Track & Field Adds 25 Talented Newcomers to the 2020-21 Roster

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Alabama men's and women's track and field teams have welcomed 25 talented newcomers to the program, head coach Dan Waters announced Wednesday.

"Our coaching staff is excited to welcome an outstanding group of freshmen and transfers to the family," Waters said. "The group has a proven record in both competition and the classroom and we look forward to working with them."

The 25-incoming student-athletes come from 12 different states and four international countries. Listed by event, the Crimson Tide added 13 to its women's roster – six distance runners, four sprinters, two jumpers and one thrower, while the men signed 12 – five distance runners, four throwers and three sprinters.

Alabama Roster (Alphabetical)

Name	Event	Hometown
Ellie Bachmann	Distance	Knoxville, Tenn.
*Kristoni Barnes	Sprints	Wake Forest, N.C.
Amari Brown	Sprints	Milwaukee, Wis.
Bianca Carroccio	Distance	Plano, Texas
Patricija Cirule	Distance	Kekava, Latvia
*Leah Hanle	Distance	Lichtenstein, Germany
Nadia Herring	Sprints/Jumps	Steilacoom, Wash.
Christal Mosley	Sprints	Wichita, Kan.
*Cherisse Murray	Throws	Toco, Trinidad and Tobago
Sophie Spada	Distance	Charlotte, N.C.
Diamonasia Taylor	Jumps	Urbana, Ill.
Kerri Walsh	Distance	Centerville, Ohio
Aysia Ward	Jumps	Lancaster, Texas
Mateo Barreto	Distance	Purcellville, Va.
Nathan Cooper	Throws	Dothan, Ala.
Harrison Dimick	Throws	Birmingham, Ala.
Josiah Harry	Throws	Mobile, Ala.
Demetrius Jackson	Sprints	Cleveland, Ohio
Jace Jones	Distance	Montevallo, Ala.
Mathew Kiprop	Distance	Eldoret, Kenya
Jonathan Martin	Sprints	Hoover, Ala.
Kieran McKeag	Throws	Lakeville, Minn.
*Joshua St. Clair	Sprints	Arima, Trinidad and Tobago
Garrett Suhr	Distance	Rockville, Md.
Jonas Yadaa	Distance	Kapenguria, Kenya

* - Early Enrollee

Women

Ellie Bachmann

Knoxville, Tenn. | Hardin Valley Academy | Distance

"Ellie has been one of the top middle-distance runners in Tennessee for the last three years. She was an instant fit with our team and adds needed depth to our middle-distance corps. It doesn't hurt that she has been around high-level athletics her entire life. Her mother was an SEC 800m standout and her father played Big 10 football." – assistant coach Will Palmer

Kristoni Barnes

Wake Forest, N.C. | Wake Forest Rolesville/North Carolina A&T | Sprints

"Kristoni was able to establish herself as an early enrollee in the women's sprint group. I'm excited to see her continued development and believe she can make a significant impact as she matures in each event." – assistant coach Blaine Wiley

Amari Brown

Milwaukee, Wis. | Rufus King | Sprints

"We are so excited to have an athlete of Amari's caliber joining our sprint group. Amari is a tough runner with great range and explosive ability. She had a tremendous 2019 season and we expect her to continue to develop when she joins us at Alabama." – assistant coach Blaine Wiley

Bianca Carroccio

Plano, Texas | Plano Senior HS | Distance

"Bianca has a rare mix of speed and athleticism. She plays basketball in the winter and has never committed herself full-time to running. Her ceiling is an exciting unknown and she adds another dimension to our middle-distance group." – assistant coach Will Palmer

Patricija Cirule

Kekava, Latvia | Rigas Valsts Vacu Gimnazjia | Distance

"Patricija has fantastic range from 400m to 1500m, as well as elite international racing experience. We expect her to make an immediate impact in the SEC and the NCAA. She has big goals for the future, and it will be exciting to walk this journey alongside her." – assistant coach Will Palmer

Leah Hanle

Lichtenstein, Germany | University of Mount Olive | Distance

"Leah brings experience and success both in the NCAA and internationally. Not only is she a fantastic runner, she brings an element of maturity and leadership our team will really benefit from." – assistant coach Will Palmer

Nadia Herring

Steilacoom, Wash. | Steilacoom HS | Jumps/Sprints

"Nadia brings a lot of versatility to our team, as she can compete at a very high level in the long jump and contribute points to sprints." – assistant coach Miguel Pate

Christal Mosley

Wichita, Kan. | Barton Community College/Wichita Southeast High School | Sprints

"I could not be more excited than to have Christal join our 400m group. She comes from a powerhouse Junior College program and she was the best 400m runner in the NJCAA last year. She knows what it takes to win and will bring that mindset with her. She will continue to improve, and we expect her contribute immediately with her talent and leadership." – assistant coach Blaine Wiley

Cherisse Murray

Toco, Trinidad and Tobago | John Andalcio and Ismael Lopez Mastrapa/Central Arizona CC | Throws

"We are really excited to welcome Cherisse to our program. Cherisse will primarily throw the shot put for us but will also be able to contribute in the weight throw and the discus. Cherisse was just hitting her stride when the season came to an abrupt end due to the pandemic. She has the capability to be an 18m thrower sooner than later." – assistant coach Derek Yush

Sophie Spada

Charlotte, N.C. | Charlotte Country Day School | Distance

"Sophie brings the perfect blend of speed and spunk. Her love for the sport and ability over the Mile have consistently improved from year to year. We think that will continue here at the University of Alabama and are thrilled she chose us to guide her through that process." – assistant coach Will Palmer

Diamonasia Taylor

Urban, Ill. | Urban High School | Jumps

"Diamonasia was able to establish herself as one of the top jumpers across the nation. I'm excited to see her continued development and believe she can make a significant impact at Alabama as she matures in the event." – assistant coach Miguel Pate

Kerri Walsh

Centerville, Ohio | Centerville | Distance

"Kerri brings an exciting mix of talent over the long distances and championship level racing experience. She comes from one of the most successful high school programs in the state of Ohio and will fit right in with our distance group. We can't wait to get started with Kerri." – assistant coach Will Palmer

Aysia Ward

Lancaster, Texas | Lancaster High School | Jumps/Sprints

"She joins a solid jumps group and has a bright future here at Alabama, we are excited to have Aysia." – assistant coach Miguel Pate

Men

Mateo Barreto

Purcellville, Va. | Loudoun Valley | Distance

"Mateo is a tough competitor and has a strong work ethic that will enhance the group dynamic. We look forward to seeing his development through his freshmen year." – head coach Dan Waters

Nathan Cooper

Dothan, Ala. | Dothan HS | Throws

"Nathan is a great talent coming to us locally from the state of Alabama. He has shown to be one of the very best shot putters in the history of our state. Nathan is a tremendous athlete and I can see him finding a second event in the hammer throw. Nathan comes from a strong football background and I'm really excited about the tenacity and competitiveness he will bring." – assistant coach Derek Yush

Harrison Dimick

Birmingham, Ala. | Oak Mountain HS | Throws

"Harrison is one of the most well-rounded throwers I have ever recruited. His primary collegiate event will be the discus, but Harrison has the potential to be a triple threat at the SEC Championships. He brings with him a tenacious work ethic and I can't wait watch him grow in the program." – assistant coach Derek Yush

Josiah Harry

Mobile, Ala. | Mobile Christian | Throws

"Josiah is one of the best throws talents in the nation and will be a two-event threat immediately in his freshman year. Having come off surgery, Josiah has done some really special things athletically that I have never seen before. I'm really looking forward to continuing his development here at Alabama. He has the potential to rewrite the record book here just has he has done in high school." – assistant coach Derek Yush

Demetrius Jackson

Cleveland, Ohio | Akron/John Adams | Sprints

"Athletes like Demetrius don't come along very often, so we are ecstatic to have him join us. He is an elite talent in the short sprints but also runs tremendous relay legs. He will make an immediate impact at the SEC and NCAA level and we expect him to continue the strong tradition of 200m sprinting at Alabama." – assistant coach Blaine Wiley

Jace Jones

Montevallo, Ala. | Thompson | Distance

"We were excited to add a local talent from a great program. We feel that he will be a vital part of championship level teams in the near future." – head coach Dan Waters

Matthew Kiprop

Eldoret, Kenya | A.I.C. Kapsang Secondary School | Distance

"We were thrilled to add Matthew to our roster this fall. He is someone we believe can help continue our strong tradition in the men's distance and will also be a valuable member of our cross country program." – head coach Dan Waters

Jonathan Martin

Hoover, Alabama | Hoover High School | Sprints

"I am thrilled to be able to get a great local talent like Jonathan on board here at Alabama. He enjoyed tremendous success at Hoover and I know he will continue to work hard to be the very best he can be during his time at the Capstone. Jonathan's accomplishments on the track are matched by his involvement and service off the track. He is the total package." - assistant Coach Blaine Wiley

Kieran McKeag

Lakeville, Minn. | Apple Valley HS/ University of Minnesota | Throws

"It's not every day that you have the opportunity to sign the No. 3 ranked thrower in the NCAA. We are incredibly fortunate that Kieran has decided to join the Crimson Tide. It will be very exciting to work with such a talented athlete. Kieran and Bobby Colantonio Jr. will be the top two returners in the NCAA weight throw for 2021 which means great opportunities for the throwers to contribute to the team's success." – assistant coach Derek Yush

Joshua St. Clair

Arima, Trinidad and Tobago | Queen's Royal College/Meridian Community College | Sprints

"I've been watching Joshua for a long time and am happy to finally have him in our program. He has the range to help us in both the 200m and the 400m plus both relays. He is a big guy that can really cover ground when he gets up and running. I expect big things for him." – assistant coach Blaine Wiley

Garrett Suhr

Rockville, Md. | Richard Montgomery HS | Distance

"Garrett is one of those student-athletes that brings an eagerness to get better every day." – head coach Dan Waters

Jonas Yadaa

Kapenguria, Kenya | St. Daniel Comboni Kaptabuk Secondary School | Distance

"Jonas has the drive and passion as an athlete and is starting to show some true development and potential to be a high-level distance runner." – head coach Dan Waters

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