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USC T&F Adds 5 Standouts In Early Signing Period For 2019 Recruiting Class
November 27, 2018 | Track & Field, Features
LOS ANGELES – USC Director of Track & Field Caryl Smith Gilbert announced today (Nov. 27) the addition of five standout athletes to the 2019 class during the early signing period. Among the new recruiting class are Jatana Folston (sprints), Jan'Taijah Ford (sprints), Jazmyne Frost (sprints), Brian Herron (sprints) and Nicholas Ramey (sprints).
"This year's early signing class was quite a feat for us," said Smith Gilbert. "We were able to sign people from all over the country and some of the most elite athletes available in the 2019 class. We are looking forward to having them here as a part of the Trojan family. All of these student-athletes bring unbelievable talent, but also great character and discipline. 2019-20 should be a very exciting year for the USC track and field team."
The talented incoming group features two individual state champions and one world junior record-holder. In addition, all five of the athletes ranks among the top high school athletes in their specialties among returning high school athletes this season. Â
JATANA FOLSTON | Sprints | Cocoa, Fla. | Cocoa High
•   Won the Florida High School 2A state title in the 400m and placed third in the 800m with a PR of 2:11.81
•   Placed third in the 400m dash with her PR of 53.04 at the 2018 New Balance Nationals
•   She ranks eighth nationally among returning high school 400m runners
•   Named the Brevard County (Fla.) Girls Track Athlete of the Year
•   Her father James Folston played in the NFL for eight seasons with the Raiders and Cardinals
High School Personal Bests:
•   200m – 24.13
•   400m – 53.04
•   800m -- 2:11.81
JAN'TAIJAH FORD | Sprints | Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. | Northeast High
•   Ford has a 400m PR of 52.52 which was tied for sixth among high school runners in 2018 and is fourth among returning runners
•   Won the 2018 Florida High School 3A 400m title and placed third in the 200m with a PR of 23.69. It was her third consecutive state
   400m title
•   Won the Brooks PR Invitational 400m title
High School Personal Bests:
•   200m – 23.69
•   400m – 52.52
JAZMYNE FROST | Sprints | Gardena, Calif. | Junipero Serra High
•   Named the Daily Breeze Girls Track Athlete of the Year as she helped lead Junipero Serra High to the California state title
•   Won the 2018 CIF Southern Section Division 4 100m title and placed second in the CIF State Meet. She posted a PR of 11.57 in
   the 100m prelims at the state meet. Also, won the CIF SS Division 4 200m title and placed third at the CIF State Meet. She had
   a PR of 23.65 in the prelims at the state meet
•   She also anchored the 4x100m relay which won the state title and ran the third leg on the 4x400m relay which placed second at the state meet
•   Frost ranks ninth nationally in the 100m dash among returning high schoolers
High School Personal Bests:
•   100m – 11.57
•   200m – 23.65
BRIAN HERRON | Sprints | Atlanta, Ga. | Lakeside High
•   Herron is the World Junior, U.S. Junior and High School 300m indoor record holder. He is also the national freshman high school
   indoor 400m record holder
•   Herron was named the USATF Athlete of the Week on Jan. 4 after he ran the fourth-fastest high school indoor 200m (20.95) and
   400m (46.43) times ever. His 200m time is believed to be the fastest indoor youth 200m time ever
•   Ran on the U20 4x400m relay team along with Zach Shinnick which set world record at the 2017 Pan American U20 Championships
   in Peru
•   As a sophomore, he took second in the 200m and 400m at the Georgia High School 7A State Meet Â
High School Personal Bests:
•   200m – 20.93
•   400m – 46.07
•   300m – 32.64 (indoors)
NICHOLAS RAMEY | Sprints | Atlanta, Ga. | Brookwood High
•   Placed second in the 400m dash at the 2018 New Balance Nationals and was fifth in the event at the USATF Junior Championships
•   Ran on USA's 4x400m relay which placed second at the 2018 IAAF World U20 Championships
•   He had a 400m PR of 46.20 which ranked seventh among 2018 high school athletes and fourth among returning high schoolers
•   Ramey took second in the 400m and fifth in the 200m at the Georgia High School 7A State Championships
High School Personal Bests:
•   400m -- 46.20
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"This year's early signing class was quite a feat for us," said Smith Gilbert. "We were able to sign people from all over the country and some of the most elite athletes available in the 2019 class. We are looking forward to having them here as a part of the Trojan family. All of these student-athletes bring unbelievable talent, but also great character and discipline. 2019-20 should be a very exciting year for the USC track and field team."
The talented incoming group features two individual state champions and one world junior record-holder. In addition, all five of the athletes ranks among the top high school athletes in their specialties among returning high school athletes this season. Â
JATANA FOLSTON | Sprints | Cocoa, Fla. | Cocoa High
•   Won the Florida High School 2A state title in the 400m and placed third in the 800m with a PR of 2:11.81
•   Placed third in the 400m dash with her PR of 53.04 at the 2018 New Balance Nationals
•   She ranks eighth nationally among returning high school 400m runners
•   Named the Brevard County (Fla.) Girls Track Athlete of the Year
•   Her father James Folston played in the NFL for eight seasons with the Raiders and Cardinals
High School Personal Bests:
•   200m – 24.13
•   400m – 53.04
•   800m -- 2:11.81
JAN'TAIJAH FORD | Sprints | Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. | Northeast High
•   Ford has a 400m PR of 52.52 which was tied for sixth among high school runners in 2018 and is fourth among returning runners
•   Won the 2018 Florida High School 3A 400m title and placed third in the 200m with a PR of 23.69. It was her third consecutive state
   400m title
•   Won the Brooks PR Invitational 400m title
High School Personal Bests:
•   200m – 23.69
•   400m – 52.52
JAZMYNE FROST | Sprints | Gardena, Calif. | Junipero Serra High
•   Named the Daily Breeze Girls Track Athlete of the Year as she helped lead Junipero Serra High to the California state title
•   Won the 2018 CIF Southern Section Division 4 100m title and placed second in the CIF State Meet. She posted a PR of 11.57 in
   the 100m prelims at the state meet. Also, won the CIF SS Division 4 200m title and placed third at the CIF State Meet. She had
   a PR of 23.65 in the prelims at the state meet
•   She also anchored the 4x100m relay which won the state title and ran the third leg on the 4x400m relay which placed second at the state meet
•   Frost ranks ninth nationally in the 100m dash among returning high schoolers
High School Personal Bests:
•   100m – 11.57
•   200m – 23.65
BRIAN HERRON | Sprints | Atlanta, Ga. | Lakeside High
•   Herron is the World Junior, U.S. Junior and High School 300m indoor record holder. He is also the national freshman high school
   indoor 400m record holder
•   Herron was named the USATF Athlete of the Week on Jan. 4 after he ran the fourth-fastest high school indoor 200m (20.95) and
   400m (46.43) times ever. His 200m time is believed to be the fastest indoor youth 200m time ever
•   Ran on the U20 4x400m relay team along with Zach Shinnick which set world record at the 2017 Pan American U20 Championships
   in Peru
•   As a sophomore, he took second in the 200m and 400m at the Georgia High School 7A State Meet Â
High School Personal Bests:
•   200m – 20.93
•   400m – 46.07
•   300m – 32.64 (indoors)
NICHOLAS RAMEY | Sprints | Atlanta, Ga. | Brookwood High
•   Placed second in the 400m dash at the 2018 New Balance Nationals and was fifth in the event at the USATF Junior Championships
•   Ran on USA's 4x400m relay which placed second at the 2018 IAAF World U20 Championships
•   He had a 400m PR of 46.20 which ranked seventh among 2018 high school athletes and fourth among returning high schoolers
•   Ramey took second in the 400m and fifth in the 200m at the Georgia High School 7A State Championships
High School Personal Bests:
•   400m -- 46.20
Â
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