Track & Field News named the UCLA men's recruiting class No. 1 in the nation.
UCLA Track Hauls in Top Recruiting Class
December 02, 2016 | Track & Field
LOS ANGELES โ There is a lot to be excited about this upcoming season for UCLA. On top of returning All-America talent in several events, director of track and field Mike Maynard made quite the haul on the recruiting trail, especially overseas. Track & Field News rated the UCLA men's class the best in the nation, the publication announced for its January issue.
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"I feel we have done a good job of putting together a well-rounded, and quality recruiting class," Maynard said. "Nate, Marian and Simon strengthen and deepen us in an already strong event group. While throwers have always been the hallmark of great Bruin track and field teams, we have also added impact athletes in Jumps, 400m, and distances."
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The publication lauded the international talent that the Bruins brought to Westwood and that will be able to compete beginning this 2017 season.
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Simon Litzell
Litzell comes from Sweden as one of the top junior javelin throwers in the world. He has thrown the 800g javelin for a personal best of 258-3 (78.73m) that currently ranks No. 2 in the world for his age group. He deleted Patrik Bodén's Swedish junior record. Bodén was the former Javelin World Record holder and is the current NCAA Collegiate Record holder in the Javelin.
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Marian Spannowsky
Spannowsky came to Westwood from Germany where he competes for the club team TuS Metzingen. Spannowsky is the second javelin thrower to sign in the class as he boasts a personal best of 251-1 (76.53m). He opened his 2016 season with a throw of 74.76m.
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Tobia Bocchi
Bocchi arrived from his club C.U.S Parma where he is the top Italian junior triple jumper. Bocchi holds the junior national record with a personal best leap of 54-3.25 (16.54m). Bocchi was a silver medalist at the 2015 European Junior Championships and a silver medalist at the Youth Olympic Games. Bocchi also holds an indoor personal best of 52-2. His PR of 54-3.25 would have placed fifth at the 2016 NCAA Outdoor Championships.
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Track & Field News also noted the signing of local talents No. 5-rated shot putter Nathan Esparza, versatile jumper Isaiah Holmes, quarter miler Logen Casavant and distance aces Tyler Janes and Carter Blunt.
"Isiah is already a triple threat in the jumping events, and may develop into a top decathlete in the future," Maynard explained. "Logen Casavant adds some needed strength in the long sprints and relays. In the distances, Tyler Janes and Carter Blunt are joined by Garrett Reynolds to round out a very balanced recruiting class. In addition to these athletes mentioned above, we feel we have added a number of quality athletes, who we expect to enhance to our overall team."
Nathan Esparza
Prepped at Amador Valley High School in Pleasanton, Calif. โฆ Competes in the shot put and discus โฆ Personal best discus of 191-5 โฆ Set a personal best shot put placing second at the State Meet throwing 69-4.75 โฆ Placed fifth at the State Meet in the discus throwing 186-4 โฆ Placed 12that the California State Championships in the shot put with a throw of 55-0.50 โฆ Holds a personal best of 60-6.25 โฆ Placed 14th at the state meet in the discus with a toss of 163-1 โฆ Has a discus best of 177-7 that won him the CIF-NCS Meet of Champions.
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Logen Casavant
Comes to UCLA from Rancho Mirage High School in Rancho Mirage, Calif. โฆ Casavant made a seamless transition from the hardwood to the oval as he placed second at the CIF California State Championships in the 400m with a personal best time of 46.93, in just his second season in the sport โฆ He cruised to a De Anza League title at 49.81 and then went on to run a 48.45 to place third at the CIF-SS Division III finals before finishing third in the CIF-SS Masters Meet with a time of 47.60 โฆ Casavant has also run a wind-aided 21.54 and a legal 21.66 in the 200m โฆ He also won the De Anza League in the 200m with a time of 21.91.
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Isaiah Holmes
Attended Oakmont High School in Roseville, Calif. โฆ A versatile athlete that has personal bests of 7-1 in the high jump, 25-11.5 in the long jump, 48-3.25 in the triple jump, 11.45 in the 100m, 53.62 in the 400m, and 14.13 in the 110m hurdles โฆย Won the long jump at the State Meet with 25-5 โฆ Placed fifth in the high jump at the State Meet jumping 6-8 and fifth in the triple jump with a jump of 48-0.75 โฆ A state qualifier in the high jump, long jump and triple jump โฆ Holds the school record in the high jump.
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John "Carter" Blunt
Attended Frisco Independence in Frisco, Texas โฆ Set personal bests of 54.90 in the 400m, 8:57.01 in the 3200m, and 14:41.90 in the 5000m โฆ Placed first at UIL 5A Region II running the 1600m in a personal best 4:10.09 โฆ Won the TX UIL 5A State Championships in the 1600m and 3200m in 4:10.89 and 8:58.86, respectively โฆ Named the Gatorade State Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year in 2014-15 โฆ Won the Class 5A state title in cross country with a time of 15:22.2 โฆ Earned All-American honors by placing 13th at the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships and finished 20th at the Nike Cross Nationals Final โฆ Won the 1,600m 5A state title with a personal-best time of 4:10.35 โฆ Also won the 3,200m 5A state title with a time of 9:02.98 โฆ Won the UIL Class 4A state 1,600-meters as a sophomore โฆ Has clocked personal bests of 8:57.01 in the 3,200m and 14:45.12 in the 5,000m.
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Tyler Janes
Prepped at Martin Luther King Jr. High School in Riverside, Calif โฆ Personal bests of 1:56.00 in the 800m and 4:05.97 in the 1 mile โฆ Set personal records at the State Meet placing third in the 1600m in 4:05.86 and sixth in the 3200 in 8:56.93 โฆ Placed eighth that the California State Track & Field Championships in the 1,600m with a time of 4:13.36 โฆ Has clocked a personal best of 4:10.71 in the 1,600m โฆ Posted his personal best at the CIF-SS Finals โฆ Posted a 14:24.90 in the 3-mile race this season during cross country at the Woodbridge Cross Country Classic โฆ That time is the fifth fastest in the state this season at that distance.
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Garrett Reynolds
Reynolds prepped at Ventura High School in Ventura, Calif. He has clocked personal bests of 1:54.83 in the 800m, 4:15.93 in the 1600m, 4:12.21 in the mile and 8:58.06 at 3,200m. Reynolds placed first in the 1600m and second 3200m at the Channel League Finals. He went on to place seventh in the 3200m at the State Meet running it in 8:58.06. The Ventura County Star's Cross Country Runner of the Year led Ventura to a state title last season. At the 2015 California State Division I Championships Reynolds ran a 15:05.00 to finish sixth overall.ย He finished fourth at the Division II meet in 2014 with a time of 15:16.00. Reynolds is coming off a stellar performance at Mt. SAC where he ran his PR of 8:58.26 in the 3,200m to finish second overall.
UCLA will open the 2017 season at the Pac-12 versus Ivy League Challenge in Armory, N.Y., on Thursday, Jan. 28.
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"I feel we have done a good job of putting together a well-rounded, and quality recruiting class," Maynard said. "Nate, Marian and Simon strengthen and deepen us in an already strong event group. While throwers have always been the hallmark of great Bruin track and field teams, we have also added impact athletes in Jumps, 400m, and distances."
ย
The publication lauded the international talent that the Bruins brought to Westwood and that will be able to compete beginning this 2017 season.
ย
Simon Litzell
Litzell comes from Sweden as one of the top junior javelin throwers in the world. He has thrown the 800g javelin for a personal best of 258-3 (78.73m) that currently ranks No. 2 in the world for his age group. He deleted Patrik Bodén's Swedish junior record. Bodén was the former Javelin World Record holder and is the current NCAA Collegiate Record holder in the Javelin.
ย
Marian Spannowsky
Spannowsky came to Westwood from Germany where he competes for the club team TuS Metzingen. Spannowsky is the second javelin thrower to sign in the class as he boasts a personal best of 251-1 (76.53m). He opened his 2016 season with a throw of 74.76m.
ย
Tobia Bocchi
Bocchi arrived from his club C.U.S Parma where he is the top Italian junior triple jumper. Bocchi holds the junior national record with a personal best leap of 54-3.25 (16.54m). Bocchi was a silver medalist at the 2015 European Junior Championships and a silver medalist at the Youth Olympic Games. Bocchi also holds an indoor personal best of 52-2. His PR of 54-3.25 would have placed fifth at the 2016 NCAA Outdoor Championships.
ย
Track & Field News also noted the signing of local talents No. 5-rated shot putter Nathan Esparza, versatile jumper Isaiah Holmes, quarter miler Logen Casavant and distance aces Tyler Janes and Carter Blunt.
"Isiah is already a triple threat in the jumping events, and may develop into a top decathlete in the future," Maynard explained. "Logen Casavant adds some needed strength in the long sprints and relays. In the distances, Tyler Janes and Carter Blunt are joined by Garrett Reynolds to round out a very balanced recruiting class. In addition to these athletes mentioned above, we feel we have added a number of quality athletes, who we expect to enhance to our overall team."
Nathan Esparza
Prepped at Amador Valley High School in Pleasanton, Calif. โฆ Competes in the shot put and discus โฆ Personal best discus of 191-5 โฆ Set a personal best shot put placing second at the State Meet throwing 69-4.75 โฆ Placed fifth at the State Meet in the discus throwing 186-4 โฆ Placed 12that the California State Championships in the shot put with a throw of 55-0.50 โฆ Holds a personal best of 60-6.25 โฆ Placed 14th at the state meet in the discus with a toss of 163-1 โฆ Has a discus best of 177-7 that won him the CIF-NCS Meet of Champions.
ย
Logen Casavant
Comes to UCLA from Rancho Mirage High School in Rancho Mirage, Calif. โฆ Casavant made a seamless transition from the hardwood to the oval as he placed second at the CIF California State Championships in the 400m with a personal best time of 46.93, in just his second season in the sport โฆ He cruised to a De Anza League title at 49.81 and then went on to run a 48.45 to place third at the CIF-SS Division III finals before finishing third in the CIF-SS Masters Meet with a time of 47.60 โฆ Casavant has also run a wind-aided 21.54 and a legal 21.66 in the 200m โฆ He also won the De Anza League in the 200m with a time of 21.91.
ย
Isaiah Holmes
Attended Oakmont High School in Roseville, Calif. โฆ A versatile athlete that has personal bests of 7-1 in the high jump, 25-11.5 in the long jump, 48-3.25 in the triple jump, 11.45 in the 100m, 53.62 in the 400m, and 14.13 in the 110m hurdles โฆย Won the long jump at the State Meet with 25-5 โฆ Placed fifth in the high jump at the State Meet jumping 6-8 and fifth in the triple jump with a jump of 48-0.75 โฆ A state qualifier in the high jump, long jump and triple jump โฆ Holds the school record in the high jump.
ย
John "Carter" Blunt
Attended Frisco Independence in Frisco, Texas โฆ Set personal bests of 54.90 in the 400m, 8:57.01 in the 3200m, and 14:41.90 in the 5000m โฆ Placed first at UIL 5A Region II running the 1600m in a personal best 4:10.09 โฆ Won the TX UIL 5A State Championships in the 1600m and 3200m in 4:10.89 and 8:58.86, respectively โฆ Named the Gatorade State Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year in 2014-15 โฆ Won the Class 5A state title in cross country with a time of 15:22.2 โฆ Earned All-American honors by placing 13th at the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships and finished 20th at the Nike Cross Nationals Final โฆ Won the 1,600m 5A state title with a personal-best time of 4:10.35 โฆ Also won the 3,200m 5A state title with a time of 9:02.98 โฆ Won the UIL Class 4A state 1,600-meters as a sophomore โฆ Has clocked personal bests of 8:57.01 in the 3,200m and 14:45.12 in the 5,000m.
ย
Tyler Janes
Prepped at Martin Luther King Jr. High School in Riverside, Calif โฆ Personal bests of 1:56.00 in the 800m and 4:05.97 in the 1 mile โฆ Set personal records at the State Meet placing third in the 1600m in 4:05.86 and sixth in the 3200 in 8:56.93 โฆ Placed eighth that the California State Track & Field Championships in the 1,600m with a time of 4:13.36 โฆ Has clocked a personal best of 4:10.71 in the 1,600m โฆ Posted his personal best at the CIF-SS Finals โฆ Posted a 14:24.90 in the 3-mile race this season during cross country at the Woodbridge Cross Country Classic โฆ That time is the fifth fastest in the state this season at that distance.
ย
Garrett Reynolds
Reynolds prepped at Ventura High School in Ventura, Calif. He has clocked personal bests of 1:54.83 in the 800m, 4:15.93 in the 1600m, 4:12.21 in the mile and 8:58.06 at 3,200m. Reynolds placed first in the 1600m and second 3200m at the Channel League Finals. He went on to place seventh in the 3200m at the State Meet running it in 8:58.06. The Ventura County Star's Cross Country Runner of the Year led Ventura to a state title last season. At the 2015 California State Division I Championships Reynolds ran a 15:05.00 to finish sixth overall.ย He finished fourth at the Division II meet in 2014 with a time of 15:16.00. Reynolds is coming off a stellar performance at Mt. SAC where he ran his PR of 8:58.26 in the 3,200m to finish second overall.
UCLA will open the 2017 season at the Pac-12 versus Ivy League Challenge in Armory, N.Y., on Thursday, Jan. 28.
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Players Mentioned
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