' broke the Arkansas state meet record … Also competed in the Arkansas Heptathlon Championship where she tallied 4,310 points, ranking ninth nationally.
Shelby Dunlap
Bentonville, Ark. | Pea Ridge H.S.
Prior to Little Rock: Competed for Pea Ridge High School … Placed third at the Aransas state 4A meet in the 100 meter hurdles … Runner-up showing in the 60 meter hurdles at the Arkansas Indoor State Championship … Earned six all-state honors during her prep career … Also earned six scholar-athlete awards and is a member of the National Honor Society.
Brenna Harris
Jacksonville, Ala. | Pleasant Valley H.S.
Prior to Little Rock: Earned 12 total letters for Pleasant Valley High School in the high jump and pole vault … State indoor high jump champion in 2014 while setting the program's pole vault record … Was the Alabama state runner-up while finishing third in the high jump in 2018 … Alabama state runner-up in the high jump while placing third in the pole vault in 2019 … Two-time sectional pole vault champion … Sectional MVP in 2019 after winning both the pole vault and high jump … State meet qualifier in the long jump.
Lauren Hurrell
London, Ontario | St. Andre Bessette H.S.
Prior to Little Rock: Competed in the pole vault for St. Andre Bessette High School … Three time letterwinner … Captured both the OFSAA gold and bronze medal … Posted a personal-best vault of 3.60 meters (11' 6") at the OFSAA meet.
Rondaishia McNeal
Osceola, Ark. | Osceola H.S.
Prior to Little Rock: Competed for Osceola High School in a number of events, including the jumps and the sprints … Two-time all-state selection …. Captured Arkansas state championship in the long jump as a junior while placing third in the triple jump … Named Osceola's Athlete of the Year for the 2018-19 season … Helped lead the Seminoles to the district and conference championship.
Sydney Miller
Willow Springs, Mo. | Willow Springs H.S.
Prior to Little Rock: Four year letterwinner at Willow Springs High School in the jumps … Four-time state qualifier and three-time all-state selection … Notched a runner-up showing at the Missouri state meet in the triple jump … SCA conference champion in the high jump … Four-time winner of the Golden Spike award … Also lettered four times in softball and was a two-time all-state performer along with being named conference Player of the Year.
Tricia Pierce
Brandon, Mich. | Brandon H.S.
Prior to Little Rock: Four year letterwinner at Brandon High School in the pole vault, long jump and sprints … Michigan state champion in the pole vault at the MHSAA meet as a senior with a vault of 12' 6" … Placed second in the state meet as a junior … Competed in the New Balance Indoor National Championships in March, placing 22nd overall.
SPRINTS
Lamiah George
Texarkana, Texas | Liberty-Eylau H.S.
Prior to Little Rock: Three year letterwinner at Liberty-Eylau High School … Six-time state and regional champion … Member of the Leopards' Texas state champion 4x200 and 4x400 meter relay teams … Team finished second at the state meet in the 4x100 meter relay … Member of the 4x200 meter relay team that finished first at the 2019 Texas Relays … Finished second in the UIL state meet in the 200 in 2017 while running on the state championship 4x200 meter relay team … Member of the 4x400 meter relay team that finished first at the 2017 Texas Relays.
Ce'Nequal Sewell
Alexandria, La. | Alexandria H.S.
Prior to Little Rock: Three-time Louisiana state champion at Alexandria High School … Captured the 200 meter dash title at the state championships as a junior … Member of the state championship 4x100 meter and 4x200 meter relay teams as a senior … Notched 23 first place showings during her high school career … Recorded personal-best times of 12.59 in the 100 meters and 24.82 in the 200 meters.
Jaelyn Tucker
Burleson, Texas / Centennial H.S.
Prior to Little Rock: Four year letterwinner in sprints and jumps for Centennial High School … Member of Texas state third-place 4x100 meter relay team that broke the school record in 2019 … District champion in the 100 meters and long jump in 2018 … Led Centennial to a pair of district championships … Three-time regional qualifier … Posted personal-bests of 11.86 in the 100 meter dash, 18' 10" in the long jump and 37' in the triple jump … Also lettered four times in tennis at Centennial.
THROWS
Alison Stephens
Chatham, Ontario / Chatham-Kent Secondary School
Prior to Little Rock: Competed for four years in throws at Chatham-Kent Secondary School … Posted a personal-best throw of 150' 10" in the hammer throw at the Royal Canadian Legion Championship … Registered a personal-best throw of 139' 2" in the discus … Also competed on her team's 4x100 meter relay which broke the LKSSAA meet record … Also competed four years in hockey on defense.
DISTANCE
Jordan Edwards
Pflugerville, Texas / Hutto H.S.
Prior to Little Rock: Four year letterwinner in cross country and track at Hutto High School … Ran the 400, 800, 1600 and 3200 meters while competing in the long and triple jumps … Was a member of Hutto's 4x400 meter relay team … Posted PR times of 1:05.28 in the 400 meters, 2:19.94 in the 800 meters, 5:23.86 in the 1600 meters and 12:13.85 in the 3200 meters … Also posted marks of 14' 5.5" in the long jump and 30' 0" in the triple jump.
Ariana Garcia
Fort Worth, Texas / Chisholm Trail H.S.
Prior to Little Rock: Three year letterwinner in both cross country and track at Chisholm Trail High School … Holds program record in the 800 meters at 2:25.90 … Two-time regional qualifier in both the 800 meters and 4x400 meter relay … Member of Chisholm Trail's program record 4x400 meter relay … Regional qualifier in the 4x200 meter relay as well as cross country … Helped lead the Lady Rangers to the district championship in 2019 … National Honor Society member.
Amanda Gordon
Fort Worth, Texas / Timber Creek H.S.
Prior to Little Rock: Four year letterwinner in cross country and two years in track at Timber Creek High School … Qualified for regionals in cross country all four years … Posted a personal-best two-mile mark of 12:58.90 with a three-mile mark of 19:03.02 … Competed in distance for two seasons, registering a PR of 2:34.06 in the 800 meters and 5:41.64 in the 1600 meters … Academic all-state selection.
Candace McGowan
Memphis, Tenn. / Middle College H.S.
Prior to Little Rock: Three year letterwinner in a variety of events at Middle College High School … Ran the 400, 800, 1600 and 3200 meters while competing in the 4x100, 4x400 and 4x800 meter relays … Also competed in the long jump, high jump and pentathlon … Named team MVP all three seasons … Qualified in the 400 meters for the TSSAA state meet in 2019 … Also lettered in basketball, softball and cheerleading … National Honor Society member and class valedictorian.
Allison Risius
Little Rock, Ark. / Little Rock Christian Academy
Prior to Little Rock: Four year letterwinner in cross country and track at Little Rock Christian Academy … Placed second in the 3200 meters and fourth in the 1600 meters at the 2017 Arkansas 5A state meet … State runner-up in the 1600 and 3200 meters in 2016 … All-state selection … Runner-up in the state cross country championships in 2015 and 2017 and seventh in 2016 … Member of three-straight cross country state championship teams in 2015, 2016 and 2017.
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