WICHITA, Kan. - The Wichita State University women's track and field team has signed 21 student-athletes to National Letters of Intent to join the program for the 2012-13 season.

"Our recruiting class is remarkable to the amount of state champions and upper-level athletes that we are adding to our track team. We believe this will be the next wave of significant Shocker track and field athletes," Steve Rainbolt, director of Shocker track and field, said.

"We have a class that is highlighted by Breanne Borman from Festus, Missouri one of the top heptathlon prospects coming out this year as well as three girls from the state of California: Taylor Thomas and twin sisters Nikki and Taylor Larch-Miller. All four of which have competed at a very high level for high school girls."  

A closer look at the women's signees:

Megan Ballinger - Freshman - Goddard, KS - Distance runner with personal best times in the 1600m of 5:30 and 11:44 in the 3200m.

Breanne Borman - Freshman - Festus, MO - Heptathlon best of 4707. Personal best in the long jump 18-2, javelin 135-0, high jump 5-6, and 100 hurdles 14.96.

Ximena Cazenave - Freshman - Asuncion, Paraguay - Multi-dimensional athlete has a personal best time of 58.0 in the 400m and a best mark of 17-0 in the long jump.

Emily Doffing - Freshman - Conway Springs, KS - 3A 100h state champion (15.35) and runner-up in the 300h (45.35).

Kaylee Eklund - Transfer - Johnson County CC - Pole vault transfer from Johnson County CC has a best mark of 12-2.

Emilea Finley - Freshman - Colby, KS - Six-time state champion and cross-country runner-up has personal best times in the 800m (2:17), 1600m (5:02) and 3200m (11:02).

Mariah Garcia - Freshman - Mustang, OK - State champion discus thrower has a personal best throw of 151-0.

Sierra Hays - Freshman - Garden Plain, KS - Another multi-dimensional athlete runs the 100 hurdles (14.91), 300 hurdles (46.35), long jumps (17-4) and triple jumps (36-5).

Madelyn Halstead - Freshman - Bishop Carroll, KS - Incoming javelin thrower with a personal best throw of 125-11.

Annie Hodges - Freshman - Belvidere, IL - Four-event athlete competes in the long jump (17-6), triple jump (37-3), 100-hurdles (15.8) and in the high jump (5-2).

Emily Hornbeck - Freshman - Derby, KS - 6A state placer in both the 1600m (5:20) and 3200m (11:27).

Hannah Jimenez - Freshman - Derby, KS - Multi event prospect was a member of the third place 6A 4x400 meter relay team.

Stephanie Knab - Freshman - Andover Central, KS - Multiple time state placer has personal bests of 5-4 in the high jump and 17-8 in the long jump.

Nikki Larch-Miller - Freshman - Torrey Pines, CA - Highly ranked prospect competes in three events: 200m (24.55), 400m (57.17), LJ (18-0).

Taylor Larch-Miller - Freshman - Torrey Pines, CA - Sixth place Division 1 finisher in the 300-hurdles (42.75) also competes in the100-hurdles (14.09).

Ashley Peterson - Freshman - Allegany-Limestone, NY - High jumper coming to Wichita State with a personal best jump of 5-7.75.

Jenny Pinkston - Freshman - Olathe East, KS - Heptathlon athlete has a personal best total of 4393. Has personal best in the high jump (5-6), long jump (18-10), and triple jump (38-2).

Rachel Shearrer - Freshman - Kapaun Mt Carmel, KS - Javelin thrower has a best throw of 131-10.

Taylor Thomas - Freshman - Canyon Country, CA - Has a personal best in the 100h of 14.18 and 44.1 in the 300h. Was the CIF Division II champion in the 100h.

Savannah Wright - Freshman - Douglass, KS - 3A runner-up in the 1600m (5:20) and 3200m (11:57).

Gavyn Yetter - Freshman - Shawnee Heights, KS - 5A 300-hurdle (44.54) state champion has two AAU Championships and also competes in the 100h (15.2), long jump (17-2), 400m (57.63), and 800m (2:19.46).

In regards to both men's and women's classes Rainbolt said, "On both sides I am confident we will look back and be surprised at athletes that will develop into really outstanding Missouri Valley Conference level competitors two to three years from now."

The 2011-12 women's track and field team won the Missouri Valley Conference title and had two athletes earn All-American honors. Junior Aliphine Tuliamuk, from Kapenguria, Kenya, claimed 2012 USTFCCCA First Team All-America honors in both the women's 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters and sophomore Natalie Morerod earned All-American honors in the 400m hurdles. Morerod advanced to compete at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. The incoming recruiting class will be tasked with helping the Shockers go for another MVC championship in 2012-13 and beyond.

-WICHITA STATE-