Men’s T&F: Gary Adds to Highly-Ranked Recruiting Class – Ohio State Buckeyes
7/9/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
COLUMBUS, Ohio Robert Gary, Ohio State men’s cross country and track and field head coach, recently added several top athletes to an already impressive recruiting class for next season.
Joining the Buckeyes in 2008-09 will be Thomas Murdaugh (Dublin, Ohio), Patrick Reichert (St. Henry, Ohio), Stephen MacDonald (North Olmsted, Ohio), Tom Davis (East Greenwich, R.I.), James Hilbert (Worthington, Ohio), Devin Kallas (Draper, Utah), Jared Collier, (Springfield, Ohio) and DeVier Posey (Cincinnati, Ohio), who will also be a member of the Buckeye football team in the fall.
Since being named head coach last season, Gary has stressed recruiting in the state of Ohio as he has done in cross country the last 10 seasons. Gary also has made it a point to go after some of the most highly-touted recruits on the national level. Recruiting has been just one of Gary’s goals with the men’s track and field program. Others include consistently placing in the Top 3 at the conference meet, being in the Top 15 nationally with a team grade-point-average of at least 3.1 and rebuilding the culture of team at Ohio State.
“With this recruiting class we look to become one of the top teams nationally,” Gary said. “This class should be recognized as one of the Top 15 nationally. This is a big step for the cross country and track and field teams and will go along with building the culture and the team concepts I have stressed since being named head coach.”
Gary and his Ohio State athletes made history this past year by finishing in the top 3 at all three Big Ten championship meets (cross country, indoor/outdoor track) for the first time in 66 years (1941-42).
Ohio State’s 2008-09 recruting class:
Thomas Murdaugh
Dublin, Ohio
Scioto High School
Thomas was second at the 2008 Ohio High School State Championships in the 400m dash with a time of 47.47 … placed second in the Midwest Meet of Champions in the 400m dash with a time of 47.34 … posted a best time of 21.63 in the 200m dash his senior year and was a member of the championship 4x400m relay team at the Midwest Meet of Champions, posting a winning time of 3:09.
DeVier Posey
Cincinnati, Ohio
LaSalle High School
Devier comes to Ohio after having an impressive showing at the state meet, placing fourth in the 100m, winning the 400m dash with a time of 47.41 and placing fourth in the 200m dash … the school record holder in the 200m dash with a 21.5 as well as record holder in the 400m with a time of 47.4 … will also be a member of the football team at Ohio State … a wide receiver with a 4.5 time in the 40-yard dash … caught 80 passes for over 1,500 yards and 16 touchdowns his junior and senior years at LaSalle.
Patrick Reichert
St. Henry, Ohio
St. Henry High School
Patrick joins the Buckeyes after a competitive showing in the Division III OHSAA state meet, placing sixth in the 110m hurdles and second in the long jump … posted a best effort of 22 feet, 4 inches in the long jump … hopes to come in and have an immediate impact on the Big Ten Conference.
Stephen MacDonald
North Olmsted, Ohio
North Olmsted High School
Stephen joins the Buckeyes’ jumps crew after a strong junior season … hopes to assist the Buckeyes in the horizontal jumps after missing his senior season due to personal reasons … had strong efforts in the jumps, putting up a season-best mark of 22 feet, 7 inches as a junior … has strong potential to improve on that mark as a freshman in 2009.
Tom Davis
East Greenwich, R.I.
East Greenwich High School
Davis took second at the 2008 Rhode Island State Championships in the hammer throw … ranked the No. 6 high school thrower in the country … posted a season-best toss of 214 feet, 10 inches.
James Hilbert
Worthington, Ohio
Worthington Kilbourne High School
Hilbert placed seventh at the 2008 OHSAA Division I State Championship in the discus throw … posted a season-best toss of 177 feet, 4 inches.
Devin Kallas
Draper, Utah
Juan Diego High School
Placed first at the 2008 Utah State High School Championships in the shot put … recorded a season-best toss of 56 feet, 1 inch.
Jared Collier
Springfield, Ohio
Northeastern High School
Finished seventh at the 2008 OHSAA Division III State Championships … had a season-best toss of 166 feet, 6 inches in the discus and 57 feet, 4 inches in the shot put.
February Signees:
Cory Leslie
Sandusky, Ohio
Sandusky Perkins High School
Leslie is the one of the top distance recruits in the country … 2008 state champion in the mile and 800m, breaking OSU volunteer coach Rob Myers’ state record … placed third at the junior championships, just missing out on a berth on the world junior championship team … ran the best 1,500m time by a high school athlete with a time of 3:49.51 … won the 2007 Division II Ohio High School cross country championship, topping the field by 14 seconds and in the 5-kilometer race in a time of 15:33.47 … also won the 2007 Ohio High School Championships in the mile and is a member of Sandusky Perkins 4×800 meter 2007 State Championships team … as a junior, Leslie won the Division II 2007 Ohio High School title in the mile in a time of 4:08.41, only .38 seconds off the Ohio high school record.
“I think Cory has a realistic shot of breaking the state record in the mile, but what I like about him more is that his goals are based on winning titles and helping his team make a run at winning state,” Gary said. “Adding him to a really strong mile group volunteer coach Rob Myers, Jeff See, Chad Balyo and Jake Edwards will really help the whole group.”
Jared Hall
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland Heights High School
Hall is one of the top mid-distance runners in the country … held the fastest time in the indoor 800m in the country … led his high school to the Division I state championship … placed first in the 800m at the Midwest Meet of Champions … won the 2007 Ohio High School Championships at 800 meters and holds a personal-best time in the 800 meters of 1:50 … member of the 2007 Ohio High School 4×800-meter relay championship team that set the state record in the event in a time of 7:41.17 … holds split times in the 4×400-meter of 47 seconds and 1:49 in the 4×800 meter relay … also was a finalist in the 800 meter run at the 2007 United States of America Track and Field (USATF) Junior Championships.
“Jared comes from one of the powerhouses in the state in Cleveland Heights where he was coached by Ohio High School Hall of Fame Coach Claude Holland,” Gary said. “Hall brings with him a high level and understanding of expectations, handling pressure and commitment. He gives great depth to a 3:07 4 x 400 team that we have through the 2009 season. Additionally, with the addition of Cory Leslie and Jared with Jeff See, we are putting together a potential NCAA Champion distance medley relay team.”
Heath Nickles
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus Grove High School
Nickles could be considered the best pure athlete in the 2008 recruiting class … holds a personal-best of 16 feet in the pole vault and is the current Division III Ohio High School pole vault champion … won the 2007 state title with a leap of 15 feet, 4 inches and also won the 2007 Ohio High School Championship in the 300 meter hurdles … also a second team Northwest Conference performer in football and a second team District VI performer.
“Heath will be able to come in and make an immediate impact for us in the pole vault,” Gary said. “He will give us some competitive depth in the multi-events. His football stats (running back) are staggering and he is a great all-around athlete.”
James Hilbert
Columbus, Ohio
Thomas Worthington High School
Coach Gary says “Hilbert will add great depth to one of the best throw teams in the country.” Hilbert was third at the Ohio High School State Championships in 2007 and holds personal-bests in the discus of 179 feet and 51 feet in the shot put. Last season Hilbert was one of only two juniors in the state finals and he is looking for his first state title at this year’s state championships. The Worthington, Ohio, native also looks to be the first boy in the state to break 200 feet this season.
David Rafailedes
Massillon, Ohio
Massillon Jackson High School
Rafailedes is one of the top distance runners in the state … a 2008 state qualifier in the 3200 … placed third at the 2007 Division I State Cross Country meet and seventh at the 2007 Mid-East Cross Country Championships.
“David will provide some great depth in the distance area,” Gary said. “I think he has all the tools to be a great steeplechaser. I would lean towards red-shirting him during the fall to get him started on some steeplechase drills.”
