By: By Hunter McKay
KENNESAW, Ga. – The Kennesaw State track and field programs added six talented individuals to their 2018 signing class during the early signing period, Andy Eggerth, director of track and field and cross country, announced on Thursday (Nov.30).
"My staff has worked very hard to put together a nice early signing class," Eggerth said. "It's always been my goal to maintain a well-rounded team and this class reflects that."
Brenda Ayuk | Villa Rica, Ga. | Alexander HS | Cross Country/Distance
HIGH SCHOOL: Competes in cross country and track and field at AHS … Finished third in the 5K at the 2017 GHSA Class AAAAAA State Championships in a time of 19:42.18 … Won the 2017 Class AAAAAA Region 5 Cross Country Championship in a personal-best 5K time of 18:27.35 … Also collected wins at the Douglas County Cross Country Championships, Carrollton Orthopedic Invitational and the Bob Blastow Early Bird this season … Named to the 2017 All-Metro Cross Country Team by the Atlanta Track Club … In track and field, Won the Class 6A State Championship in the 800m as a junior with a time of 2:17.73 … Is a two-time Class AAAAA Region 5 Champion in the 800m … Competed in the 800m at the New Balance Nationals Outdoor as a sophomore.
PERSONAL: Born on November 5, 2000 to Augustina Ayuk … Born in Kumba, Cameroon … Has six siblings, named Helen, Collin, Ruth, Lily, Joseph and Roland … Wants to be a personal trainer and yoga instructor … Will plan on majoring in nursing at Kennesaw State.
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"Of particular concern, I've wanted to see our cross country program revitalized to the level we've previously enjoyed. Brenda will come in and be a top runner in the ASUN right away as a freshman, and only improve from there."
Director of Track and Field and Cross Country, Andy Eggerth
Tiondra Grant | Columbus, Ga. | Columbus HS | Throws
HIGH SCHOOL: Enters fourth year of track and field at Columbus HS … Reached the Class AAAA State Championships twice in discus and shot put … Collected eight wins in discus as a junior including the Class AAAA Region 1 meet and the USATF Georgia Junior Olympics Outdoor Track and Field Championships … Career-best throw in the discus came at the 2016 Class AAAA Region with a toss of 38.81m (127'4) … Collected a win in the shot put at the 2017 USATF Georgia Junior Olympic Championships with a toss of 11.42m (37'5.75) … Is the school record holder in the discus and shot put.
PERSONAL: Born August 19, 2000, to Howard and Tasheena Grant Williams … Has four siblings named Christopher, Damien, Nasya and Taiylor … Plans on majoring in Secondary Education at Kennesaw State.
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"Tiondra will bolster our bomb squad (throwers) adding both talent and depth. I am looking forward to her progress during her final high school season and her productivity as an Owl."
Director of Track and Field and Cross Country, Andy Eggerth
Javon Joyner | Lawrenceville, Ga. | Norcross HS | Throws
HIGH SCHOOL: Enters fourth year of track and field at Norcross HS … Won the weight throw with a toss of 15.91m (52'2.5) at the New Balance Nationals Indoor … Is ranked first in the country in high school in the weight throw … Had a career-best outdoor weight throw of 18.27m (59'11.25) and hammer throw of 48.44m (158'11) at the 2017 Turkey Toss … Is a two-time Class AAAAAAA State Champion finalist in the shot put and discus … Competed in the USATF National Junior Olympic Track and Field Championships in the hammer throw.
PERSONAL: Born August March 13, 2000 to Joyce Pierce and Howard Joyner … Has one sibling named Jeremy … Plans to major in biology at Kennesaw State.
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"Javon will bolster our bomb squad (throwers) adding both talent and depth. I am looking forward to her progress during her final high school season and her productivity as an Owl."
Director of Track and Field and Cross Country, Andy Eggerth
Briah McBride | Jonesboro, Ga. | Jonesboro HS | Sprints
HIGH SCHOOL: Enters her fourth year of track and field at JHS … Placed third in the 100m in the 2016 Class AAAA state championship with a time of 11.94 … Ran her career-best time of 11.87 100m prelims at the Class AAAA State Championships … Won the 100m at the Class AAAA Region 4 Championships and the GHSA Class 4A sectional meet in 2016 … Qualified for the Class AAAA State Championship in the 200m as a freshman and sophomore … Posted her career-best time of 24.31 in the 200m at the 2016 Atlanta All Heart Relays ... Has competed in multiple AAU District Qualifiers and USATF meets … Part of the National Honor Society … Is the captain of the track and field team … Named Miss Jonesboro High School for the 2017-18 school year.
PERSONAL: Born May 8, 2000 to Rodney McBride and Tajuannya Tripp … Has two siblings named Britney and Brionna … Plans to major in biology at Kennesaw State.
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"Briah had a great sophomore year of high school and then was set back with a little injury situation her junior year. We have been following her though, and I am sure other universities will be jealous they didn't try harder to snatch her up in the early period after they see what she'll do as a senior this year."
Director of Track and Field and Cross Country, Andy Eggerth
Corbin McLean | Greensboro, N.C. | Ragsdale HS | Hurdles/Sprints
HIGH SCHOOL: Enters her fourth year of indoor and outdoor track and field at RHS … In indoor track, posted career-best times of 9.05 in the 60m hurdles and 25.42 in the 200m in 2017 … Ran a time of 14.00 to finish second at the Russell E Blunt East Coast Invitational … Finished sixth at the 2017 New Balance Nationals Outdoor in the 100m hurdles (14.56) and seventh in the 100m (12.29) … Finished second in the 2017 Powerade State Games in a career-best time of 11.99 and first in the 200m with a time of 25.12 … Has competed in the USATF North Carolina Junior Olympic Championships and the USATF National Junior Olympic Outdoor Championships.
PERSONAL: Born June 2, 2000 to Joe and Doris McLean… Has one brother named Joey… Plans to major in nursing at Kennesaw State.
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"Corbin brings some serious talent as a hurdler-sprinter combo for us. We scared multiple talented recruits away this fall when explaining our culture and the expectations, but Corbin buys in and she's going to do big things because of it!"
Director of Track and Field and Cross Country, Andy Eggerth
Mekhi Williams | Villa Rica, Ga. | Alexander HS | Cross Country/Distance
HIGH SCHOOL: Competes in cross country and track and field at AHS … Finished third in the 5K at the 2017 GHSA Class AAAAAA State Championships in a time of 16:36.27 … Took second at the Class AAAAAA Region 5 Cross Country Championship in a time of 15:50.88 … Ran his career-best time of 15:36.30 at the 2017 Alexander/Asics invitational … Competed in the 2017 Georgia High School Meet of Champions and the Foot Locker South Regional … Named to the 2017 All-Metro Cross Country Team by the Atlanta Track Club … In track and field, posted a career-best mark of 2:06.06 at the Douglass County Championships.
PERSONAL: Born December 28, 1999 to V. Kottavei Williams … Born in High Point, North Carolina … Has four siblings, named Koi, Xavier, Ian and Miles … Wants to be a personal trainer and yoga instructor … Plans to major in mechanical engineering at Kennesaw State.
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"Of particular concern, I've wanted to see our cross country program revitalized to the level we've previously enjoyed. It is unlikely we'll ever have a ton of depth in our men's distance so we selectively choose who will be a difference maker and fits the championship culture athletically and academically that we continually strive to build upon. Mekhi is a great addition for us, checking all of those boxes."
Director of Track and Field and Cross Country, Andy Eggerth
To keep up with the latest Kennesaw State cross country news, follow the team on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and @KSUOwlTrackFieldXC or by liking Kennesaw State University on Facebook.
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