MCC Track Announces First Wave of Signees

From School Reports

Meridian, MS – The MCC track and field team announced the signing of six  student-athletes that will be joining the roster for the 2015 season, Head Coach Chip Gayden announced, Tuesday.  The group consists of two distance runners, two sprinters and two hurdlers.

“We are excited about this first wave of signees and welcoming them in to our program,” Gayden said.  “This group of guys really helps push our men’s team in the right direction to being one of the best in the nation and contending for national championships.”

The two distance runners who will be joining the program are Rogelio Araiza of Liberty High School in Kissimmee, FL and Tim Hoodlebrink of Eastwood High School in Pemberville, OH.  Araiza comes to MCC with personal bests of 4:27.72 in the 1600 meters, 9:50.42 in the 3200 meters 16:06.00 in the 5,000 meters and 1:58.00 in the 800 meters.  Hoodlebrink will join the MCC program with personal bests of 4:34.74 in the 1600 meters and 1:53.88 in the 800 meters.

“Araiza and Hoodlebrink are two guys we see who can come right in and make an immediate impact for our program not only in cross country but on the track as well.  They both have great potential to be scorers for us at the national level in several events,” said Gayden.

In the sprint events, MCC will welcome Devarius Turner from Liberty High School in Kissimmee, FL and Delon Cauldwell from St. Andrew Technical High School in Kingston, Jamaica.  Turner will arrive to MCC and join an already star studded event area in the short sprints.  Turner comes in as one of the top short sprinters in the nation ranking 11^th in the country in the 100 meters with a time of 10.51 and 3^rd in the country in the 200 meters with a time of 21.17.  Cauldwell will join the MCC program as one of the top 400 meter runners in Jamaica coming in with a personal best 46.98 in the event.

“We are very excited about these two young men joining our program and continuing our tradition we have started in being at a high level in the sprint events.  I believe both of these young men can win individual national championships as well as help us try to win a team title,” said Gayden.

MCC will add to their hurdlers with the signing of Kristopher Butler of Memphis Central High School in Memphis, TN and Kenroy Williams of Donald Quarrie High School in St. Thomas, Jamaica.  Butler comes in as the top intermediate hurdler in the state of Tennessee with a personal best time of 38.88 in the 300 meter hurdles. Williams comes in as one of the bright up and coming intermediate hurdlers in Jamaica.  In only his second season, Williams holds a personal best 53.33 in the 400 hurdles.

“We are excited to add two quality hurdlers, who at the same time indoors can run the 600 meters or the 400 meters and be on our relays.  I think both of these young men can compete at the national stage, and I believe Williams will have a great chance to contend for a national championship individually as a freshman,” said Gayden.

MCC will look to add depth to their already star studded roster with the next wave of signees in the next few months along with a plethora of walk-on’s that will join the program in 2015.