Nov. 24, 2014

BEAUMONT, Texas - Distance was the focal point for the Lamar track and field program during the early signing period, and head coach Trey Clark and staff announced on Monday the signing of four runners.

Alexander Cleveland (Grapevine, Texas/Grapevine HS), Nathan Gillis (Compton,UK/The Downs School Compton), Erika DeWitt (Canyon, Texas/Randall HS) and Evie Reavis (Mesquite, Texas/ Mesquite Poteet) all inked with Lamar during the early period.

"The first signing period emphasis has been to shore up any needs we have in our distance program," said Clark. "This is the signing period that many of the distance athletes make their decisions, but we had the opportunity to signs some athletes that could really make us better.

Cleveland finished fourth at the 2014 UIL 5A Cross Country championships and was the 2014 5A Region I champion. He was also the District 6 5A champion in the 800m and 3200m races.

"He is one of the top two-milers in the state and had a great senior year in cross country," said distance coach Darren Gauson. "He came in and really like our engineering program, and we are really excited to have him as a part of the group."

He has personal records of 1:59.59 in the 800m, 4:29.12 in the 1600m and 9:31.46 in the 3200m.

Gillis timed at 50.6 in the 400m, 1:52 in the 800m and 3:55.6 in the 1500m. In cross country, he placed 39th among English schools last season.

"He has huge range, this kid," said Gauson. "His cross country is improving all of the time, and he is a very talented kid. He will be strong there and on the track."

DeWitt was the runner-up in both the 5A State Cross Country meet and the Region I 5A meet. She finished ninth in at the state meet in the 3200m at the 4A level.

"She is someone that caught my eye last year. She ran a 10:52 in the two mile, so she was one of the top prospects in the state as a junior," said Gauson. "She is a great fit for us academically as well.

Ericka is an engineering major," said Gauson. "That was a big thing for her, the strength of our program and the engineering program along with staying in state."

She has personal records of 5:10.56 in the 1600m and 10:52.85 in the 3200m.

Reavis took sixth place at the Region II 5A cross country meet in 2014 and was fourth at the Region II 4A meet in 2013.

"She was really strong on the track last year, and will be developed in cross country. She has a lot of upside," said Gauson. "She was really attracted to our kinesiology program, and is a good academic fit for us."

Clark and staff also announced the signing of two athletes who will be able to compete in January during indoor and outdoor track season.

Megan Menifee (Corrigan, Texas/Corrigan-Camden HS) took third place in the 100-meter hurdles and 300m hurdles at the Region III 2A meet in 2013. She also took seventh in the 300m hurdles in 2012 at the 2A regional meet.

"I am very excited about Megan joining our program. She is hurdler who has the opportunity to develop in the 100 and 300 meter hurdles, and also helps us on the 4x400 meter relay," said Clark. "I like her potential to develop into a very good Southland Conference athlete. Our goal is to get her to the first round of the NCAA Championships."

Brian Obonna (Brampton, Onatario, Canada/St. Augustine HS) has a personal best of 14.66m in the triple jump and 7.13 in the long jump. He is a three-time regional champion, and ranked fifth in his class.

"He is a very bright kid. He is very talented, both in school and on the track, and is very well-rounded," said jumps coach Alesha Walker. "He is definitely one of the athletes that I will look to help carry us as we try to make a dent in the Southland Conference."

He was the 2014 athlete of the year at St. Augustine and the most valuable player. The jumper, who also hosts his own show on YouTube, is his high school's record holder in the long jump, triple jump and 4x100 relay.

"It's a good class. Most of them are Texas kids, and kids we have been after," said Clark. "Very excited about what they will bring to the table and how they will help us as a program to be better and compete for additional titles and ultimately regional championships and opportunities to compete at the NCAA Championships."

The Cardinals and Lady Cardinals open their indoor season on Jan. 9 at the Leonard Hilton Invitational on Rice's campus in Houston.