Oklahoma Baptist University's track program, which claimed an NAIA championship last season, has reloaded with 37 new recruits, including 15 state champions.
The men's team will have three transfers. Sprinter James Hall transfers from Langston, distance runner Ricardo Diaz joins the team from Northwood, and thrower John Armstrong transfers from Nevada-Las Vegas.
The men also will have the services of eight state champion freshmen. B.J. Bashourn and A.J. Carter, both of Edmond Memorial, were half of the 6A state champion 4x400 relay team. Bashourn also was a part of the championship 4x100 team while Carter was on the winning 4x800 squad and won the 400 and 800 meters as well.
Lance Goodwin of Harrah won the 4A cross country championship, as well as the 3200 meters. Shawnee's Dustin O'Day was Class 5A champion in the 3200.
Tracey Drew of Naperville, Ill., won that state's 300 intermediate hurdles. Ryan Gaither took Oklahoma's 2A title in the 400 and was runner-up in the 100 and 200, representing Washington High School.
Seth Brown of Tonkawa was the 2A pole vault champion and Jonathan Hilton of Buhler, Kan., was the state champion in the 110 high hurdles.
Norman's Seth Iloao was runner-up in the shot put and third in the discus. Everette Alexander was third in the 6A 110 high hurdles for Tulsa Memorial.
Also new to the OBU men's team this year are distance runner William Barfield of Greensboro, N.C.; middle distance runner Tim Bass of Snyder, Colo.; distance runner Bryan Christie of Carmel, Ind.; sprinter Daniel Dailey of Woodland Park, Colo.; jumper Kyle Gullet of Midlothian, Texas; distance runner Josh Kinman of Harrah; distance runner Will Korver of Broken Arrow; triple jumper Lee Miles of Sugarland, Texas; and middle distance runner Brock Stoltzfus of Meade, Kan.
The women's team has seven state champion athletes with 11 state titles. Emily and Jessica Haynes of Ralston had five state titles for Woodland High School. Jessica won the 2A titles in the long jump, Emily won the 800 meters and both Haynes girls have state championships in the 4x800.
Malory Cowden won the Class 5A titles in the 1600, 3200 and 4x800 for Guthrie. Jennifer Coleman was state champion for Watonga in the pole vault in 3A, and was runner-up in the 300 low hurdles.
Amanda Legg of Prague won the 3A title in the 800 meters. Amanda Mayfield won the Class 5A state title in the 800 at Ardmore before transferring to Norman North and winning the 4x200 relay.
Johna Moore was on the state champion Collinsville 4x800 relay team and placed third in the 400 meters.
Additionally, Elizabeth Ventris of Guthrie was runner-up in the 5A pole vault; Leslie Polman of Fort Worth, Texas, was third in the 100 and fourth in the discus; and McKenzie Roth of Wichita Falls Rider was a district champion in the 100 intermediate and 300 low hurdles.
Also new to the OBU women's track program this season are hurdler Lisha Newman of Holdenville; sprinter Vinita Newman of Putnam City; triple jumper Katie Overturf of Fort Smith, Ark.; sprinter and hurdler Natalie Pederson of Boelus, Neb.; and distance runner Rachel Watkins of Pagosa Springs, Colo.
The OBU women won the 2005 indoor track national championships. OBU also produced the individual national champion in women's cross country and the Most Valuable Athletes for men's and women's outdoor track last season.