Track and Field/Cross Country Announces 2024-25 Newcomers
FREMONT, Neb. – Midland University's track & Field and Cross Country programs have announced its newcomers for the 2024-25 seasons. The class of 22 men and 9 women are from seven different states and four different countries, including the United States.
MEN
Ja'Myri Bernard (Freshman: St. Martinville, La. / St. Martinville H.S.)
Bernard was a well-rounded sprinter for the Tigers, winning the 200m district championship in 2024. Personal Bests: 100m – 11.35, 200m – 22.99, 400m – 52.63
Tobin Engelhard (Freshman: Ashland, Neb. / Ashland-Greenwood H.S.)
Engelhard was a 2-time state meet qualifier in both the shot put and discus for the Bluejays. He finished 17th and 19th at the state meet in 2024. Personal Bests: Shot Put – 52' 6", Discus – 158' 8"
Kenya Ford (Freshman: Killeen, Texas / Killeen H.S.)
Ford was a top sprinter and jumper for the Kangaroos. He was also a member of a 4x100 and 4x200 teams that were Region finalists. Personal Bests: 200m – 21.53, Triple Jump – 44' 6.5", Long Jump – 21' 10.25"
Jayden Griffin (Freshman: Fort Worth, Texas / James W Martin H.S.)
Griffin was the district runner-up in the long jump and high jump in 2024. He competed well in jumps and sprints for the Warriors. Personal Bests: 400m – 50.39, High Jump – 6' 4", Long Jump – 22' 5.5"
Rylan Harryman (Freshman: Moore, Okla. / Westmoore H.S.)
Harryman competed for the Jaguars in track and field for the first time in 2024. He finished the season with a 9th-place finish at the State Championships. Personal Bests: High Jump – 6'2", Long Jump – 18' 2"
Adrian Imm (Freshman: Waterloo, Neb. / Douglas County West H.S.)
Imm was a 4-year member of the Falcon cross-country team, with a state meet appearance in 2021. Personal Bests: 800m – 2:23.95, 5000m – 18:33.8
Jason Jeffers (Freshman: Bellevue, Neb. / Bellevue West H.S.)
Jeffers was a 4-year member of the Thunderbird track and field team, excelling in the jumps. Personal Bests: Long Jump – 19' 5.5", Triple Jump – 37' 1.75"
Eugene Kimutai (Transfer: Eldoret, Kenya / Everett CC)
Kimutai competed for one season with the Trojans. He finished 4th at the NWAC Regional Meet in the 5000 in 2024. Personal Bests: 1500m – 4:28.90, 5000m – 16:37.12
Kelvin Korir (Freshman: Eldoret, Kenya / Kemeloi Boys School)
Korir joins us following successful training at the Kaptagat Training Camp in Kenya. Personal Bests: 1500m – 3:59.45
Bryce Lawrence (Freshman: Corrigan, Texas / Corrigan-Camden H.S.)
Lawrence was the top high jumper for the Bulldogs over the last three years. Finished 7th at the State Meet in the event in 2024. Personal Bests: High Jump – 6' 2"
Hudson McCafferty (Freshman: Omaha, Neb. / Brownell-Talbot H.S.)
McCafferty was the top distance runner for the Raiders in 2024, finishing in the top 3 in the conference in 3 events. Personal Bests: 1600 – 5:16.57, 3200 – 11:34.05, 5000 – 19:17.7
Chris Medlock (Freshman: Grand Island, Neb. / Northwest H.S.)
Medlock was one of the top 400m runners in Nebraska in 2024 finishing 5th at the State Meet for the Vikings. He was also a medalist in the 4x100 and 4x400. Personal Bests: 200m – 22.51, 400m – 49.66
JJ McQueen (Freshman: Dawson, Neb. / Humboldt Table Rock Steinauer H.S.)
McQueen was a 6x State Meet qualifier for the Bolt. He finished 4th in the 100 and 5th in the 200 in 2024. Personal Bests: 100m – 10.96, 200m – 22.56
Christian Olsen (Freshman: Colorado Springs, Colo. / Doherty H.S.)
Olsen covered all distances for the Spartan team. He was a top 5 runner in cross country and their top runner in long sprints. Personal Bests: 400m – 53.56, 1600m – 5:07.54, 5000 – 17:31.9
Jameson Painter (Freshman: Springview, Neb. / Keya Paha County School)
Painter excelled in sprints and relays for the Knights, winning 4 district championships in 2024 and competing at the State Meet. Personal Bests: 100m – 11.32, 200m – 23.20
Colton Prestridge (Freshman: Paradise, Texas / Paradise H.S.)
Prestridge won 3 district championships in 2024 and 7 overall in his career with the Panthers. He excelled in sprints and relays. Personal Bests: 100m – 11.11, 200m – 23.72
Raheem Richards (Transfer: Portmore, Jamaica / Multnomah University)
Richards competed at the NAIA Championships in 2023 for the Lions after a very successful prep career in Jamaica. Personal Bests: 200m – 22.16, 400m – 49.48, 800m – 1:57.56
Michael Saenz (Freshman: Sandia, Texas / Orange Grove H.S.)
Saenz excelled in jumps for the Bulldogs. He won the Area Championship in the high jump in 2023. Personal Bests: High Jump – 6' 4", Triple Jump – 41' 0.25"
Koen Steenblok (Freshman: Heinkenszand, Netherlands / Het Goese Lyceum)
Steenblok was one of the top U20 800m runners in the Netherlands in 2024 and finished 4th at the Dutch Championships. Personal Bests: 800m – 1:55.71
Jay Stoa III (Freshman: Omaha, Neb. / Fort Calhoun H.S.)
Stoa was a strong part of the Pioneers distance group for the last 4 seasons. He had 4 top-30 finishes in cross country in 2023. Personal Bests: 3200m – 11:50.1, 5000m – 18:49.3
Khalil Thorps-Watt (Freshman: Collinsville, Ill. / Collinsville H.S.)
Thorps-Watt was the top jumper for the Kahoks, qualifying for the State Meet 3 times in the high jump while excelling in the horizontal jumps. Personal Bests: High Jump – 6' 6.75", Long Jump – 22' 3.5", Triple Jump – 46' 9"
Dane Villadsen (Freshman: Vidor, Texas / Vidor H.S.)
Villadsen was a 2 time Area Champion in the high jump for the Pirates. He ranked 76th nationally in the event for the class of 2024. Personal Bests: High Jump – 6' 8", 100m – 11.39
WOMEN
Madison Bergstrom (Freshman: Kearney, Neb. / Axtell H.S.)
Bergstrom was the top 3200m runner for the Wildcats in 2024 and had six top-5 finishes in the event on the season. Personal Bests: 1600m – 6:12.27, 3200m – 13:28.75, 5000m – 23:35.8
Kayli Carey (Freshman: Friend, Neb. / Dorchester H.S.)
Carey was one of the top sprinters for the Longhorns over her career, which included a State Meet 100m appearance in 2023. Personal Bests: 100m – 13.59, 200m – 28.19
Madelynn Dougherty (Freshman: Plainview, Neb. / Plainview H.S.)
Dougherty was a 5-time State Meet qualifier in the sprints and jumps for the Pirates. Her top finish was a 6th-place performance in the 4x100 relay. Personal Bests: 400m – 63.69, Triple Jump 32' 11.5", Long Jump – 15' 4"
Rianna Greene (Freshman: Omaha, Neb. / Omaha Christian Academy)
Greene was a top athlete for the Eagles in the sprints and throws. She was a district finalist in the 100 and 200 in 2024. Personal Bests: 100m – 13.49, 200m – 28.00, 400m – 65.71
Aurora Griffin (Freshman: Papillion, Neb. / Papillion-La Vista South H.S.)
Griffin was a 3-time State Meet Qualifier as a sprinter for the Titans. She was a member of the state runner-up 4x100m relay team in 2023. Personal Bests: 100m – 12.59, 200m – 26.74
Danika Leuenberger (Freshman: Granger, Iowa / Woodward-Granger H.S.)
Leuenberger was one of the top distance runners for the Hawks, with 5 top-20 finishes on the cross-country course in the last 2 seasons. Personal Bests: 800m – 2:41.95, 5000m – 22:11.07
Kamren Negrete (Transfer: Lovelady, Texas / Trinity Valley Community College)
Negrete was the top pole vaulter for the Lions, finishing as the district runner-up in the event in 2021. Personal Bests: Pole Vault – 9'0"
Josie Reiff (Freshman: Callaway, Neb. / Callaway H.S.)
Reiff was a 6-time district finalist for the Bobcats in the sprints and jumps. She competed at the state meet in the 4x100 relay in 2023. Personal Bests: High Jump – 4'8", Long Jump – 15', 100m – 13.75
Farrah Wilson (Freshman: Bryan, Texas / Bryan H.S.)
Wilson excelled in the sprints and jumps for the Vikings and was a 3-time district finalist between the 100 and long jump. Personal Bests: Long Jump – 16' 5.5", 100m – 12.93