Alabama Track & Field Signs Nine to National Letters of Intent
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama track & field has signed nine student-athletes during the November signing period, head coach Dan Waters announced this week.
"We've addressed a number of needs with his year's class," Waters said. "I'm excited about the talent this group brings to our program across all disciplines. While not big in numbers, this class is deep in accomplishments at the high school, junior college and international levels and has the potential make an immediate impact on our team."
Men's signees include Leander Forbes (Sprints/Tallahassee, Fla.), Dartez Hamlin (Sprints/El Paso, Texas), Dominic Kiptum (Distance/Kapsokwony, Kenya), Jalen Murray (Distance/Richmond Hill, Ga.) and Grady Shiflet (Distance/Baton Rouge, La.).
Women's signees include Samantha Kunza (Throws/Wentzville, Mo.), Abigail Kwarteng (Jumps/Bekwai, Ghana), Amaris Tyynismaa (Distance/Montgomery, Ala.), Allison Wilson (Distance/Montgomery, Ala.).
Leander Forbes, Sprints, Tallahassee, Fla. (Leon/Meridian Community College)
- Junior college transfer from Meridian Community College
- Won the 600 meters at the 2018 NJCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships
- Member of Meridian's 4x400-meter relay that finished third at the 2018 NJCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships
- Two-time regional champion in the 400 meters at Leon High School in Tallahassee, Fla.
- Two-time All-Big Bend selection in 2016 and 2017 at Leon High School
- Set the Leon High School record in the 400 meters with a time of 45.95.
Personal Bests
- 200 Meters: 21.96
- 400 Meters: 45.95
- 600 Meters: 1:17.53
Dartez Hamlin, Sprints, El Paso, Texas (Burges/Barton County Community College)
- Junior college transfer from 2018 NJCAA outdoor national champion Barton County Community College
- Member of Barton County's 2018 NJCAA-champion 4x100-meter relay team
- Finished second in the 200 meters at the UIL 5A state championships as senior in 2016
- Finished sixth in the 200 meters at the 2016 New Balance Outdoor Nationals
Personal Bests
- 100 Meters: 10.45
- 200 Meters: 20.76
- 400 Meters: 47.90
Dominic Kiptum, Distance, Kapsokwony, Kenya (Chewoyet)
- High school signee who will join the Crimson Tide in January
- Participated in the 2017 East Africa Secondary School Games in Gulu, Uganda
- Finished seventh at the 2018 Kenya Junior Cross Country Championships in Nairobi, Kenya, covering the 8,000-meter course in 23:00.2
- Finished ninth at the 2018 African Cross Country Championships in Chlef, Algeria with a time of 25:31 over the 8,000-meter course
Personal Bests
- 1,500 Meters: 3:50.69
- 3,000 Meters: 8:09.0
- 5,000 Meters: 14:32.3
Jalen Murray, Distance, Richmond Hill, Ga. (Richmond Hill)
- Georgia class 6A state cross country champion in 2018
- Won the state meet with a personal-best 15:58.5 over the 5,000-meter course, the fastest time in any class at the state championships
- Two-time team MVP in cross country at Richmond Hill (2017, 2018)
- Finished fourth in the 1,600 meters and seventh in the 3,200 meters at the GHSA class 6A state track & field championships as a junior in 2017
- Also competed in golf, baseball and basketball at Richmond Hill
Personal Bests
- 800 Meters: 1:59.01
- 1,600 Meters: 4:24.18
- 3,200 Meters: 9:42.71
- 5,000 Meters (Cross Country): 15:58.5
Grady Shiflet, Distance, Louisville, Ky. (St. Xavier)
- Member of three state championship cross country teams at St. Xavier (2015, 2016, 2017)
- Member of St. Xavier's 2018 KHSAA 3A state championship 4x400-meter relay
- Finished third in the 1,600 meters at the KHSAA 3A State Track & Field Championships in 2018
- KHSAA 3A Region 3 cross country champion in 2018
- Won the 800 meters at the 2018 KHSAA 3A Region 3 Championships
- Member of the Louisville team that finished 13th at the 2016 Nike Cross Nationals
- Competed in the New Balance indoor and outdoor nationals in 2016
Personal Bests
- 1,600 Meters: 4:19.74
- 3,200 Meters: 9:38.08
- 5,000 Meters: 15:33.11
- 5,000 Meters (Cross Country): 15:40.1
Samantha Kunza, Throws, Wenztville, Mo. (Timberland)
- One of the top throws recruits in the 2018 recruiting cycle
- U.S. record-holder in three-kilo hammer throw with a mark of 214-11 (65.50m)
- Ranks second nationally in the four-kilo hammer throw with an effort of 195-6 (59.58m)
- Won the hammer throw at the 2018 New Balance National Outdoor Championships and the 2018 Great Southwest Track & Field Classic
- 2018 All-USA Girls Track & Field selection
- 2018 Track & Field News High School All-American
- Began competing in the hammer throw as a sixth-grader
Personal Bests
- 3-Kilo Hammer Throw: 214-11 (65.50m)
- 4-Kilo Hammer Throw: 194-6 (59.58m)
- Weight Throw: 53-0 (16.15m)
Abigail Kwarteng, Jumps, Bekwai, Ghana (Agogo State College/Western Texas College)
- Junior college signee who will join the Crimson Tide in January
- Won three NJCAA high jump titles at Western Texas College
- Won the high jump at the 2018 NJCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships with a clearance of 6-0 (1.83m)
- Finished seventh in the triple jump at the 2018 NJCAA outdoor meet with a jump of 40-10 1/4 (12.45m)
- Won the high jump at the 2018 NJCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships with a winning mark of 5-11 1/4 (1.81m)
- Finished third in the triple jump at the 2018 NJCAA indoor meet with a leap of 40-10 1/4 (12.45m)
- Posted a mark of 5-6 (1.68m) to finish third in the high jump at the 2017 NJCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships
- Won the high jump at the 2017 NJCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships with a clearance of 5-9 1/4 (1.76)
- Finished fourth in the high jump at the 2018 African Senior Championships in Asaba, Nigeria
- Finished fourth in the high jump at the 2016 African Senior Championships in Durban, South Africa with a clearance of 5-9 1/4 (1.76m)
- Finished seventh in the high jump at the 2014 All-Africa Youth Games in Gaborone, Botswana as a high schooler
Personal Bests
- High Jump: 6-1 1/2 (1.87m)
Amaris Tyynismaa, Distance, Montgomery, Ala. (Catholic)
- One of the most decorated track & field and cross country runners in Alabama high school history
- Five-time Alabama cross country champion at Montgomery Catholic
- Twenty-time state champion in track & field and cross country during her high school career
- Just the third five-time girls state champion in Alabama prep history
- Helped lead Catholic to its first team state cross country championship in 2018
- Won the Alabama class 4A state cross country championship in 2018 with a time of 17:44.3 over the 5,000 meter course, the fastest time in any classification at the 2018 state meet
- Won the 800 meters, 1,600 meters and 3,200 meters at the 2018 Alabama Class 4A state track & field championships
Personal Bests
- 800 Meters: 2:13.60
- 1,600 Meters: 4:56.31
- 3,200 Meters: 10:32.94
- 5,000 Meters (Cross Country): 16:57.0
Allison Wilson, Distance, Montgomery, Texas (Montgomery)
- Three-time University Interscholastic League all-state selection in cross country at Montgomery High School
- Two-time Nike Cross Nationals qualifier (2017, 2018)
- Finished third at the 2018 Nike Cross Nationals Southeast Regional
- Finished second at the UIL 5A state cross country championships as a senior in 2018 with a time of 17:47.1 over the 5,000-meter course
- Finished seventh (2017) and eighth (2016) at the state cross country championships as a junior and sophomore
- Finished fifth in the 1,600 meters and 3,200 meters at the 2017 UIL 6A District Track & Field Championships
Personal Bests
- 1,600 Meters: 5:06.47
- 3,200 Meters: 10:47.92
- 5,000 Meters (Cross Country): 17:09.5
