TERRE HAUTE, Ind. ? Indiana State men's track & field head coach John McNichols continued to bolster his team for next season with addition of three more talented recruits to his roster. David Bell (East Chicago, Ind./Vincennes University), Craig Padgett (Mishawaka, Ind./Mishawaka HS) and Jeremiah Vaughan (Brookville, Ind./Franklin County HS) have all signed National Letters of Intent to continue their careers at Indiana State and now bring the total number of recruits to six for the 2008-09 season.
Bell, who will transfer to Indiana State from Vincennes in the fall, recently made a name for himself at the 2008 NJCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship when he placed second in the decathlon with a score of 6,174 pts and also finished 10th in the high jump with a leap of 6'6.75”. The East Chicago, Ind., native qualified for the outdoor championships by winning the decathlon at the 2008 NJCAA Region Championships with a score of 6,537 pts. Bell was also impressive during the indoor season, placing second in the pentathlon with a total of 3,700 points and third in the high jump with a height of 6'07.75” at the 2008 NJCAA Indoor Track & Field Championship.
“David is an impressive all-around athlete who should come in and help us out immediately next year,” said McNichols. “He had a very solid year at Vincennes and finished in the top of the junior college ranks in the multi events at both the indoor and outdoor meets. He will also give us some much-needed depth in the jumps, with a career best jump of over seven feet in the high jump. He will be able to help us out in several areas next year, which makes him a solid addition to the roster.”
Padgett will be brought in to help bolster the team's depth in the distance events for the Sycamores next season. The Mishawaka, Ind., native placed seventh as a senior in the 3,200 meter run in a time of 9:33.47 at the 2008 Hoosier State Relays Indoor Finals. As a junior, Padgett took first place in the 1,600 meter, 3,200 meter and as a member of the 4x800 meter relay at the 2007 regional meet and then went on to win the two-mile at the sectional meet with a time of 9:38.10. That propelled him into the state meet, where he placed 16th in the event with a personal-best time of 9:29.65. He also advanced to the state finals in cross country as a junior, where he placed 10th overall with a time of 16:15.8 in the 5k run.
“We believe that Craig is one of the top distance runners in the state,” said McNichols. “He has really been dominant on the track this season and I look forward to seeing what he can do in his final high school meets. Craig will really help us, both in cross country and on the track, in the distance events and I look forward to watching him progress in his collegiate career.”
Rounding the trio is Vaughan, who will join Padgett in the distance events on the course and on the track for ISU. The Brookville, Ind., native finished just ahead of his future teammate Padgett at the 2008 Hoosier State Relays Indoor Finals in the 3,200 meter with a time 9:33.24. Vaughan also had an impressive junior season when he placed 22nd in the mile at the state meet in a time of 4:31.15 and then went on to compete in the 2007 AAU National Jr. Olympic Games where he placed fifth in the 3,000 meter race with a time of 9:03.62 and seventh in the 1,500 meter race in a time of 4:09.03.
“Jeremiah has run extremely well this season and he will be up against some very good competition in the next few weeks,” said McNichols. “He has pretty good range and good leg speed which will help him progress as a runner over the next few years. He is very well coached by one of our former athletes and I know he will be a solid addition to our team next year.”
