Men's Track and Field Signs Four
Wednesday, November 20, 2002 | Track and Field
University of Florida Men's Track and Field Head Coach Mike Holloway announced Wednesday the signing of four athletes to National Letters of Intent during the early signing period. Sprinters Reggie Witherspoon (Marietta, Ga.), Kerron Clement (Laporte, Texas), Demi Omole (Milwaukee, Wisc.) and pole vaulter Chip Heuser (Louisville, Ky.) will join the Gators in the fall.
"I'm very excited about this group of young men, the three guys we signed in the sprints and hurdles will help us in every aspect of the sprint-hurdle-relay group," said Holloway. "Because of the caliber of athletes they are, we're excited about them coming in and helping us at the conference and national level right away. We're excited about that with Chip also. With this class of athletes we've signed so far, we feel they have the ability to come in and have an impact on Florida track and field right away and help us in our quest of being the nations best."
Witherspoon is the No. l returning 400-meter runner in the country and set personal records of 21.24 in the 200-meter and 46.08 in the 400-meter. The Wheeler High School star is the 2002 Georgia State Champion and a 2002 Track and Field News All-American in the 400meters. Witherspoon was also the 2002 USA Junior Olympics Runner-up in the 400-meter and the 2002 Youth Athletics Champion in the same event.
Clement is the nation's No. 1 returner in all three hurdle races and set personal bests of 13.63 in the 110-meter hurdles, 35.78 in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles and 49.77 in the 400-meter hurdles. Clement is also the No. 2 all-time 400-meter hurdler in US high school history. The Laporte High School standout won the 2002 Texas State Championship in the 110-meter hurdles and 300-meter hurdles and was the 2002 USA Junior Olympic Champion in the 400-meter hurdles. Clement was also the 2002 Adidas National High School Champion in the 110-meter hurdles and the 2002 Youth Athletics Champion in the 110-meter hurdles and 400-meter hurdles.
Omole is the No. 3 returning 100-meter and 200-meter runner in the country. The Dominican High School star set personal records of 10.37 in the 100-meter and 21.04 in the 200-meter and is the 2002 Wisconsin State Champion in the 100-meter and 200-meter. Omole also won the 2002 AAU Junior Olympic Championship in the 100-meter and 200-meter.
Heuser is a four-time Kentucky State Champion in the pole vault and is also the Kentucky state record holder in the event. He cleared a height of 16-2? to win the pole vault event at the Nike Indoor Classic, which is considered to be the National High School Indoor Championships. Heuser achieved his personal best of 16-2? feet as a junior at St. Xavier High School.
"Chip has the potential to be the best high school pole vaulter the University of Florida has ever signed," said assistant coach Steve Thomas, who serves as the Gators' field events coach. "Most pole vault experts consider Chip one of the top pole vaulters in the country. Chip is a blue chipper and will make an immediate impact for the Gators at the SEC and NCAA levels."
