UNO Track & Field Signs 18 During Spring Signing Period

NEW ORLEANS – New Orleans head track and field coach Ty Sevin announced an 18-member signing class on Friday, the program's first recruiting class since track and field was reinstated last summer.

“I am very pleased with the group of student athletes we were able to attract to the University of New Orleans,” said Sevin.  “Coach (Katherine) Hoskins played a vital role in the success of this class and has to be given credit for the dedication and hard work she has contributed during the past six months.”

Hired in June to restart the UNO track and field program which had been dormant since 2006, Sevin and his coaching staff have actively recruited from around the region and made in-roads recruiting internationally.

To date, the efforts have netted 18 student-athletes, including 11 from the state of Louisiana and four from Texas.

The signing class is bolstered by six student-athletes who compete in jumps and throws. This group includes several nationally and internationally ranked javelin, pole vault and shot put competitors.

“We have laid the foundation for a strong jumps and throws program within this group,” said Sevin. “Anytime you attract five athletes ranked amongst the top 10 high school competitors within their event in the country, you have to be pleased.”

The top throwers on the men's side include Fabian Jara Dohmann of Paraguay and Matti Mortimore of England. Dohmann has thrown the javelin 25 feet further than the highest ranked American high school senior and ranks No. 3 in South America.  Mortimore is currently ranked No. 24 by the IAAF and has represented Great Britain at the junior world championships.

Other top field competitors include Caleb Bertrand of Elton, La., Aaliyah Walker of New Iberia, La. and Meagan Williams of Valley Center, Kan.

Bertrand is the reigning Louisiana 1A state champion in the pole vault and ranks No. 8 amongst high school seniors. Walker is No. 8 amongst the graduating class in the pole vault with Williams entering the outdoor season ranked as the No. 6 ranked returning javelin thrower amongst high school student-athletes in the United States.

A big emphasis for Sevin in this initial group was building up the cross country program, which will enter its third season this fall.

“We have made significant strides with the additions our distance program with the initial signing class and hope to continue to attract talented runners to New Orleans,” said Sevin of the 11 distance competitors signed in the last few weeks.

Each of the distance runners signed have qualified for their respective state meets at least once during their prep career. The group includes Blake Robertson of Amarillo, Texas, who ranks in the top 50 nationally in the 3000 meters.

Rounding out the early signing class is sprinter/hurdler Alexia Fortenberry, a product of West Jefferson. Fortenberry is presently ranked No. 9 amongst high school participants in the United States in the 60m hurdles and No. 12 in the 55m hurdles.

“This is a good start to our recruiting year and we look forward to adding another 15 student-athletes before June,” said Sevin. “We have done a good job and will strive to do better.”

Of the 18 student-athletes, 17 will report to campus in August with four years of eligibility remaining. The 18^th member of the group – Mortimore – signed in January and is already actively competing with the UNO track and field program. Mortimore is expected to throw the javelin for the first time later this month.

Starting in 2013-14, the Privateers will be eligible to compete in the Southland Conference cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field championships. Prospective student-athletes are encouraged to fill out a questionnaire on the UNOPrivateers.com web site or contact a member of the UNO track and field coaching staff.

A complete listing of the signing class, as well as their student-athlete bios are available below.

Caleb Bertrand Elton, La. (Elton), Pole Vault Ranked No. 8 in the pole vault in the United States… Coached by Keith Dickerson at Elton... Train at New Heights Gym of New Iberia under Shane Leleaux... Louisiana 1A State Champion in pole vault in 2012, state runner-up in 2011... District 5-1A pole vault champion in 2011 and 2012... Division II third place pole vault, 2012...2012 AAU All-American... Elton HS record holder... 2012-13 Academic All-State composite team (football)... Born Caleb Luke Bertand on Oct. 4, 1994... Parents, Wendell and Julia Bertand... Siblings, Emily, Morgan and Joshua Bertrand... Brother-in-Law Dustin Spell... Kinesiology major.
Sarah Booth Lake Charles, La. (St. Louis Catholic), Distance Coached by Tommy Johns at St Louis Catholic… 2012 district cross country champion and 4A All-State selection… Team won district cross country championship four times… 2012 district champion in the 1600m… Born Sarah E. Booth on July 31, 1995… Parents, Sammy and Kayla Booth… Sister, Katherine… Major undecided.
Fabian Jara Dohmann Fernando de La More, Paraguay, Javelin Coached by Edgar Baumann, a former teammate of UNO track and field head coach Ty Sevin… Ranked No. 3 amongst South American juniors in the javelin… Has thrown javelin 25 feet further than highest ranked American high school senior… National champion and Pan American junior school javelin champion… Paraguayan U16 school record holder in javelin… Born January 8, 1993… Parents Erich Dohmann and Egar Jara.
Rontrevius (Tre') Foreman Crowley, La. (Crowley), Distance Ranked in the top 15 of state in cross country in both 2011 and 2012, ranking as high as fifth in 2012... Ranked in the top eight in the state in the one mile and two mile events, ranking seventh in the one mile in 2011 and eighth in the two mile... District cross country champion in 2011, runner-up in 2010... A district champion in track in 2010 and 2011... Selected the 2013 Louisiana State Track & Field/Cross Country teams to compete in Australia... Selected to the All-Acadian Cross Country team in 2012-13... Born Rontrevius Dontae Foreman on Jan. 4, 1995... Parents, Teressa Sam and Terry Foreman... Intended Major of Film, Theatre and Communication... Honor Roll student
Alexia Fortenberry Harvey, La. (West Jefferson), Sprints/Hurdles Coached by Alvin Mack... Ranked No. 9 in the 60m hurdles, No. 12 in the 55m hurdles in the United States…  Finished second in the Louisiana state indoor meet in the 55m hurdles, fourth in the 55m dash... USATF Regional Champion in the 100m hurdles... Finished third in the National AAU meet in the 100m hurdles... Junior year, finished second in the 55m hurdles, third in the 55m dash and second in the long jump at the state indoor meet... Outdoors as a junior, was state runner-up in the 100m hurdles and runner-up in the high jump...Born Alexia Fortenberry on Sept. 19, 1993... Mother, Alana Fortenberry... Siblings, Ayanna and Frank Fortenberry... Exercise Physiology major... Honor Roll student
Andrew (Drew) Gathman, New Orleans, La. (Holy Cross), Distance Coached by Sean Allerton at Holy Cross… Top 10 finisher at the 2012 Louisiana State cross country meet… Qualifier, Indoor state championships… Born Andrew Lewis Gathman on Nov. 23, 1994… Parents, Todd and Cathy Gathman… Sister, Emily… Pre Pharmacy major.
Haley Guidry Lacassine, La.(Lacassine), Distance Coached by Jimmy Witherwax at Lascassine…  2009 state champion in cross country… 2008 runner-up in track at state meet… 2011 state runner-up in cross country… 2010, 3rd place at state in track… Received coaches' award in cross country and track… Also played varsity basketball for five years, earning honorable mention all-district honors in 2010 and 2011…  Honor Roll student..Born Hayley Alaine Guidry on Feb. 21, 1995… Mother, Amanda… Sister, Macey… Intends to major in Human Performance and Health Promotion.
Dustin Kinard River Ridge, La. (John Curtis), Distance Coached by Preston Curtis and Chaz Caiado... Member of the 2011, 2012 and 2013 state indoor track and field championship teams... Member of the 2012 state runner-up team in cross country... Finished first in the junior Olympics qualifier in steeplechase... Born Dustin Scott Kinard on Aug. 31, 1994... Parents, Bryan and Kathleen Kinard...Engineering major.
Emily Martinez Canyon, Texas (Canyon), Distance Coached by Ray Baca... Named to TGCA All-State Team... Member of the 2012 state cross country 4A third place team… Born Emily Martinez on Mar. 11, 1995... Parents, Leonard and Lily Martinez... Sisters, Emma and Ella Martinez... Pre-Med major.
Madison Matlock Amarillo, Texas (Randall), Distance Coached by Rebekah James... Member of the 2011 and 2012 state cross country qualifying teams…Born Madison Colleen Matlock on Dec. 5, 1994... Parents, Brad and Brenda... Siblings, Zach and Bailee... Finishing in top 10% of high school class… Focus of study in Biological Sciences with plans to move on into nursing or dental hygiene.
Matti Mortimore Ipswich, England (Kesgrave), Javelin Ranked No. 24 on the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federation) world juniors list in the javelin... Represented Great Britain this past summer at the 2012 World Junior Track and Field Championships in Barcelona, Spain... Began his high school career by breaking the British U15 javelin record five times over the course of the 2007 season. The record-breaking campaign enabled him to win the English Schools' Athletic Association (EESA) U15 championship and England Athletics' U15 Open Championships.... Mortimore added to his string of success by claiming the javelin event at the 2008 ESAA U17 Championships and the 2008 United Kingdom School Games. In 2012, the native of Ipswich placed first at the England U20/U23 Championships, qualifying for the 2012 World Championships…Born Matti Mortimore on May 16, 1993... Parents, David and Johanna Mortimore... Siblings, Harri Mortimore, Lauri Seaden and Annie Seaden... Biology major.
Clayton O'Callaghan New Roads, La. (Catholic of Point Coupee), Distance Coached by Jason Chauvin at Catholic of Point Coupee… 2012 District 5-1A cross country champion and All-State honoree...2011 District 5-1A cross country runner-up… In 2012 as a junior, qualified for the state championships in the 1600m (indoor) and 3200m (outdoor)… Also finished as district and regional runner-up in the 3200m… Born Clayton O'Callaghan on Dec. 13, 1994... Parents, Daniel and Jennifer O'Callaghan... Brother, Travis... Intends to study Human Performance or Exercise Physiology.
Samantha (Sam) Pavlovich Lake Charles, La. (Sam Houston), Distance Coached by Keith Waddell at Sam Houston…  Three-time district champion in cross country, claiming the 5-4A title in 2010 followed by back-to-back 3-5A championships in 2011-12... Placed as runner-up as a freshman in 5-4A... In indoor track, finished as the 3200m state runner-up in 2011 before claiming a state championship in the event in 2012... In outdoor track, placed as regional runner-up in 1600m and 3200m after winning 3-5A championship in both events... At 2011 LHSAA state meet, placed third in 1600m and runner-up in 3200m... 2011 Region II champion in the 1600m and 3200m, in addition to district 5-4A champion in the 800m, 1600m and 3200m... In 2010, was state runner-up in the 1600m and 3200m, after winning regional titles (1600m, 3200m) and district titles (800m, 1600m and 3200m)... Born Samantha Ruth Pavlovich on May 21, 1995... Parents, Greg and Terri Pavlovich... Numerous Honor Roll and Banner Roll awards…  Intended field of study is Biological Sciences with emphasis on Pre-Dental.
Edmund Pine Amarillo, Texas (Tascosa), Distance Coached by Sean Hargrove at Amarillo's Tascosa High School… 2-time All-Area 'Super Team'… 2011 5A State Qualifier… National Honor Society member … Born Edmund Frederick Pine on Apr. 29, 1995… Parents, Ed and Julie… Brother, Jonas… Intends to study Pre-Law.
Jared (Blake) Robertson Amarillo, Texas (Randall), Distance Coached by Kim Howle at Randall High School of Amarillo… Ranked in the top 50 in the United States in the 3,000 meters… One-time state qualifier in cross country, three-time regional qualifier in cross country… two-time regional qualified in track and field… district champion in 1600m and 3200m… National Honor Society… AB Honor Roll… Born Jared Blake Robertson on Dec. 15, 1994… Mother, Bonnita Robertson… Brother Ryan… Pre-Med major.
Alyx Tripp New Orleans, La. (John Curtis), Pole Vault Coached by Preston Curtis at John Curtis... Finished fifth in the 2012 outdoor state championship as a junior... Personal best of 10-6... Competed in the junior Olympics AAU nationals... Born Alyx Nicole Tripp on July 24, 1994... Parents, Kelly and Rusty Tripp... Brother, Zachary... Intends to major in Interdisciplinary Studies... Honor Roll student
Aaliyah Walker New Iberia, La. (Westgate), Pole Vault Coached at Westgate High School by Margaret Dronet and at New Heights Gym by Shane LeLeux... Ranked No. 10 amongst high school student-athletes in the pole vault indoors and No. 8 amongst seniors... Season-best of 12-7 in the pole vault at the 2013 LHSAA State Indoor Championships... Personal-best of 13-0 came at the 8-5A championships in the pole vault... Born Aaliyah Tiara Walker on July 12, 1995… Mother, Demetrias Martin.
Meagan Williams Valley Center, Kansas (Valley Center), Javelin/Shot Put Entered the 2013 track season as the No. 6 returning javelin thrower in the United States… Lettered in volleyball, basketball, track and field and power lifting at Valley Center… In track and field, as a junior, won the 2012 state and regional championships in the shot put and javelin… Also placed fourth in the region in the discus… During sophomore season, placed sixth in javelin at state meet after winning event at regionals… During volleyball tenure, a four-year letterwinner including a state tournament berth in 3 of 4 seasons…  Named first-team all-state middle blocker in 2012 and a honorable mention all-state selection in 2011…A three-time all-district honoree… In basketball, earned four varsity letters including a pair of all-district selections… As a power lifter, was the 2012 individual state champion as a junior in the 165 lb. class while setting the state record in the hang clean 200 lbs/165 lb class on a state championship team… Women's Choir… Honor Roll… Born Meagan Nicole Williams on Feb. 17, 1995.. Parents, Dwayne and Pam... Siblings, Nathan and Zach.