TicketsCINCINNATI - Susan Seaton, Director of Track & Field/Cross Country at the University of Cincinnati, has announced the 2018 signing class that includes 13 individuals, all of whom have signed National Letters of Intent to continue their academic and athletic careers with the Bearcats starting next fall. The class includes nine women and four men with the group being comprised of eight individuals from Ohio, one each from California, Michigan and South Carolina, and two internationals, including one German and one Spaniard.
All told, the 2018 signing class features five New Balance All-Americans, three individual state champions and six state runners-up with both international additions having represented their homelands on either the world (IAAF) or European stage. The areas of competition for the class is as diverse as their hometowns with a collective five individuals (three women and two men) signing on to compete in the distances for coaches Lara Crofford and Sam Burroughs, respectively, while coaches Nadine Faustin-Parker and Chris Wineberg have brought in four sprints and hurdles standouts (three women, one man). Coach Seaton has added a trio of female throwers while Sam Kranz is bringing in a pole vault champion (men) to round out the class.
// MEET THE CLASS
The women's class features nine individuals, including seven from the state of Ohio: Faith Banks (Macedonia/Nordonia HS/sprints), Kaylia Black (Sandusky/Huron HS/throws), Caisja Chandler (Euclid/Euclid HS/sprints), Kylie Cutlip (Quaker City/Buckeye Trail HS/sprints & hurdles), Izzy Kline (Newton Falls/Newton Falls HS/throws), Carmen Licht (Macedonia/Nordonia HS/mid-distance) and Leah Maschino (Maineville/Kings HS/cross country & distance). The remaining two women in the class include California's Rylee Penn (Corona/Centennial HS/mid-distance & cross country) and Michigan's Malin Smith (Lansing/Waverly HS/throws). The four men that comprise this year's signing class include Ohio native Austin Goolsby (Hillsboro/Hillsboro HS/pole vault) and South Carolina sprinter Quincy Mitchell (Hanahan/Hanahan HS) along with a pair of international distance runners, including Toni Banos (Berga, Spain/Institut Guillem de Bergueda) and Aaron Bienenfeld (Frankfurt, Germany/University of Frankfurt).
// QUOTING COACH SEATON
On the 2018 signing class:
"The early signing period has me really excited for the future of our program. We have signed a very diverse and versatile class that allows us to add quality, as well as depth, in many event areas. The class includes three state champions, six state runners-up and features four athletes who rank in the Top 10 in the U.S. for the 2018 recruiting class. It features signees from two foreign countries, the West Coast, up north and down south, but also remains highly focused on our home state with eight Ohio natives joining our Bearcats family. For me, the most important aspect of this group of young athletes is their unbelievable potential. Each and every one of them has a unique set of abilities that I believe will allow them to compete at the national level in college."
On the men joining the program:
"On the men's side, we add a lot of quality depth to our distance squad with the signing of Toni Banos, a steeple specialist from Spain, and transfer Aaron Bienenfeld, one of Germany's top-level junior long distance runners," Seaton said. "South Carolina two-sport standout Quincy Mitchell will add some heat to our sprint squad and pole vault specialist Aaron Goolsby will continue our strong tradition of high-level vaulters at Cincinnati."
On the women that have signed:
"Our women's distance squad will grow faster with the addition of Rylee Penn, a California prep-star 800m runner, and the addition of local mid-distance talent Leah Maschino, as well as Ohio native Carmen Licht, who brings needed speed to our 800m group," Seaton said. "The sprints will also get a boost from Ohio speedsters Caisja Chandler, a 200m specialist, and Faith Banks, the top 400m recruit from Ohio. Rounding out the track side of our group is talented long hurdler Kylie Cutlip, who has just started to scratch at her potential and can immediately compete at the NCAA level. We are adding well-needed depth in the throws and are very excited to welcome talented Michigan native Malin Smith to our throwing group. Bringing additional strength and agility will be Ohio natives and three-sport athletes Izzy Kline and Kaylia Black. Overall, we feel this group will continue to help us compete for conference titles."
// LOOKING AT THE WOMEN
The women's signing class covers most areas of the track & field disciplines with three individuals each joining the sprints/hurdles, distances or throws groups for 2018-19. Collectively, three individuals have earned New Balance All-America honors, including Cutlip in the 400m hurdles, Maschino in the 4x800m relay and Smith in the shot put (indoors). Cutlip, who earned her honor in her first race at that distance, brings quite a haul of medals to town after capturing the 100m hurdles, 300m hurdles and 400m dash titles, Chandler is a seven-time state qualifier with seven podium (Top 8) finishes in that time. The duo will join fellow sprinter Banks, who is a five-time state qualifier and enters her senior season ranked #1 in Ohio at 400m.
The distance squad will get a boost in the mid-distances with its three newcomers. Maschino and Penn will both bring a wealth of depth across the distance spectrum as both have found success at 800m with Maschino helping her 4x800m relay team to All-America honors and Penn bringing a personal-best time that ranks her in the Top 20 nationally while both also have been highly successful in cross country, too. Both ladies will run cross country as well and look to bolster a squad that continues to improve. They will be joining by Licht, who adds in a pair of state qualifications, including once each in the 400m and 800m events.
In the throws, Smith's All-America honor leads the charge as she took second at the 2017 New Balance Indoor Emerging Elite shot put event. A two-time state runner-up in Michigan, Smith will join a pair of ladies that have qualified twice each to the Ohio state meets, including Kline, who made the top meet in the shot put twice, and Black, a qualifier in both the shot put and discus.
// LOOKING AT THE MEN
Although the men's signing class is small is size, it possesses a wealth of quality with two international standouts and two All-Americans comprising the four-man class. Mitchell brings a strong set of times to the sprints for the Bearcats as he is the reigning South Carolina state champion in both the 100m (10.45) and 200m (21.44) events after taking second in both one year prior. He is not limited to the short events, however, as the football standout also was the state's runner-up in 2017 at 400m (48.69) as well. He will join Goolsby, who himself is a state champion after claiming the 2017 pole vault (16' 2" PR) crown in Ohio following a runner-up finish in 2016.
The internationals both have vast experience in their careers already. Banos is a 2017 Spanish National Junior Champion in the 2,000m steeplechase with a personal-best time of 5:53.36 to his credit, the #28 time on the world youth lists last year. His time also qualified him to compete in the IAAF World Junior Championships that were contested in Nairobi, Kenya, where he placed 14th overall. Bienenfeld also has represented his homeland as he recently took part in the 16th European Mountain Racing Championships (July 2017), one month after competing in his fourth-consecutive national championship event. Bienenfeld raced in the German Junior Cross Country Championships, the German Half-Marathon Championships, the 10,000m run at the German Athletics Championships and the 5,000m run at the German Junior Championships. Both men will not only run on the track for UC, but also will compete for the cross country squad next fall.
// UP NEXT
While the members of the signing class continue to compete of their respective programs, the current roster of Bearcats are moving closer to the start of the 2018 track & field season with the Hoosier Open set to lift the lid on things Friday, December 8, in Bloomington, Ind. The one-day meet will give the Bearcats a chance to compete against other schools before the holiday break hits and gauge where they are before returning to action in mid-January.
2017 National Letters of Intent Signees - UC Track & Field/Cross Country
2017 November Signing Class
Women
Faith Banks • Macedonia, Ohio • Nordonia HS • Sprints
Kaylia Black • Sandusky, Ohio • Huron HS • Throws
Caisja Chandler • Euclid, Ohio • Euclid HS • Sprints
Kylie Cutlip • Quaker City, Ohio • Buckeye Trail HS • Sprints/Hurdles
Izzy Kline • Newton Falls, Ohio • Newton Falls HS • Throws
Carmen Licht • Macedonia, Ohio • Nordonia HS • Mid-Distance
Leah Maschino • Maineville, Ohio • Kings HS • Cross Country/Distance
Rylee Penn • Corona, Calif. • Centennial HS • Cross Country/Mid-Distance
Malin Smith • Lansing, Mich. • Waverly HS • Throws
Men
Toni Banos • Berga, Spain • Institut Guillem de Bergueda • Distance
Aaron Bienenfeld • Frankfurt, Germany • University of Frankfurt • Distance
Austin Goolsby • Hillsboro, Ohio • Hillsboro HS • Pole Vault
Quincy Mitchell • Hanahan, S.C. • Hanahan HS • Sprints
// 2017-18 Signee Biographies
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All told, the 2018 signing class features five New Balance All-Americans, three individual state champions and six state runners-up with both international additions having represented their homelands on either the world (IAAF) or European stage. The areas of competition for the class is as diverse as their hometowns with a collective five individuals (three women and two men) signing on to compete in the distances for coaches Lara Crofford and Sam Burroughs, respectively, while coaches Nadine Faustin-Parker and Chris Wineberg have brought in four sprints and hurdles standouts (three women, one man). Coach Seaton has added a trio of female throwers while Sam Kranz is bringing in a pole vault champion (men) to round out the class.
// MEET THE CLASS
The women's class features nine individuals, including seven from the state of Ohio: Faith Banks (Macedonia/Nordonia HS/sprints), Kaylia Black (Sandusky/Huron HS/throws), Caisja Chandler (Euclid/Euclid HS/sprints), Kylie Cutlip (Quaker City/Buckeye Trail HS/sprints & hurdles), Izzy Kline (Newton Falls/Newton Falls HS/throws), Carmen Licht (Macedonia/Nordonia HS/mid-distance) and Leah Maschino (Maineville/Kings HS/cross country & distance). The remaining two women in the class include California's Rylee Penn (Corona/Centennial HS/mid-distance & cross country) and Michigan's Malin Smith (Lansing/Waverly HS/throws). The four men that comprise this year's signing class include Ohio native Austin Goolsby (Hillsboro/Hillsboro HS/pole vault) and South Carolina sprinter Quincy Mitchell (Hanahan/Hanahan HS) along with a pair of international distance runners, including Toni Banos (Berga, Spain/Institut Guillem de Bergueda) and Aaron Bienenfeld (Frankfurt, Germany/University of Frankfurt).
// QUOTING COACH SEATON
On the 2018 signing class:
"The early signing period has me really excited for the future of our program. We have signed a very diverse and versatile class that allows us to add quality, as well as depth, in many event areas. The class includes three state champions, six state runners-up and features four athletes who rank in the Top 10 in the U.S. for the 2018 recruiting class. It features signees from two foreign countries, the West Coast, up north and down south, but also remains highly focused on our home state with eight Ohio natives joining our Bearcats family. For me, the most important aspect of this group of young athletes is their unbelievable potential. Each and every one of them has a unique set of abilities that I believe will allow them to compete at the national level in college."
On the men joining the program:
"On the men's side, we add a lot of quality depth to our distance squad with the signing of Toni Banos, a steeple specialist from Spain, and transfer Aaron Bienenfeld, one of Germany's top-level junior long distance runners," Seaton said. "South Carolina two-sport standout Quincy Mitchell will add some heat to our sprint squad and pole vault specialist Aaron Goolsby will continue our strong tradition of high-level vaulters at Cincinnati."
On the women that have signed:
"Our women's distance squad will grow faster with the addition of Rylee Penn, a California prep-star 800m runner, and the addition of local mid-distance talent Leah Maschino, as well as Ohio native Carmen Licht, who brings needed speed to our 800m group," Seaton said. "The sprints will also get a boost from Ohio speedsters Caisja Chandler, a 200m specialist, and Faith Banks, the top 400m recruit from Ohio. Rounding out the track side of our group is talented long hurdler Kylie Cutlip, who has just started to scratch at her potential and can immediately compete at the NCAA level. We are adding well-needed depth in the throws and are very excited to welcome talented Michigan native Malin Smith to our throwing group. Bringing additional strength and agility will be Ohio natives and three-sport athletes Izzy Kline and Kaylia Black. Overall, we feel this group will continue to help us compete for conference titles."
// LOOKING AT THE WOMEN
The women's signing class covers most areas of the track & field disciplines with three individuals each joining the sprints/hurdles, distances or throws groups for 2018-19. Collectively, three individuals have earned New Balance All-America honors, including Cutlip in the 400m hurdles, Maschino in the 4x800m relay and Smith in the shot put (indoors). Cutlip, who earned her honor in her first race at that distance, brings quite a haul of medals to town after capturing the 100m hurdles, 300m hurdles and 400m dash titles, Chandler is a seven-time state qualifier with seven podium (Top 8) finishes in that time. The duo will join fellow sprinter Banks, who is a five-time state qualifier and enters her senior season ranked #1 in Ohio at 400m.
The distance squad will get a boost in the mid-distances with its three newcomers. Maschino and Penn will both bring a wealth of depth across the distance spectrum as both have found success at 800m with Maschino helping her 4x800m relay team to All-America honors and Penn bringing a personal-best time that ranks her in the Top 20 nationally while both also have been highly successful in cross country, too. Both ladies will run cross country as well and look to bolster a squad that continues to improve. They will be joining by Licht, who adds in a pair of state qualifications, including once each in the 400m and 800m events.
In the throws, Smith's All-America honor leads the charge as she took second at the 2017 New Balance Indoor Emerging Elite shot put event. A two-time state runner-up in Michigan, Smith will join a pair of ladies that have qualified twice each to the Ohio state meets, including Kline, who made the top meet in the shot put twice, and Black, a qualifier in both the shot put and discus.
// LOOKING AT THE MEN
Although the men's signing class is small is size, it possesses a wealth of quality with two international standouts and two All-Americans comprising the four-man class. Mitchell brings a strong set of times to the sprints for the Bearcats as he is the reigning South Carolina state champion in both the 100m (10.45) and 200m (21.44) events after taking second in both one year prior. He is not limited to the short events, however, as the football standout also was the state's runner-up in 2017 at 400m (48.69) as well. He will join Goolsby, who himself is a state champion after claiming the 2017 pole vault (16' 2" PR) crown in Ohio following a runner-up finish in 2016.
The internationals both have vast experience in their careers already. Banos is a 2017 Spanish National Junior Champion in the 2,000m steeplechase with a personal-best time of 5:53.36 to his credit, the #28 time on the world youth lists last year. His time also qualified him to compete in the IAAF World Junior Championships that were contested in Nairobi, Kenya, where he placed 14th overall. Bienenfeld also has represented his homeland as he recently took part in the 16th European Mountain Racing Championships (July 2017), one month after competing in his fourth-consecutive national championship event. Bienenfeld raced in the German Junior Cross Country Championships, the German Half-Marathon Championships, the 10,000m run at the German Athletics Championships and the 5,000m run at the German Junior Championships. Both men will not only run on the track for UC, but also will compete for the cross country squad next fall.
// UP NEXT
While the members of the signing class continue to compete of their respective programs, the current roster of Bearcats are moving closer to the start of the 2018 track & field season with the Hoosier Open set to lift the lid on things Friday, December 8, in Bloomington, Ind. The one-day meet will give the Bearcats a chance to compete against other schools before the holiday break hits and gauge where they are before returning to action in mid-January.
2017 National Letters of Intent Signees - UC Track & Field/Cross Country
2017 November Signing Class
Women
Faith Banks • Macedonia, Ohio • Nordonia HS • Sprints
Kaylia Black • Sandusky, Ohio • Huron HS • Throws
Caisja Chandler • Euclid, Ohio • Euclid HS • Sprints
Kylie Cutlip • Quaker City, Ohio • Buckeye Trail HS • Sprints/Hurdles
Izzy Kline • Newton Falls, Ohio • Newton Falls HS • Throws
Carmen Licht • Macedonia, Ohio • Nordonia HS • Mid-Distance
Leah Maschino • Maineville, Ohio • Kings HS • Cross Country/Distance
Rylee Penn • Corona, Calif. • Centennial HS • Cross Country/Mid-Distance
Malin Smith • Lansing, Mich. • Waverly HS • Throws
Men
Toni Banos • Berga, Spain • Institut Guillem de Bergueda • Distance
Aaron Bienenfeld • Frankfurt, Germany • University of Frankfurt • Distance
Austin Goolsby • Hillsboro, Ohio • Hillsboro HS • Pole Vault
Quincy Mitchell • Hanahan, S.C. • Hanahan HS • Sprints
// 2017-18 Signee Biographies
| FAITH BANKS Sprints • Macedonia, Ohio • Nordonia HS Returns for her senior year with the top returning 400m dash time among Ohio seniors (55.34)... has raced in the 400m dash at the state meet five times in her career... placed fourth in the indoor OATCCC and fourth in the outdoor OHSAA meets in 2017 after finishing fifth in both meets the year prior... four-time Akron Suburban League champion, including three-consecutive 400m crowns to add to her 200m title won in 2017. PRs • 400m: 55.34 Bearcats Coach: Chris Wineberg |
| TONI BANOS Distance • Berga, Spain • Institut Guillem de Bergueda Won the 2017 Spanish Junior National Championship in the 2,000m steeplechase, running 5:58.84 to secure the title... qualified for and ran in the 2017 IAAF World U18 Championships (Nairobi, Kenya) in July, finishing 14th overall... raced to a time of 5:53.36 in June to record a PR... that time ranked #28 on the world youth lists, #33 in the world on the junior lists and #63 in the world across all age groups. PRs • 2,000m Steeplechase: 5:53.36 Bearcats Coach: Sam Burroughs |
| AARON BIENENFELD Distance • Frankfurt, Germany • University of Frankfurt Represented Germany at the 16th European Mountain Racing Championships in Kamnik, Slovakia, in July 2017, finishing 43rd overall in the senior division... from March through June, competed in four different German national championship events... finished third in the German Junior Cross Country Championships in March before placing 20th in the German Half-Marathon Championships in April... placed 14th in the 10,000m run at the track and field championships in May before placing third in the 5,000m run at the German Junior Track & Field Championships in June. PRs • 5,000m: 14:20.73 • 10,000m: 30:20.62 Bearcats Coach: Sam Burroughs |
| KAYLIA BLACK Throws • Sandusky, Ohio • Huron HS Two-time state qualifier in the throws, placing fifth in the discus in 2017 after competing in the shot put one year prior... four-time district champion, including the 2017 discus title and three-consecutive shot put titles... twice a conference champion, winning the discus and shot put once each. PRs • Shot Put: 42' 6" • Discus: 128' 1" Bearcats Coach: Susan Seaton |
| CAISJA CHANDLER Sprints • Euclid, Ohio • Euclid HS Qualified for and raced in seven events at the state level, including three indoors and four outdoors... raced in the 60m dash, 100m and 200m events... took third place in the indoor OATCCC and outdoor OHSAA 200m finals in 2017... added podium (Top 8) finishes in four other races, including twice in the 100m (fifth in 2017 and sixth in 2016) and twice in the 200m (seventh indoors and fourth outdoors) in 2016...five-time conference champion, winning the 200m in the Lake Erie League in 2015 before sweeping the 100m-200m double the past two years in the GCC. PRs • 200m: 24.23 Bearcats Coach: Nadine Faustin-Parker |
| KYLIE CUTLIP Sprints/Hurdles • Quaker City, Ohio • Buckeye Trail HS New Balance All-American after placing sixth in the 400m hurdles at the 2016 meet, running 59.70, the 13th-fastest time recorded that year by a prep runner... won three state titles at the 2016 outdoor meet, capturing gold in the 100m hurdles, 300m hurdles and 400m dash... added a runner-up finish in the long jump as well... ran 42.04 in the 300m hurdles that year, a time that ranked 22nd nationally. PRs • 60mH: 8.82 • 300mH: 42.04 • 400mH: 59.70 • 400m: 56.70 Bearcats Coach: Nadine Faustin-Parker |
| AUSTIN GOOLSBY Pole Vault • Hillsboro, Ohio • Hillsboro HS New Balance All-American in the pole vault after placing sixth in 2016 (was eighth in 2017)... cleared 16' 2" indoors, a mark that ranks him 5th among seniors heading into the 2018 season... also cleared 16' outdoors, the 7th-best returning marks for seniors in 2018... 2017 state champion after finishing runner-up the year prior... finished third in the indoor pole vault and indoor long jump in the 2017 state meet... won the conference title in the pole vault and long jump (22' 6") in 2017. PRs • Pole Vault: 16-02.00 (i)/16-00.00 • LJ: 22-06.00 • 100m: 11.13 Bearcats Coach: Sam Kranz |
| IZZY KLINE Throws • Newton Falls, Ohio • Newton Falls HS Advanced to the state outdoor meet each of the past two years... took runner-up honors in 2017 after placing sixth in 2016... recorded a personal-best of 43' 9.25" in 2017... successful three-sport athlete for the NFHS as a member of the volleyball, basketball and track and field programs. PRs • Shot Put: 43-09.25 Bearcats Coach: Susan Seaton |
| CARMEN LICHT Mid-Distance • Macedonia, Ohio • Nordonia HS Two-time state qualifier, making the state meet in the 400m (2015) and 800m (2017) once each... finished ninth in the 400m and 14th in the 800m events at the OHSAA meet... captured the 800m title at the Akron Suburban League meet in 2017... twice a league runner-up in the 400m dash... also has captured a district title in the 800m run on her way to the state meet. PRs • 400m: 57.0 • 800m: 2:12.97 Bearcats Coach: Lara Crofford |
| LEAH MASCHINO Cross Country/Distance • Maineville, Ohio • Kings HS Four-time state qualifier, including once in cross country, once in outdoor track and twice indoors... in 2017, placed fifth in the district and 15th in the region to earn her first cross country state berth (66th)... finished in the Top 15 in her other three state meets... earned All-America honors at the New Balance meet as a member of the 4x800m relay... two-time ECC champion, capturing the 2017 title in 3,200m and 1,600m crown in 2015... has finished in the Top 3 in all six over her conference track races, including five in the Top 2, while adding three Top 3 finishes in ECC cross country meets as well. PRs • 1,600m: 4:57 • 5,000mXC: 18:29 Bearcats Coach: Lara Crofford |
| QUINCY MITCHELL Sprints • Hanahan, S.C. • Hanahan HS Two-time New Balance All-American in the 100m after finishing fourth in 2015 and runner-up in 2016... competed in the 100m and 200m events at the New Balance meet each of the past two seasons... two-time South Carolina state champion, winning the 100m-200m double in 2017 after taking second in both events in 2016.. placed third in both in 2015... added a second-place showing in the 400m at the 2017... ran 6.89 in the 60m at the Kentucky Invitational last winter, the 11th-fastest time on the world youth list last year... two-sport standout as he excels on the football field as well. PRs • 60m: 6.89 • 100m: 10.45 • 200m: 21.44 • 400m: 48.69 Bearcats Coach: Nadine Faustin-Parker |
| RYLEE PENN Cross Country/Mid-Distance • Corona, Calif. • Centennial HS Two-time California state qualifier in the 800m, finishing as the runner-up in 2015... won the Junior Olympic Region 5 title in the 800m in 2016... her PR of 2:07.43 in 2015 ranked 17th nationally and 86th on the world junior list... four-time BIG VIII Conference champion, winning the 1,600m and 3,200m in 2015 and 2016... took second in the 800m at the 2017 league meet. PRs • 800m: 2:07.43 • 1,600m: 4:58 • 3,200m: 10:56 • 3-MileXC: 17:33 Bearcats Coach: Lara Crofford |
| MALIN SMITH Throws • Lansing, Mich. • Waverly HS New Balance All-American after taking runner-up honors at the 2017 indoor competition in the Emerging Elite division... placed 13th outdoors as well... two-time Michigan state runner-up, including the 2017 discus and 2016 shot put competitions... added a third-place finish in the shot put during the 2017 meet as well... four-time conference champion, sweeping the shot put and discus events each of the past two years... competed in the AAU Junior Olypmics in 2017, finishing second in the shut put. PRs • Shot Put: 45' 10" • Discus: 140' 5" Bearcats Coach: Susan Seaton |