Ducks Sign 13 as Part of 2019 Class
04/10/19 | Track and Field
EUGENE, Ore. – Head coach Robert Johnson and the University of Oregon track and field team are set to boost the program's future roster with the announcement of its 13-member signing class.
"It's always an exciting time for the program to welcome new members to the Oregon family," Johnson said. "As a staff, our mission remains the same and that is to build a program that is well rounded across all events and with this class, we're able to add pieces that fit with what we're doing here. This class also brings experience of competing at a high level, not only in the United States but internationally, as well."
The latest group of Ducks features standouts from eight states—California, Florida, Indiana, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Washington—with international additions from England, France, Poland and Switzerland.
2019 Oregon Track and Field Signing Class
Alessia Zarbo (France/Lycee Intl Valbonne)
Alysah Hickey (Coronado, Calif./Coronado HS)
Aneta Konieczek (Zbaszyn, Poland/Western Colorado)
Chi Okoro (Pleasanton, Calif./Amador Valley HS)
Cole Hocker (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral HS)
Eric Lyon (Mount Bethel, Pa./Bangor Area Senior HS)
Keith Drapeau (Elgin, Okla./Elgin HS)
Luis Peralta (Passaic, N.J./Passaic HS)
Mari Smith (England/Birmingham Univ.)
Mathilde Rey (Switzerland/College Andre-Chavanne)
Miya Wilson (Maple Valley, Wash./Tahoma HS)
Ty Hampton (North Bend, Ore./North Bend HS)
Tyrese Cooper (Miami, Fla./Miami Norland HS)
Alessia Zarbo
Distance
France (Lycee Intl Valbonne)
Finished third at the 2018 European U18 Championships at 3,000 meters … established a personal best of 9:25.25 at the meet … competed at the Youth Olympic Games in Argentina in October 2018 … finished eighth at 3,000 meters (9:26.56) at the meet … also carries personal bests of 4:28.39 at 1,500 meters and 4:54.01 in the mile.
Alysah Hickey
Sprints/Jumps
Coronado, Calif. (Coronado HS)
2018 CIF state champion in the long jump … took first with a mark of 19-9.75, nearly seven inches farther than second place … also placed fourth in the high jump at the state meet … competing for the Oregon-based Step Ur Game Up club, she set a PR of 20-0.5 in the long jump at the USATF Region 13 Junior Olympic Championships … established a personal best in the high jump at the 2018 Mt. SAC Relays with a clearance of 5-10 … also qualified for the California state meet at 100 meters in 2017.
Aneta Konieczek
Distance
Zbaszyn, Poland (Western Colorado)
Five-time All-American at Western Colorado … NCAA champion (DMR) during the 2018 indoor season … also finished third at 3,000 meters at the 2018 NCAA Division II Indoor Championships … personal best of 10:01.02 to place fourth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the 2018 NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships … seventh at the 2017 NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships … only freshman to earn All-America status … ninth at the 2016 IAAF World U20 Championships in the steeplechase.
Chi Okoro
Sprints
Pleasanton, Calif. (Amador Valley HS)
Two-time East Bay league champion as a junior … completed the 100-200 double at the league meet … won the 100-meter title at the North Coast Section (NCS) Championships … runner-up in the event at the 2018 Mt. SAC Relays … CIF State Championships qualifier at 100 and 200 meters … runner-up at 100 meters at the NCS Meet of Champions as a sophomore … owns personal bests of 11.63 (100m) and 24.08 (200m).
Cole Hocker
Distance
Indianapolis, Ind. (Cathedral HS)
2018 Foot Locker Nationals champion … 2018 Nike Cross Nationals runner-up … won regional titles at the Foot Locker and Nike Midwest meets … won the Indiana state title in cross country … state runner-up at 1,600 meters as a junior … anchored Cathedral to a third-place finish at the 2018 New Balance Nationals meet … carries personal bests of 1:55.15 at 800 meters, 4:08.04 at 1,600 meters and 9:06.47 at 3,200 meters … established those PRs during breakout junior campaign.
Eric Lyon
Throws
Mount Bethel, Pa. (Bangor Area Senior HS)
Two-time Pennsylvania state qualifier in the javelin … won the PIAA District XI 3A Championships title as a junior with a season-best throw of 179-11 … established a personal best of 181-3 as a sophomore at the 2017 American JavFest … finished second in the competition … New Balance Nationals and Penn Relays participant.
Keith Drapeau
Jumps
Elgin, Okla. (Elgin HS)
2018 OSSAA 5A state champion in the high jump … also won the Oklahoma Meet of Champions … cleared a personal best 6-8 in both meets … state runner-up as a sophomore … OSSAA 5A regional champion in 2016 … three-time state qualifier in the high jump.
Luis Peralta
Middle Distance
Passaic, N.J. (Passaic HS)
2018 New Balance Nationals champion at 800 meters … winning time of 1:49.10 was the No. 2 prep time in the U.S. last season and ranks No. 5 in New Jersey history … two-time NJSIAA Meet of Champions winner at 800 meters … No. 3 all-time performer in New Jersey history at 600 meters (1:19.14) and 1,000 meters (2:24.53) … won the boys 600 meters in 1:19.29 at the recently competed 112th Millrose Games (Feb. 9) … runner-up at the 2019 New Balance Indoor Championships.
Mari Smith
Middle Distance
England (Birmingham Univ.)
Lowered her indoor PR at 800 meters to 2:02.34 at the 2019 Muller Grand Prix in Birmingham … finished fifth (2:03.45) at the European Athletics Championships in early March … British Indoor Championships runner-up in February … second at the 2016 England U23 Championships at 1,500 meters … owns a PR of 4:19.63 at 1,500 meters … was 13th overall and third among U23 group at the 2018 British Athletics Championships at 800 meters … finished 25th at the 2016 World University Cross Country and SPAR European Championships.
Mathilde Rey
Multis
Switzerland (College Andre-Chavanne)
IAAF World U20 Championships qualifier in the heptathlon … scored a personal-best 5,606 points to win the Bernhausen (Germany) U20 meet in June 2018 … added nearly 100 points to her total from previous PR … runner-up at the Magglingsen Swiss U20 Championships with 4,055 points in February 2019 … that score would qualify as a top-15 total in the NCAA this past indoor season.
Miya Wilson
Sprints/Jumps
Maple Valley, Wash. (Tahoma HS)
Five-time Washington 4A state champion … won two state titles during junior year in the long jump and as a member of Tahoma's 4x100-meter relay … had a personal-best mark of 19-2 in the long jump to win the WIAA meet … also had a PR of 12.03 to finish second at 100 meters at the state meet … runner-up in long jump and third in the triple jump at the 2017 WIAA state meet.
Ty Hampton
Throws
North Bend, Ore. (North Bend HS)
Two-time OSAA 4A champion … broke the state meet record in 2017 with a throw of 208-9 to win the javelin … ranked No. 6 nationally that season … went on to finish fourth at the New Balance Nationals (207-6) to earn All-America status … third at the 2017 American JavFest and sixth at the U.S. Junior Championships … won the discus state title as a junior … established a discus PR of 160-10 in the meet.
Tyrese Cooper
Sprints
Miami, Fla. (Miami Norland, HS)
Seven-time New Balance Nationals champion at 200 and 400 meters … four-time Florida state champion … completed the 200/400 sweep in 2016 and 2017 … 2017 U.S. junior champion at 200 meters … 2017 Pan-Am U20 runner-up at 200 meters … swept the AAU Junior Olympic Nationals 100, 200 and 400 titles in 2016 and 2018 … personal bests of 10.34 (100m), 20.46 (200m), 45.23 (400m) … national high school record holder at indoor 400 meters (46.01).
For more information about Oregon Track and Field, follow @OregonTF on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
"It's always an exciting time for the program to welcome new members to the Oregon family," Johnson said. "As a staff, our mission remains the same and that is to build a program that is well rounded across all events and with this class, we're able to add pieces that fit with what we're doing here. This class also brings experience of competing at a high level, not only in the United States but internationally, as well."
The latest group of Ducks features standouts from eight states—California, Florida, Indiana, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Washington—with international additions from England, France, Poland and Switzerland.
2019 Oregon Track and Field Signing Class
Alessia Zarbo (France/Lycee Intl Valbonne)
Alysah Hickey (Coronado, Calif./Coronado HS)
Aneta Konieczek (Zbaszyn, Poland/Western Colorado)
Chi Okoro (Pleasanton, Calif./Amador Valley HS)
Cole Hocker (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral HS)
Eric Lyon (Mount Bethel, Pa./Bangor Area Senior HS)
Keith Drapeau (Elgin, Okla./Elgin HS)
Luis Peralta (Passaic, N.J./Passaic HS)
Mari Smith (England/Birmingham Univ.)
Mathilde Rey (Switzerland/College Andre-Chavanne)
Miya Wilson (Maple Valley, Wash./Tahoma HS)
Ty Hampton (North Bend, Ore./North Bend HS)
Tyrese Cooper (Miami, Fla./Miami Norland HS)
Alessia Zarbo
Distance
France (Lycee Intl Valbonne)
Finished third at the 2018 European U18 Championships at 3,000 meters … established a personal best of 9:25.25 at the meet … competed at the Youth Olympic Games in Argentina in October 2018 … finished eighth at 3,000 meters (9:26.56) at the meet … also carries personal bests of 4:28.39 at 1,500 meters and 4:54.01 in the mile.
Alysah Hickey
Sprints/Jumps
Coronado, Calif. (Coronado HS)
2018 CIF state champion in the long jump … took first with a mark of 19-9.75, nearly seven inches farther than second place … also placed fourth in the high jump at the state meet … competing for the Oregon-based Step Ur Game Up club, she set a PR of 20-0.5 in the long jump at the USATF Region 13 Junior Olympic Championships … established a personal best in the high jump at the 2018 Mt. SAC Relays with a clearance of 5-10 … also qualified for the California state meet at 100 meters in 2017.
Aneta Konieczek
Distance
Zbaszyn, Poland (Western Colorado)
Five-time All-American at Western Colorado … NCAA champion (DMR) during the 2018 indoor season … also finished third at 3,000 meters at the 2018 NCAA Division II Indoor Championships … personal best of 10:01.02 to place fourth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the 2018 NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships … seventh at the 2017 NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships … only freshman to earn All-America status … ninth at the 2016 IAAF World U20 Championships in the steeplechase.
Chi Okoro
Sprints
Pleasanton, Calif. (Amador Valley HS)
Two-time East Bay league champion as a junior … completed the 100-200 double at the league meet … won the 100-meter title at the North Coast Section (NCS) Championships … runner-up in the event at the 2018 Mt. SAC Relays … CIF State Championships qualifier at 100 and 200 meters … runner-up at 100 meters at the NCS Meet of Champions as a sophomore … owns personal bests of 11.63 (100m) and 24.08 (200m).
Cole Hocker
Distance
Indianapolis, Ind. (Cathedral HS)
2018 Foot Locker Nationals champion … 2018 Nike Cross Nationals runner-up … won regional titles at the Foot Locker and Nike Midwest meets … won the Indiana state title in cross country … state runner-up at 1,600 meters as a junior … anchored Cathedral to a third-place finish at the 2018 New Balance Nationals meet … carries personal bests of 1:55.15 at 800 meters, 4:08.04 at 1,600 meters and 9:06.47 at 3,200 meters … established those PRs during breakout junior campaign.
Eric Lyon
Throws
Mount Bethel, Pa. (Bangor Area Senior HS)
Two-time Pennsylvania state qualifier in the javelin … won the PIAA District XI 3A Championships title as a junior with a season-best throw of 179-11 … established a personal best of 181-3 as a sophomore at the 2017 American JavFest … finished second in the competition … New Balance Nationals and Penn Relays participant.
Keith Drapeau
Jumps
Elgin, Okla. (Elgin HS)
2018 OSSAA 5A state champion in the high jump … also won the Oklahoma Meet of Champions … cleared a personal best 6-8 in both meets … state runner-up as a sophomore … OSSAA 5A regional champion in 2016 … three-time state qualifier in the high jump.
Luis Peralta
Middle Distance
Passaic, N.J. (Passaic HS)
2018 New Balance Nationals champion at 800 meters … winning time of 1:49.10 was the No. 2 prep time in the U.S. last season and ranks No. 5 in New Jersey history … two-time NJSIAA Meet of Champions winner at 800 meters … No. 3 all-time performer in New Jersey history at 600 meters (1:19.14) and 1,000 meters (2:24.53) … won the boys 600 meters in 1:19.29 at the recently competed 112th Millrose Games (Feb. 9) … runner-up at the 2019 New Balance Indoor Championships.
Mari Smith
Middle Distance
England (Birmingham Univ.)
Lowered her indoor PR at 800 meters to 2:02.34 at the 2019 Muller Grand Prix in Birmingham … finished fifth (2:03.45) at the European Athletics Championships in early March … British Indoor Championships runner-up in February … second at the 2016 England U23 Championships at 1,500 meters … owns a PR of 4:19.63 at 1,500 meters … was 13th overall and third among U23 group at the 2018 British Athletics Championships at 800 meters … finished 25th at the 2016 World University Cross Country and SPAR European Championships.
Mathilde Rey
Multis
Switzerland (College Andre-Chavanne)
IAAF World U20 Championships qualifier in the heptathlon … scored a personal-best 5,606 points to win the Bernhausen (Germany) U20 meet in June 2018 … added nearly 100 points to her total from previous PR … runner-up at the Magglingsen Swiss U20 Championships with 4,055 points in February 2019 … that score would qualify as a top-15 total in the NCAA this past indoor season.
Miya Wilson
Sprints/Jumps
Maple Valley, Wash. (Tahoma HS)
Five-time Washington 4A state champion … won two state titles during junior year in the long jump and as a member of Tahoma's 4x100-meter relay … had a personal-best mark of 19-2 in the long jump to win the WIAA meet … also had a PR of 12.03 to finish second at 100 meters at the state meet … runner-up in long jump and third in the triple jump at the 2017 WIAA state meet.
Ty Hampton
Throws
North Bend, Ore. (North Bend HS)
Two-time OSAA 4A champion … broke the state meet record in 2017 with a throw of 208-9 to win the javelin … ranked No. 6 nationally that season … went on to finish fourth at the New Balance Nationals (207-6) to earn All-America status … third at the 2017 American JavFest and sixth at the U.S. Junior Championships … won the discus state title as a junior … established a discus PR of 160-10 in the meet.
Tyrese Cooper
Sprints
Miami, Fla. (Miami Norland, HS)
Seven-time New Balance Nationals champion at 200 and 400 meters … four-time Florida state champion … completed the 200/400 sweep in 2016 and 2017 … 2017 U.S. junior champion at 200 meters … 2017 Pan-Am U20 runner-up at 200 meters … swept the AAU Junior Olympic Nationals 100, 200 and 400 titles in 2016 and 2018 … personal bests of 10.34 (100m), 20.46 (200m), 45.23 (400m) … national high school record holder at indoor 400 meters (46.01).
For more information about Oregon Track and Field, follow @OregonTF on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
