Track and Field Programs Reload Rosters with Talented 2024-2025 Recruiting Class

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The fifteen-time NCAA Champion Florida Track & Field program announced the addition of a star-studded recruiting class, compiled over the course of the most recent recruiting season.

This year's crop of new Gators features a highly experienced core, including an elite cohort of transfers spanning all disciplines, as well as many newcomers with resumes featuring high-level international competition.

"I am very excited about this year's recruiting class," Head Coach Mike Holloway said. "Our staff did a wonderful job during this process and their efforts have produced a well-balanced and very talented group of athletes. We look forward to working with this group and watching them grow in to champions."

The men of the 2024 recruiting class join a program fresh off its third-straight NCAA Outdoor Championship, just the seventh program in history to accomplish such a feat. On the women's side, the incoming class adds to a program that finished runner-up at both the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor National Championship meets in 2024.

Below is a summary of each incoming athlete's achievements prior to their arrival in Gainesville

The 2024-2025 Class:

Men:

Aidan Broussard (Fr.): Niceville, Fla. (Niceville HS) | Throws – Javelin

2-time FHSAA Class 4A Track and Field State Javelin Throw Champion (62.37m)
Finished 2^nd at the 2024 Pepsi Florida Relays High School Competition
Led Niceville to back-to-back FHSAA Class 4A state championships in 2023 and 2024, winning the varsity Javelin Throw at both meets.
Javelin PR: 62.37m (204'7")

*Leikel Cabrera Gay (Soph.): Havana, Cuba (Manuel Piti Fajardo school) | Throws – Javelin
Previous College: Umpqua Community College (Ore.)

2024 NWAC Javelin champion (70.44m, 231'1")
2023 AAU Junior Olympic Games Javelin Champion
Javelin PR: 73.58m (241'5")

Ayden Campbell (Fr.): Niceville, Fla. (Niceville HS) | Throws – Javelin

Took 9^th at 2024 FHSAA State Track and Field Championships (49.97m)
Finished 3^rd at 2024 Pepsi Florida Relays, setting a PR
Javelin PR: 58.13m (190'8")

Nicolas Crosswhite (Fr.): Douglasville, Ga. (New Manchester HS) | Jumps

2024 GHSA 6A State champion in the triple jump
2024 GHSA 6 A State Bronze Medalist in the high jump
High Jump PR: 7'0"
Long Jump PR: 25'2"
Triple Jump PR: 49'10"

Evan Fleming (Fr.): Gainesville, Fla. (Buchholz HS) | Distance

2x FHSAA 4A 2024 State Champion (800m, 1600m)
Member of Buchholz's 2024 Nike Indoor Nationals Championship 4xMile relay team (17:25.44)
800m PR: 1:51.70
1600m PR: 4:07.21

Garrett Fox (Jr.): Clovis, Calif. (Buchanan HS) | Sprints
Previous College: Fresno Pacific University

100m PR: 10.54
200m PR: 21.07

Trent Howard (Fr.): Frisco Texas (Frisco Lone Star HS) | Sprints

100m PR: 10.50
200m PR: 21.33

*Markevus Jackson (Sr.): Kissimmee, Fla. (Kissimmee-Osceola HS) | Sprints
Previous College: Kentucky, North Carolina A&T

400m PR: 46.58

Jonah Kirspel (Fr.): Santa Rosa Beach, Fla. (South Walton HS) | Mid-distance

Back-to-back FHSAA Class 2A Track and Field State Champion in 2022 and 2023 in the 800m.
800m PR: 1:49.76

*Jacob Lemmon (Sr.): Sanibel, Fla. (Fort Myers HS) | Throws
Previous College: Virginia

Three-time NCAA Outdoor All American in Discus
Discus PR: 60.50m (198'6")
Hammer Throw PR: (66.15m (217'0")
Weight Throw PR: 22.18m (72'9.25")

Jonathan Leon (Fr.): Oviedo, Fla. (Hagerty HS) | Distance

3x FHSAA 4A Silver Medalist (3200m '24, XC '23, 3200m '23)
17^th Place at Footlocker South XC Championship 2023
1600m PR: 4:11.92
3200m PR: 8:47.86

Jaden Lippett (Fr.): Winter Haven, Fla. (Winter Haven HS) | Jumps

2024 Pepsi Florida Relays Triple Jump Champion
2x FHSAA State Champion in the Triple Jump (2022, 2023)
Triple Jump PR: 15.70m (51'6.25")
Long Jump PR: 7.15m (23'5.5")

*Toby Makoyawo (Sr.): South Ruislip, England (St. Joan of Arc HS)| Sprints
Previous College: Boston University

60m PR: 6.64
100m PR: 10.12
200m PR: 20.73

Graham Myers (Fr.): Fleming Island, Fla. (Fleming Island HS) | Distance

12^th Place at Footlocker South XC Championship 2023
5x FHSAA Top-3 Finisher
Member of Fleming Island's FHSAA 2024 3A State Championship 4x800m relay team (7:43.03)
1600 PR: 4:09.29
3200 PR: 8:57.91

Vance Nilsson (Fr.): Gilbert, Az. (Gilbert HS) | 400mH

World U20 Champion in the 400m Hurdles (Lima, Peru, 2024)
Advanced to semifinal at 2024 US Olympic Trials in 400H
2024 Arizona Gatorade Player of the Year for Track and Field
Holds high school national record in the 300 hurdles, running 34.83
400mH PR: 49.26 (U20 2024 Season Lead)
110H PR (39"): 13.39

Joshua Ruiz (Fr.): Miami, Fla. (Belen Jesuit) | Distance

32^nd at NXN National Championship 2023 to lead Belen Jesuit to a 4^th Place Team Finish
1^st Place Southern Showcase XC 2023
4x FHSAA Top-3 Finisher
1600m PR: 4:16.43
3200m PR: 8:59.99

Riley Smith (Fr.): Gainesville, Fla. (Buchholz HS) | Distance

2024 Millrose Mile Champion
FHSAA 4A XC Champion 2023
3^rd Place FHSAA 4A 1600m 2023
Member of Buchholz's 2024 Nike Indoor Nationals Championship 4xMile relay team (17:25.44)
800m PR: 1:50.96
Mile PR: 4:04.65
3200m PR: 8:39.71

Nicholas Spikes (Fr.): Burtonsville, Md. (Paint Branch HS) | Sprints

100m PR: 10.48
200m PR: 20.74
300m PR: 33.22
400m PR: 46.05

*Demaris Waters (Jr.): Harisburg, Penn. (Harrisburg HS) | Sprints/Hurdles
Previous College: San Jose State

60mH PR: 7.71
110mH PR: 13.44

Jaden Wiley (Fr.): Duluth, Ga. (Duluth HS) | Sprints

2024 U.S. U20 Champion in 100m and 200m
100m PR: 10.21
200m PR: 20.67

*Johnathan Witte (Jr.): Gainesville, Fla. (IMG Academy) | Throws
Previous College: LSU

2024 USTFCCCA Indoor All-American (Weight Throw)
Weight Throw PR: 22.30m
Hammer Throw PR: 61.23 Meters

Women

Alyssa Banales (Fr.): McKinney, Texas (McKinney North) | Jumps

Made Team USA U20 roster in the Long Jump for the 2022 World Athletics U20 Championships in Cali, Colombia
Triple Jump PR: 11.94m (39'2")
Long Jump PR: 6.35m (20'10")

Christiana Coleman (Fr.): Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Dillard HS) | Distance

2023 FHSAA 3A State XC Champion
2x 2024 FHSAA 3A State Champion (1600m, 3200m)
800m PR: 2:12.45
1600m PR: 4:53.58
3200m PR: 10:50.88

Abigail Elmore (Fr.): Gunter, Texas (Gunter HS) | Heptathlon

Finished 13^th in the Heptathlon at the 2024 World Athletics U20 Championships
Took 2^nd in the 2024 U.S. U20 Championships
100mH PR: 14.03
High Jump PR: 1.78m (6'0")
Long Jump PR: 5.57m (19'0")
200m PR: 26.04
800m PR: 2:23.45
Shot Put PR: 12.69m (42'4")
Javelin PR: 35.85m (124'1")
Heptathlon 5376

Ashley Fitzgerald (Fr.): Plantation, Fla. (American Heritage) | Distance

3x FHSAA 3A State Cross Country Silver Medalist (2021, 2022, 2023)
2x FHSAA 3A State Track & Field Bronze Medalist (1600m 2021, 3200m 2022)
1500m PR: 4:37.26
3000m PR: 9:52.32

Avery Fronrath (Fr.): West Palm Beach, Fla. (King's Academy) | Distance

1600m PR: 5:07.05
3200m PR: 10:58.19

Reagan Gilmore (Fr.): Louisville, Ky. (Assumption HS) | Distance

Broke a Kentucky state High School record in the 4x800m relay with Assumption that had stood for twelve years
30^th NXN National Cross Country Championships 2023
3^rd NXR South Regional Cross Country Championships 2023
2024 KHSAA 3A State Champion (3200m)
2x 3^rd Place Finisher at KHSAA 3A State Championships (XC, 3200m)
800m PR: 2:12.46
Mile PR: 4:45.29
3200 PR: 10:05.69

Habiba Harris (Fr.): Santa Cruz, Jamaica | Sprints/Hurdles *enrolling January 2025*

2024 Jamaican U20 Champion (100mH)
100mH PR: 12.95
100m PR: 11.71

Lindsey Kiehl (Fr.): Vail, Colo. (Summit HS) | Distance

800m PR: 2:13.47
Mile PR: 4:58.19

Skyye Lee (Fr.): St. Louis, Mo. (Parkway Central HS) | Sprints/Hurdles

Dominated High School competition in Missouri, Taking the 2024 MSHSAA Class 4 State Championship in both the 200m, 100mH and finishing second in the 100m.
200m PR: 23.93
100mH PR: 13.34

*Gabrielle Matthews (Jr.): Portmore, Jamaica (The Queens School) | Sprints/Hurdles
Previous College: Ole Miss

Ran the third leg of Ole Miss's 2024 NCAA Outdoor Champion 4x100m Relay team
Placed 7^th in the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Championship 400mH (55.33)
2024 SEC Outdoor 400mH Champion
400mH PR: 55.12
200m PR: 22.98

Bethan Morley (Jr.): West Yorkshire, England | Distance
Previous College: Loughborough University

BUCS Indoor Track & Field Champion 2023 (1500m)
BUCS Outdoor Track & Field Runner-Up (1500m, 800m)
1^st Place 2023 BUCS XC Championships Short Course 6km
5^th Place 2024 BUCS XC Championships Long Course 8km
Anchored Great Britain & NI to 2024 World Cross Country Bronze in the Mixed Relay
Bronze Medalist 2024 FISU World University XC 3km
800m PR: 2:02.76
1500m PR: 4:11.84
3000m PR: 9:13.99

Hilda Olemomoi (Jr.): Trans-Mara, Kenya | Distance
Previous College: Alabama

4x Top-3 Finisher at NCAA Track & Field Championships
9x NCAA 1^st Team All-American
2x Top-10 NCAA XC Finisher (6^th 2022, 4^th 2023)
2x SEC Champion (10,000m, DMR)
3,000m PR: 8:45.50
5,000m PR: 15:06.42
10,000m PR: 31:51.89

Quincy Penn (So.): Abaco, Bahamas | Sprints
Previous College: Alabama State University

2024 SWAC Outdoor Champions in 200m and 400m
100m PR: 11.51
200m PR: 23.08
400m PR: 51.91

Elaina Perkins (Fr.): Niceville, FL (Niceville High School) | Throws

2024 FHSAA 4A State Champion (Javelin)
Javelin Throw PR: 44.57m.

Asia Phillips (Fr.): Ontario, Canada | Jumps

Placed fourth in the triple jump (13.31m) at the 2024 World Athletics U20 Championship.
Canadian U20 Champion in the triple jump
Long Jump PR: 5.94m
Triple Jump PR: 13.55m U20 and U18 Canadian Record Holder
NACAC U18 Champion
Pan Am U20 Champion

Gabrielle Schmidt (Fr.): Brisbane, Australia (St. Peters Lutheran College) | Distance

Finished seventh in the Women's 5000m at the 2024 World Athletics U20 Championship in 16:10.87
21^st at 2024 World XC Championships U20 6km
1500m PR: 4:22.46
3000m PR: 9:23.94
5000m PR: 16:10.87

Shakynah Tresvant (Fr.): Miami, FL (Miami Northwestern Senior High School) | Hurdles

2023 FHSAA 3A State Champion (400H)
100H PR: 14.33
400H PR: 58.71

Evelyn Vanzwieten (Fr.): Merritt Island, FL (Merritt Island Christian High School) | Throws

2024 FHSAA 1A State Championships Silver Medalist (Javelin)
Was 1^st in the javelin throw at 2024 FHSAA 1A Region 2.
Javelin Throw PR: 43.23m

Thalia Waters (Fr.): Delray Beach, FL (Atlantic High School) | Hurdles

2024 FHSAA 3A State Champion (100H)
Also competes in the Long Jump, boasting a 6.16m (20'2") PR
100m PR: 11.79
100mH PR: 13.10

Caroline Wells (Jr.): Winter Springs, FL | Distance
Previous College: Stanford University

2x FHSAA State Record Holder (3200m, State XC)
6x FHSAA 4A State Champion
Mile PR: 4:42.40
3000m PR: 9:27.01c
5000m PR: 16:16.02

Tia Wilson (Jr.): Bedford, England | Distance
Previous College: Loughborough University

9^th Place 2024 BUCS XC Championships Long Course 8km
6^th Place 2024 FISU World University XC 3km
2024 BUCS Outdoor Track & Field Runner-Up (5,000m)
1500m PR: 4:13.66
3000m PR: 8:57.14
5000m PR: 15:39.49

Ava Wyant (Fr.): Oviedo, FL (The Master's Academy) | Distance

5x Top-3 Finisher at FHSAA 1A State Track & Field Championships
2023 FHSAA 1A State Track & Field Champion
800m PR: 2:13.72
1600m PR: 4:53.39

Gators Calendar

Track and Field Programs Reload Rosters with Talented 2024-2025 Recruiting Class

Footer

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Event: Track and Field versus Jimmy Carnes on Jan. 15, 2026

Upcoming Event: Track and Field versus Jimmy Carnes on Jan. 16, 2026

Upcoming Event: Track and Field versus Razorback Invitational on Jan. 30, 2026

Upcoming Event: Track and Field versus Razorback Invitational on Jan. 31, 2026

Upcoming Event: Track and Field versus Tyson Invitational on Feb. 13, 2026

Track and Field Programs Reload Rosters with Talented 2024-2025 Recruiting Class

Related News

Related Videos

Footer