Aggies spring signing group includes nation’s top 400m sprinter in Jamal Walton

(KBTX)
Published: Apr. 19, 2018 at 12:50 PM CDT
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The nation’s top 400m sprinter, Jamal Walton of Florida, has signed a national letter of intent with the Texas A&M track and field program. It’s one of six additional national letters of intent received by the Aggies during the spring signing period this past week, joining the 18 athletes who signed with Texas A&M in November. The latest group joining the program includes five men and one female.

Walton, from Miramar, Florida, ranks second on the all-time high school list with a career best of 44.99 seconds, making him just the second prep athlete to break 45 seconds. He has won the Pan-American Junior 400m title twice, in 2015 and 2017, and competed in two rounds of the 400m at the 2017 IAAF World Championships in London, representing the Cayman Islands.

Robin Nool, a 17-6 ¼ pole vaulter from Estonia, also signed a national letter of intent with the Aggies. He is the son of Erki Nool, the 2000 Olympic gold medalist in the decathlon.

The spring signing group includes Roger Ethridge, a sprinter from The Woodlands College Park; Gavin Hoffpauir, a distance runner from The Woodlands; thrower Madeline O’Hanlon of Pottsboro, Texas; and C.J. Stevenson, a jumper from Great Oak High School in Temecula, California.

Stevenson won the 2017 California state title in the triple jump and is the brother of Ciynamon Stevenson, a sophomore with the Aggie track and field team. O’Hanlon won the discus title at the 2017 TTFCA Meet of Champions following a silver-medal effort at the 3A State meet. Hoffpauir finished second in the 6A State cross country meet last fall and placed fifth in the South Regional of the Nike Cross Nationals. Ethridge recently set a career best of 47.74 as the 400m runner-up in District 12-6A. Last season he placed third in the Region II-6A meet.

TEXAS A&M TRACK & FIELD – 2018 SPRING SIGNING

Roger Ethridge, College Park, The Woodlands, Texas – Sprints: 47.74 (400m)

Has posted a career best of 47.74 in the 400m this season as runner-up in District 12-6A … Anchored 4x400 relay to runner-up finish in district … Placed third in the 400m with a then career best of 47.83 at the Region II-6A meet in 2017 … Ran on 4x400 relay that finished fourth in the region meet … Won area title in 400m with a 47.85 after placing second in district meet at 47.99 … Posted a time of 48.33 indoors to win 400m at Texas A&M High School Classic.

Gavin Hoffpauir, The Woodlands, Texas – Distance: 3:57.03 (1500), 4:14.75 (1600), 9:13.50 (3200)

State 6A runner-up in cross country during fall of 2017 … Finished fifth in Nike Cross Nationals South Regional to advance to Nike Cross Nationals meet … Senior season in cross country also included victories in District 12-6A and Region II-6A meets … As a junior, placed seventh in the State 6A meet … Set career best of 4:14.75 in 1,6000m during 2017 season, placing third in District 12-6A, and clocked a best of 9:21.25 in 3,200m at 2017 Texas Relays … In 2018, won District 12-6A title in 1,600m (4:19.10) and 3,200m (9:21.50) … Also ran 4:16.98 in 1,600m at Texas Relays … Runner-up in 1,500m with a 3:57.03 at Victor Lopez Classic, where he also placed fifth in 3,000m with a best of 8:41.97.

Robin Nool, Estonia – Pole Vault: 17-6 ¼ (5.34) indoors, 17-5 (5.31) outdoors

Established an indoor career best of 17-6 ¼ (5.34) this season … Cleared 17-2 ¾ (5.25) to win Junior national title in February, a week later won the Estonia national title with a 17-0 ¾ (5.20) effort … In 2017, equaled the Estonia outdoor junior national record of 17-4 ½ (5.30), placing fourth in a junior meet held in Germany … Two days later he improved the junior national record to 17-5 (5.31) to win the Estonia junior nationals … Placed fourth in the 2017 European Junior Championships, clearing 17-2 ¾ (5.25) … Son of 2000 Olympic decathlon gold medalist Erki Nool, who holds Estonia national records in decathlon (8,815 points), heptathlon (6,374) and long jump 26-7 (8.10) … Erki also held the outdoor junior pole vault record, set in 1989, that his son first equaled and then passed.

Madeline O’Hanlon, Pottsboro, Texas – Throws: 41-4 ½ (shot put), 144-9 (discus)

Won 2017 TTFCA Meet of Champions with a career best of 144-9 … Best mark of 41-4 ½ in shot put was set in 2017 to win District 9-3A … State 3A runner-up in discus in 2017, following a district win along with runner-up efforts in area and region meets … In 2016, placed seventh in AAU Junior Olympics … Following district title in shot put in 2017, finished second in area meet and fourth in region meet … Placed second in the discus and third in shot put during district meets as a freshman and sophomore in 2015 and 2016.

C.J. Stevenson, Great Oak HS, Temecula, California – Jumps: 24-3 (long jump), 50-5 (triple jump)

Recently won the long jump at 2018 Arcadia Invitational with a career best of 24-3 (7.39) … Set a career best of 50-5 (15.37) in the triple jump in his first meet of the 2018 season and placed second at Arcadia … 2017 California State champion in the triple jump with a mark of 49-7 ¾ (15.13) … Established a then career best of 50-4 ½ as a junior in 2017, then won titles at CIF Southern Section Division and CIF Southern Section Masters prior to winning the state title … Also won Arcadia and Mt. SAC titles in triple jump as a junior … Sister, Ciynamon, is a sophomore jumper at Texas A&M.

Jamal Walton, Miramar, Florida – Sprints: 10.42 (100m), 20.57 (200m), 44.99 (400m)

Became only the second high school sprinter to run under 45 seconds in the 400m … Defended his title in the 400m at the 2017 Pan-American Junior Championships, winning in 44.99 as he represented the Cayman Islands … The 44.99 ranks second on the all-time high school list, trailing only a 44.69 by Darrell Robinson set in 1982 … Qualified for the 2017 IAAF World Championships in London, where he ran 45.05 in the opening round and 45.16 in the semifinals … In 2015, won the Pan-American Junior title in the 400m with a 46.09 … Placed fourth in the 2015 IAAF World Youth Championships with a 45.99 … On high school level, swept the 200m and 400m titles at the 2017 Florida State meet … Won the 400m at Brooks PR Invitational as well as the 200m at the Great Southwest Classic.