Oklahoma State University Athletics
OSU Announces 2013-14 Recruiting Class
August 30, 2013 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track
Aug 30, 2013
STILLWATER -
Oklahoma State cross country/track and field welcomes a new class of athletes to campus this fall, a group featuring a number of state high school meet finalists, champions and national qualifiers.
Leading the way on the women's side is Kristine Helle of Oslo, Norway, who was awarded The “Asics' Golden Shoe”, after capturing the national title in the 3,000 meters and setting a national under-20 record in the 10,000 meters. The Golden Shoe is awarded to the best Norwegian female junior distance runner of the year. She was also a bronze medalist at both the Norwegian Indoor Junior Championships in the 1,500 meters, and at the Norwegian Junior Cross Country Championships.
Emily Helms, from Mustang, Okla., joins the Cowgirls as a four-time 6A State Champion in the 3,200 meters (twice), 1,600 meters and the 4x800 relay. She was a four-time All-State track performer and an All-American at the Junior Olympics in the 3,000 meters and 1,500 meters. In addition, Helms was a two-time 6A cross country state champion and a three-time all-state cross country performer.
Katherine Allen, from Allen, Texas, captured the 2013 District 5A championship in the 3,200 meters and was the runner-up in the 1,600 meters. In 2012, she was a District 5A runner-up in cross country and was the Allen Cross Country MVP twice.
Katie Kehl is a thrower from Baldwin City, Kan., and a graduate of Baldwin High School. She was a three-time Lawrence Journal World All Area Track Athlete and a two-time Lawrence Journal World All Area Honorable Mention in Basketball. She owns a personal best of 45'3.5'' in the shot put and 145'7'' in the discus.
Julia Schmaltz, from Krum, Texas, was the 2013 Greater Denton Sports Female Athlete of the Year. She was a two- time regional qualifier in five events and a high jump state medalist. In addition, Schmaltz was a two-time Krum High School Athlete of the Year recipient.
Keely Brown, from Locust Grove, GA., was a four-time state qualifier in the long jump and high jump. She was a two-time bronze medalist in the long jump at the state meet and a two-time regional champion in the long jump. In addition, Brown competed in Australia with the Junior USA team, where she was a silver medalist in the 4x100 relay.
Anna Boyert joins the Cowgirls, transferring from Penn State. She attended Medina High School in Medina, Ohio, where she was a state champion in the 4x800 as a senior, splitting 2:09 on the anchor leg. She finished third in the 1,600 meters and seventh in the 800 meters at the 2012 state championships. She took second in the 1,600 meters at the Mid-West Meet of Champions as a senior. She placed fourth in the Ohio State Cross Country Championships as a senior, and was third in the 1,600 at the Ohio State meet as a junior. At Penn State in 2012, Boyert finished 11th overall in the open race at the 5,000 meter Greater Louisville Classic, with an 18:07, placed 52nd at the Harry Groves Spiked Shoe Invitational and 41st at the Adidas Wisconsin Invite.
“We have some girls who I think can contribute right away,” OSU coach Dave Smith said. “This is a small class, but we picked up some girls who can help us down the road. We're also picking up Anna Boyert, who is transferring here from Penn State. She has a lot of talent. If she can reailze her physical talent and adapt to what we do, she can really help us. When we're recruiting, we look for that competitive killer instinct. You want that attitude—the chip on the shoulder, something to prove. We need more of that attitude on the team.”
On the men's side, Chad Noelle joins the Cowboys as a transfer from Oregon. His senior year of high school included a win at the 2010 Northeast Foot Locker cross country championships and a 10th-place finish at the Foot Locker Nationals (15.25), as well as a state title on the track at 1,600 meters. He had a terrific performance at the 2011 New York state meet, winning the 1,600 meters (4:11.17) and was the runner-up at 3,200 meters (8:59.03). Earlier in the season, he won the 3,200 meters at the Glenn D. Loucks Games in a personal-best 8:56.02 and was the runner-up in the mile at the Penn Relays (4:10.83). In his year at Oregon, Noelle finished 13th in the 1,500 meters at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in 3:42.80, which was just off his personal best 3:41.07 ... Capped his season with a third place finish at the U.S. Junior Championships (3:46.69).
Matthew Fayers, from Ickenham, England, joins the Cowboys after capturing the national title in the 1,500 meters at the British Athletics Senior European Indoor Trials and UK Championships in 2013. In 2012, he was a gold medalist at the England U20 Indoor Championships and a silver medalist at the Aviva England Athletics U20 Outdoor Championships and World Trials (1,500 meters). In 2010, Fayers was a bronze medalist at both the UK School Games in the 1,500 meters and at the Aviva England Athletics U17 Championships. As a 17 year-old, Fayers ran the 800 meters in 1:50, and the full mile in 4:01. He also posted a 3:45 in the 1,500 meters.
Noah Gade, from Stillwater, Okla., was a four-time state qualifier in track and cross country and a two-time All-State performer in the 3,200 meters. He claimed the state crown in cross country as a junior, and was awarded The Daily Oklahoman Boys' Runner of the Year as well as The Tulsa World All-Metro Boys' Co-Cross Country Runner of the Year. During the 2012 cross country season, he was a Foot Locker National Finalist and named the Gatorade Boys' Cross Country Runner of the Year for the state of Oklahoma.
Brigham Hedges, from The Woodlands, Texas, was the 2012 state runner-up in the mile and owns a personal best of 4:10. He was a three-time Nike Cross National qualifier and an all-state cross country team member. Hedges was runner up at the 2012 Texas 5A State High School Championships. He was also runner up in the 1600 meters at the 2012 State Track and Field Championships. He was an All-State performer in three different years.
Charles Kammiller is a thrower from Derby, Kan., and a graduate of Derby High School. Kammiler joins the Cowboys with a personal best of 150'9” in the discus and 48'9” in the shot put. Kammiller's personal best in the discus came in the Kansas 6A Track and Field Championships, where he finished seventh.
Luis Martinez is a three-time cross country state champion out of Rio Rancho, NM., and a graduate of Cleveland High School. He was also a three-time state champion in the 1,600 meters (twice) and the 3,200 meters. In 2012, Martinez was a bronze medalist at both the Nike Cross Regionals Southwest and at the Nike Cross Nationals. In 2011, he claimed the title of Nike Cross Regionals Southwest Champion. He won the 1600-meter run with a time of 4:11.66 and the 3200-meter run in 9:27.55 this spring, leading the Storm to the Class 5A state championship as a team. Also the 2011-12 Gatorade New Mexico Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year, Martinez was a dual state champion for the second straight season and set a new state record in the 1600. He also captured first place in the 3200 at the Great Southwest Classic with a time of 9:28.06.
Ryan Wheatley, from Grove, Okla., was the 2013 Oklahoma State Champion in the 800 meters, and was the runner-up in the 400 meters. He won the 400 meters at the 2013 Oklahoma Meet of Champions. He has a personal best of 1:55 in the 800 meters, and 49.19 in the 400 meters.
Another transfer is Charles Mathenge, a talented newcomer from Kenya. Mathenge was a solid performer on the Kenyan university circuit.
“The incoming freshmen are a group of guys who really fit what we do,” Smith said. “They have a blue-collar attitude, they're tough-minded kids and they train hard. They get out and get the work done. They will do really well for our program, and will be the guys winning championships for us in two or three years. Our transfers will have a big impact. Chad Noelle, based on what he's done on the track and his willingness to work, is a guy who wouldn't surprise me if he contributed in our top seven this year. The same goes for Charles [Mathenge]. He's somewhat of an unknown quantity, because he did all of his racing in Kenya, in altitude. His times may not look as competitive as other guys coming into the NCAA, but he could also make the top seven. Bobby Lockhart has done a great job putting this class together. This class has his signature on it, and I think he did a great job with it.”
The men's team begins its NCAA title defense on Saturday, when both the men's and women's teams travel to Mohawk Park, in Tulsa, Okla., for the Hurricane Festival.
