It would be an understatement to say that the Urban Knights track & field/cross country staff will have some exciting new faces on campus this fall. In fact, what Head Coach Charles Ryan and his staff have done with their first ever recruiting class is nothing short of remarkable. The infusion of talent that has signed up to become Urban Knights has a chance to be among the Track & Field News annual rankings of recruiting classes.

“I set very bold goals for myself and my staff this past year when it came to recruiting," Coach Ryan said. "We have an amazing group of athletes coming in; great character kids who are excited about the opportunity to tie their academic and athletic dreams together. We are here to play, and to play for real.”

Both the men's and women's rosters are looking at additions that have a chance to take the NCAA Division II world by storm in the immediate future.

Men's Recruits:

Jaylon Hicks - (Houston, TX / Galena Park North Shore HS): In addition to leading his GP North Shore teammates to a 3rd consecutive 5A State title, the sprint star of the 2011 Texas UIL State Championships posted the #2 performance of the 2011 season in the 100m with his 10.15w state title run. That mark would have set a new national record if not for uncooperative wind reading (+2.3). However, that was just the start of a post-season that ended with Hicks landing #5 on the US list at 100m with a new official personal record of 10.33 at the USATF Junior Olympics where he took home the silver medal. His GP North Shore Relay teams were also ranked US #1 in both the 4x100 (40.22) and 4x200 (1:24.45) relays. Jaylon will be majoring in Graphic Design at ART U.

Johnny Carter - (Bakersfield, CA / Ridgeview HS): Johnny Carter heads a group of very accomplished jumping talents leaping into the mix for the Urban Knights. Carter finished the season in stellar fashion by winning a national title. Carter was the AAU National Champion in the triple jump and captured the bronze medal in the long jump. In 2010, Johnny was ranked the #1 jumper in California for both the long jump (24'5") and the triple jump (50'10") with those marks serving as his lifetime bests. His final 2011 statistics land Carter officially ranked US #10 in the triple jump (50'01.50”) and #20 in the long jump (24'00.75”). Johnny will be majoring in Music Production & Sound Design for Visual Media.


Shaquille Howard - (Buena Park, CA / Long Beach Poly HS): At six foot four inches tall, this former basketball player turned track superstar helped lead the famed Long Beach Poly Jackrabbits to yet another State Championship in 2011. “Shaq” or “Shaq Attack,” whichever you prefer, took the CIF by storm in the 400m. Spanning April-June, Shaq ran 11 consecutive personal records and finished the season with a new personal best of 47.15, ranking him US #16 and landing him his first individual state crown. Later that evening, he anchored LB Poly's 4x400m relay to the gold medal in 3:12.44 (US #3) and with those points brought the CIF boys title back home to Long Beach Poly. Not bad for an athlete who waited until his senior year to fully commit to track. Shaq will major in Game Design as an Urban Knight.

Jack Nevins - (Fair Oaks, CA - Del Campo HS): Jack is one of the top distance running talents in the state of California. Nevins placed 20th in the CIF Cross Country Finals this past fall with a personal best time of 15:42.00. Nevins will play a huge role in the continued excellence of the Urban Knights cross country team that won the Pacific West Conference Championship in 2010, and was runner-up in 2011. Jack plans to major in Industrial Design while at ART U.

Aaron Harris - (Pasadena, CA - Long Beach Poly HS): Participating on a Long Beach Poly team that had a lot of big names in 2011, Aaron Harris quietly enjoyed a very productive senior season. He was a CIF State Qualifier at 800m and a vital member of the infamous Poly relay teams. Aaron ran the lead-off leg for the Jackrabbits US #3 4x400m relay, however the highlights of his season no doubt came in the 4x800m relays. Aaron was part of the quartet that not only won the famed Penn Relays Crown in April, but later in the summer at the New Balance Outdoor Championships (Greensboro, NC), Aaron and his LB Poly teammates smashed the former national record in the 4x800m relay, emerging as the best in US history (7:28.75). Aaron brings in individual personal records of 48.93 (400m) and 1:53.21 (800m) which landed him #24 in the state. Aaron will be majoring in Motion Pictures & Television/Acting.

Chris Gutierrez (Houston, TX - University of Houston): Chris comes to the Urban Knights as a Division I transfer from the University of Houston. During his senior year in high school at GP North Shore, his team won the Texas 5A State Title. Chris is a talented distance runner who was ranked #15 in Texas at 1500m (4:10.50) and #20 in the 3200m (9:21.16) as a senior. Chris will look to play a crucial role in the Urban Knights' cross country championship picture and will be majoring in Multimedia Communications.

Reneilwe Alphane - (South Africa): Rounding out the men's incoming class, Reneilwe is another major jump talent hailing all the way from South Africa, where he was a member of the Junior National Team. Reneilwe will primarily jump for the Urban Knights. He brings in a personal record of 50'1.75” in the triple jump, but will look to serve on the sprint relay pools as well. He will study Multimedia Communications while attending ART U.


Women's Recruits:

Vashti Thomas - (San Jose, CA - Texas A&M University): This former NCAA Division I All-American transferred to the Academy of Art last January, walking away from the #1 program in the US to come home and follow her academic/athletic passions at ART U. A phenomenal athlete, Vashti still holds the CIF and National High School Federation records in the 100m hurdles (13.03). She is also still ranked in the California All-Time Top Ten in both the long jump and triple jump. As an Aggie, she was crowned a NCAA All-American in the jumps and was a member of the Shuttle Hurdle Relay that set a national record. Vashti will open her Urban Knight career this season and will pursue her academic dreams in the Graphic Design department. Vashti has official personal records of 13.03 (100m hurdles), 21'3” (long jump), and 43'2 (triple jump).

Jasmine Joseph - (Gardena, CA - University of California Berkeley): Jasmine comes to the Urban Knights from just across the bay, transferring from UC Berkeley. As a standout prep athlete at Long Beach Poly High School, Jasmine won the CIF State Championship in the 400m and was ranked as high as US #5. Her lifetime best marks are 53.15 (400m) and 23.91 (200m). Jasmine will be majoring in Advertising while at ART U.

Destiny Lumas - (New Orleans, LA - University of Texas):  Originally from New Orleans, LA, Destiny was a high school standout in Texas while attending Saginaw High School in Ft. Worth. She joins the Urban Knights after a short but productive time as a Longhorn at the University of Texas where she was an NCAA Regional Qualifier in both the 400m hurdles (60.25) and the 100m hurdles (13.49). As a prep athlete, she was ranked US #2 in the 100m hurdles and was #1 in the state of Texas. Destiny will be majoring in Multimedia Communications. 

Tiara Sims - (Cedar Hill, TX - University of Oklahoma): Another talented transfer from the Division I ranks, Tiara competed for the Oklahoma Sooners and was a four-time All-Big XII performer. As a prep, she was a Texas state finalist in the 400m and brings in a personal record of 54.61 (400m) and 24.8 (200m). Tiara's academic interests have led her to choose Multimedia Communications as a major.

Alexus Dalton - (Long Beach, CA - Long Beach Poly HS): One the best overall athletes in the entire state, Alexus Dalton is best known in the track world as a phenomenal high jumper. Her 2011 season and personal best jump of 5'8” was tied for the #1 ranking in California. A mishap at the CIF Masters kept her from participating with her Jackrabbit teammates in a dominant performance where they brought Poly yet another state team title. However, Alexus rebounded nicely when the call came to compete in Eugene, OR at the Nike Team Nationals. Her performance was a key element to the Long Beach Poly girls being crowned the National Champions. Alexus has also decided on Multimedia Communications as her major.

Adrianna May - (Long Beach, CA - Long Beach Poly): When ART U first took a look at Adrianna May, she was being recruited as a 400m prospect. Lo and behold after a disappointing finish in the 400m at the CIF Finals, Adrianna decided to take advantage of past opportunities in the triple jump. She continued to qualify her way through the very tough Southern Section and ended up at the CIF State Finals in the triple jump. She had a breakout performance and ended her season with a personal best of 38'10” and finished 8th at the state finals, scoring points that added to the Long Beach Poly girls' domination of the state meet. May also brings in a personal record of 57.50 in the 400m and will be pursuing a Motion Pictures & Television degree.

Kristen Sanzari - (Santa Rosa, CA - Cal Poly SLO): This former High School All-American and Redwood Empire Athlete of the Year wrapped up her time at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo ahead of schedule and has brought her talents to the Urban Knights to start graduate courses and wrap up her NCAA eligibility. Kristen was an outstanding high school athlete and will be a major addition to the Urban Knights women's cross country team. She brings personal bests of 2:12.51 (800m) and 4:56.91 (1600m). She will be enrolling in the Graphic Design program at ART U. 

As the Urban Knights cross country teams prepare for the imminent start of their season, Head Coach Charles Ryan seems intensely motivated about the new prospects and what is to come in the future.

“It hasn't even been a full year yet from the day I accepted this position and I've seen so many positive changes,” Coach Ryan said. “It's amazing how receptive people have been to the vision we have going here and how thirsty the track & field/cross country world is for a school like this. These athletes are here for the right reasons and they believe in the 'Be Artist. Be Athlete.' concept. I'm just grateful that they have chosen to be a part of what we are doing here. It takes a special mentality to want to start your own tradition and build your own reputation. These athletes have a chance to make history here. They clearly have the talent, now we have to go to work!”