WICHITA, Kan. - The Wichita State men's track and field team announced the signing of 23 new student-athletes to National Letters of Intent for the 2012-13 season.

Director of Shocker track and field Steve Rainbolt profiled the class by saying, "this could end up being the best class we have ever signed. We are super excited at all the event areas being improved by so many newcomers. We feel like it is going to be awesome. Many state champions and many guys we think will compete at the Missouri Valley Conference level."

"Our men's recruiting class is highlighted by Tyson Holmes (Shawnee Heights, Kan.), one of the top high school javelin throwers in the nation coming out of high school ranks and Kelvin Busienei is a top junior college transfer in the middle distance events."

Here is a closer look at the men's signees:

Kain Anderson - Freshman - Lawrence Free State, KS - Distance runner competing in the 800m (1:54), 1600m (4:16), and 3200m (9:24). Placed second in the 6A state meet in both the 1600m and 3200m and fifth in the 800m.

Max Bamburg - Freshman - Liberty, MO - 4A state champion has personal best times of 22.2 in the 200m and 48.53 in the 400m.

Zach Budda - Freshman - Augusta, KS - 2012 4A state champion in the high jump with a best mark of 6-8.

Chris Burnett - Transfer - SUNY Delhi (NY) - Distance runner from SUNY Delhi (NY) runs the 1600m (4:17), 3000m (8:40), 3k steeple (9:40), and the 5k (15:28). Placed second in cross-country and 3^rd in the steeple at the JUCO level.

Kelvin Busienei - Transfer - Butler CC (Peoria, AZ) - Junior college transfer from Butler CC runs the 800m (1:52.44), 1500m (3:54.70), and was the junior college runner up in the 1000m, and Mile at the 2012 indoor championships.

Weston Cottrell - Transfer - Hutchinson CC - Javelin (183-0) and hammer thrower (178-0) was the junior college runner-up in 2012.

Skylar Gutierrez - Transfer - Hutchinson CC (Wichita Southeast, KS) - Middle distance transfer runs the 800m (1:55.56) and 1600m (4:23) was a junior college All-American.

Tyson Holmes - Freshman - Shawnee Heights, KS - 2012 5A state champion in the javelin has a personal best mark of 211-0.

Brady Johnson - Freshman - Plainville, KS - 2A cross-country and 3200m champion runs the 3200m (9:31), 3k (8:54), and 5k (15:45).

Drew Johnson - Freshman - Olathe South, KS - Sprinter competing in three events: 100m (10.91), 200m (21.9) and 400m (49.59).

Shazz-Michael Lindo - Freshman - Titusville, FL - Jumper has personal best marks in the long jump of 21-8, and 47-1 in the triple jump.

Zach Loesch - Freshman - Lyons, KS - 3A shot put state champion has a personal best throw of 57-3.

Garret Lynch - Freshman - Parkersburg Catholic, WV - High jumper with a personal best of 6-8. Placed second at the AAA state meet.

Jon Martin - Freshman - Rose Hill, KS - 4A state placer in both the 110 hurdles (14.52) and 300 hurdles (39.99).

John Nicholas - Freshman - Circle, KS - Placed fifth in the 4A state meet in the 110 hurdles (14.41).

Chase Pote - Freshman - Andale, KS - 4A state champion in the javelin with a personal best throw of 190-5.

Peyton Randolph - Freshman - Garden Plain, KS - Placed second at the 3A state meet in the triple jump (44-6).

Dylan Reimer - Freshman - Meade, KS - 2A state champion in the javelin has a personal best throw of 189-9.

Ben Shaw - Freshman - South Kingstown, RI - State champion long jumper has personal bests in the long jump of 23-6.5 and 46-7 in the triple jump.

Kyle Troxler - Freshman - Douglass, KS - 3A state placer in the 110 hurdles (14.81, 14.1h) and 300 hurdles (40.13).

Mark Brewer (Wichita Trinity, KS,) Andy Howell (Andover Central, KS) and Josh Radford (Topeka Seaman, KS) will provide additional depth for the Shockers as incoming freshman.

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 Wichita State men's track and field team finished runner-up at the Missouri Valley Conference Championships in May. The team had three All-Americans in hurdlers Todd McKown and Lawson Montgomery as well as javelin thrower Brett Trudo. McKown and Montgomery went on to compete at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in the 110m hurdles. This years recruiting class will look to build on that strong showing maintaining the Shockers perch an annual MVC contender.

-WICHITA STATE-