Micaela Creighton of South Milwaukee High School signs with Auburn track and field program

Track and Field Announces Nine Signees for 2014

AUBURN – Auburn track and field head coach Ralph Spry announced the addition of nine student-athletes for the 2014 season on Friday.

“I am excited about signing this level of quality athletes,” Spry said. “Our entire coaching staff did a great job of securing these student-athletes. This entire group can be successful in conference and at the national level. We are excited about this first group and we are looking forward to signing additional quality athletes during the remainder of the signing period.”

Leading the way are three women’s signees who have ranked in the top 10 nationally in the previous year in their respective event. All-American Triple jumper Marshay Ryan is ranked fourth nationally during the 2012 outdoor season, pole vaulter Carly Schmidt finished the 2012 indoor season ranked sixth and sprinter SheKara Martin is currently ninth nationally for the 2013 indoor season in the 200 meters.

Additionally, Auburn inked top in-state hurdler Raven Stewart, top Florida hurdler Ebony Morrison, former Alabama cross country state champion Claire Kennedy, long jumper Micaela Creighton from South Milwaukee, Wisconsin and distance specialist Pennsylvania-native Veronica Eder.

Spry also announced the addition of men’s sprinter Teray Smith. Originally from the Bahamas, Smith graduated from American Heritage High School in Plantation, Fla. in the spring of 2012.

“Teray is a huge addition,” the veteran head coach said. “He’s a world junior finalist and one of the top under-19 sprinters in the world. We are very excited to add him to the team. He’s a fine young man and will be an outstanding addition to our men’s sprint group. We look forward to him doing big things in his Auburn career.”

Smith set a new personal best of 20.79 in the 200 meters at the 2012 IAAF World Junior Championships in Barcelona, Spain. He also ran a career-best 10.42 to win the 100 meters at Bahamas Junior Nationals in June 2012. Smith placed second in the 400 meters at the 2012 Florida high school state outdoor meet with a personal best mark of 47.43.

Hailing from Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, Ryan was honored as a 2012 Track and Field News All-American. She finished as the runner-up at 2012 New Balance Outdoor Nationals at North Carolina A&T University, notching a personal-best effort of 42 feet, 2.75 inches (12.87m).

At the meet, Ryan improved on her previous best of 40-5 three times in the competition. She is a three-time Pennsylvania state champion in the long jump and triple jump.

A top in-state athlete, Stewart holds a pair of state records in the triple jump and the 100-meter hurdles. She recently won the 2013 Alabama indoor championship in the triple jump and 60-meter hurdles, and has won 15 career state championships.

Martin is a native of Columbia, South Carolina and attends Ridge View High School. She competes in the sprints, where she was third at New Balance Outdoor Nationals at 100 meters in 2012. She brought home the double at the 2012 South Carolina state outdoor meet, winning titles at both 100 and 200 meters.

Miami, Fla.-native Morrison is the top female hurdler in the state, and also excels in the long jump.  She has won three-straight Florida state titles in the 100-meter hurdles. She will graduate from Southridge High School.

Schmidt is one of the top pole vaulters in the country at Lake Forrest (Illinois) High School. She set a new personal best with clearance at 12 feet, nine inches (3.88m) during the 2012 outdoor season.

Distance runner Kennedy was the 2010 Alabama 4A Cross Country champion as a sophomore, while also finishing third in 2011 and 2012. Creighton is a two-time Wisconsin indoor state champion in the long jump and is a six-time WIAA Outdoor State qualifier.

Eder will compete in both cross country and distance events on the track. She owns a sub five minute personal best in the 1,600 meters.

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2013 Track and Field Signees

Name                                    Event                                    Hometown (Previous)

Micaela Creighton           Jumps                                   South Milwaukee, Wisc. (South Milwaukee HS)

Veronica Eder                    Distance                               Doylestown, Pa. (Central Bucks East HS)

Claire Kennedy                 Distance                               Mobile, Ala. (UMS-Wright Preparatory)

SheKara Martin                 Sprints                                  Columbia, S.C. (Ridge View HS)

Ebony Morrison                Hurdles/Jumps                 Miami, Fla. (Southridge HS)

Marshay Ryan                   Jumps                                   Chambersburg, Pa. (Chambersburg Area HS)

Carly Schmidt                     Pole Vault                           Lake Forest, Ill. (Lake Forest HS)

Teray Smith                        Sprints                                  Sunrise, Fla. (American Heritage HS)

Raven Stewart                  Hurdles/Jumps                 Guntersville, Ala. (Guntersville HS)