University of North Carolina Athletics
UNC Track & Field Inks Nine During Early Signing Period
November 18, 2017 | Track & Field
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The University of North Carolina track and field program announced the early signees for the incoming freshman class for the fall of 2018 Saturday. The Tar Heels will add nine accomplished student-athletes for distance, sprints and throws to next year's team.
"I am truly excited about the class of 2022." head coach Harlis Meaders said. "My staff has done an excellent job of attracting some of the best and brightest kids from around the country to UNC. Not only are the kids athletically and academically gifted, they also have amazing parents. I believe this is the start to our best recruiting class. I could not be more proud of the work my staff has done as we expand the Carolina family."
The signing class is full of talent and includes national champions, state record holders and All-Americans. The class is also one of highly achieving students off the field, with members of the National Honor Society, student government and academic honor rolls. The student-athletes hail from nine different states, including Alabama, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Montana, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
North Carolina is excited to announce and welcome the nine signees to the Carolina family.
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| Roman Mitchell |
Name: Roman Mitchell
Event: Javelin
Hometown: Garner, N.C.
High School: Southeast Raleigh High School
Athletic Honors
6-Time All-America & 2015 New Balance National Champion - set new meet record
4-Time North Carolina State Champion
2017 American JavFest Champion (Boys HS Elite Division)
2017 New Balance Outdoors HS Nationals All-American - 6th Place
2016 USATF Junior Olympic Boys 15-16 Champion - set new meet record
2016 Campbell Invitational Champion
2016 Aggie Invitational Champion
2015 New Balance Outdoor Nationals Champion in Boys Javelin Jr. High Division
3rd Place - 2016 Dennis Craddock Carolina Relays
3rd Place - 2016 Duke Invitational
5th Place - 2017 Caribbean Scholastic Invitational in Havana
5th Place - 2017 Iron Wood Throws, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
7th Place - 2017 New Balance Outdoor Nationals Championship Division
8th Place - 2016 Adidas Raleigh Relays
NSAF Project Javelin Gold Team Member
Academic Achievements
Academic Honor Roll
2016 Kappa Scholar Award
Personal Records
Javelin - 63.25m (207-6)
Mitchell - "Honored to be a Tar Heel for life. I'm excited to spend my next four to five years at UNC-Chapel Hill. Hard work, perseverance, and determination have really paid off. Thank you to my village for always supporting & believing in me."
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| Onye Ohia-Enyia |
Name: Onyedikachi (Onye) Ohia-Enyia
Event: Sprints
Hometown: Tarrytown, N.Y.
High School: Hackley School
Athletic Honors
Indoor 300m, 600m, 400m and outdoor 400m school record holder,
NY State Federation 400m runner-up
Indoor Nationals 400m qualifier
Broke the emerging elite SMR relay record at Nationals
Hackley School Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field MVP
New York State Association of Independent Schools Champion (200, 400)
Eastern States Champion (200, 400),
1st-Team All-County and Westchester All Star (200, 400)
Ranked 8th nationally in the 400
Personal Records
200m - 21.95 • 400 - 46.71
Ohia-Enyi - "A dream doesn't become reality through magic. It takes hardwork and determination, and that's why I'm excited and proud to be part of the Carolina family. Go Heels!"
Coach Id-Deen - "Onye is a guy who has great work ethic in and out of classroom, and it will be exciting to work with him. He knows the vision that Coach Meaders has for this program and he wants to do all he can to help the Tar Heels. Remember the name Onyedikachi Ohia-Enyia. He will come in and join the young group of quarter-milers already on campus and hold his own right away."
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| Qhiyal Towns |
Name: Qhiyal Towns
Event: Sprints
Hometown: Newport News, Va.
High School: Heritage High School
Athletic Honors
Four-time State Champion
55m & 100m Virginia 4-A State Record Holder
AAU Junior Olympic All-American
Ranked 6th nationally in the 60m
Personal Records
55m - 6.35 • 100m 10.51 • 200m – 21.33 • 400m – 48.44
Qhiyal Towns: "It's An Amazing Accomplishment To Finally Say I Am A Tar Heel!"
Coach Id-Deen - "Q is fun to watch compete – he has range from the 60m to 400m, which makes him dangerous at the next level. He is also working very hard to have a great senior year of high school. Like all of our signees, they come great families and his family is no different. We are excited that they chose to join the Carolina family and look forward for some great years to come."
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| Ryan Campbell |
Name: Ryan Campbell
Event: Distance
Hometown: Newtown, Pa.
High School: Council Rick High School North
Athletic Honors
First-Team All-State in Cross Country
Third-Team NXN Northeast in Cross Country
First-Team Suburban One Conference in Cross Country and Track
4th Place - Penn Relays DMR Championship of America
2-Time Top-10 finisher in the PIAA State Cross Country Championships
8th Place (3200m) - PIAA State Track and Field Championship
2016 Team Cross Country State Champions
Academic Achievements
Honor Roll
Personal Records
XC 5k - 15:28 • 5000m - 15:10 • 3200m - 9:14 • 1600m - 4:24
Campbell - "After touring the campus and meeting with the team and coaches on Junior Day I knew this is where I wanted to spend my 4 years athletically and academically."
Coach VanAlstyne - "All three signees, Enyaeva, Tristan and Ryan, are fearless competitors who will be perfectly at home on the track and cross country course. More importantly, they're outstanding young people who will be great students and leaders on our team and campus."
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| Tristan Shelgren |
Name: Tristan Shelgren
Event: Distance
Hometown: Boxford, Mass.
High School: St. John's Prep
Athletic Honors
2017 Massachusetts Indoor Mile Champion
2017 New England Mile Champion
Personal Records
XC 5k - 15:10 • 1600m - 4:15 • 3200m - 9:10
Shelgren - "I'm wicked excited to be committing to UNC and becoming a Tar Heel."
Coach VanAlstyne - "All three signees, Enyaeva, Tristan and Ryan, are fearless competitors who will be perfectly at home on the track and cross country course. More importantly, they're outstanding young people who will be great students and leaders on our team and campus."
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| Emily Malone |
Name: Emily Malone
Event: Javelin/Throws
Hometown: Missoula, Mont.
High School: Sentinel High School
Athletic Honors
2016 & 2017 Montana USATF Female Athlete of the Year
Lettered in Track (3x), Soccer (3x) and Softball (1x)
Montana AA High School Championships
2017 - second place in javelin and discus, third place in shot put
2016 - seventh place in javelin, fifth place in shot put • top field athlete
2015 - third place in javelin • Freshman MVP
USATF Junior Olympic Accomplishments
2017 Association Championships Runner Up (javelin, discus, shot put)
2017 Regional Championships Champion (javelin, discus, shot put)
2016 Association Championships Champion (javelin, discus, shot put)
2016 Regional Championships Champion (javelin, discus, shot put)
2016 National Championships participant
2017 Hershey Junior Olympics National Championships
Javelin - 4th Javelin • Discus - 9th
Academic Achievements
3.69 Cumulative GPA
Spartan Ambassador Freshmen Mentor 2015-17
Student Government Member 2016-17
National Honor Society Member
Personal Records
Javelin - 146-6 • Discus - 134-2 • Shot Put - 38-7
Malone - "I am humbled and honored by the opportunity to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The academic and athletic opportunities at UNC are the best in the country, and I am so excited to join my Carolina family. I will strive to be a part of the Better Blue throughout my career. Go Tar Heels!"
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| Lauryn Hall |
Name: Lauryn Hall
Event: Sprints
Hometown: Harvest, Ala.
High School: Sparkman High School
Athletic Honors
AAU All-American
USATF All-American
4-Time State Champion
2-Time AAU & USATF Regional Champion
Wendy's Heisman State Finalist
Ranked 6th nationally in the 200m and 12th in the 100m
Academic Achievements
National Honor Society Member
Personal Records
60m - 7.62 • 100m - 11.55 • 200m - 23.68
Hall - "The Pessimist looks down and hits their head. The Optimist looks up and loses their footing. The Realist looks forward and adjusts their path accordingly."
Coach Id-Deen - "Lauryn has had a tremendous high school career. She is driven to finish her high school days with an even bigger splash. She loved her visit and knows Carolina will fit her goals academically as well as athletically. She will also make an immediate impact for our women's team, and we cant wait to get started next year."
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| Maiah Walker |
Name: Maiah Walker
Event: Sprints
Hometown: Lake Wales, Fla.
High School: Lake Wales High School
Athletic Honors
Ranked 8th nationally in the 400m and 13th in the 200m
Academic Achievements
National Honor Society Member
Hygiene of Humanity Member
Elite Mentoring Member
Personal Records
400m - 53.27 • 200m - 23.86
Walker - "Belief is a greater force than talent."
Coach Id-Deen - "I have watched Maiah continue to grow as an athlete and a competitor over the years. She has range with being able to run the 100m, 200m and 400m at the Florida state meet. We are excited for her addition to the team. She will have an immediate impact for us, and I look forward to her arrival back to Chapel Hill."
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| Enyaeva Michelin |
Name: Enyaeva Michelin
Event: Distance
Hometown: Evanston, Ill.
High School: Evanston Township
Athletic Honors
2017 USATF 1500m National Champion
2017 IHSA 3-A Cross Country Runner Up
Midwest Distance Classic 1600m Champion
Central Suburban League Champion
Prep Top Times Indoor Championship 800m Runner-Up
Central Suburban League Sportsmanship Award Recipient
2017 Palatine Relays Most Valuable Athlete
2-Time Evanston Township High school Most Valuable Runner
Chicago Tribune Athlete of the Month
7th place - 2017 IHSA 800m
Academic Achievements
High Honor Roll
Ted van Zelst Excellence Award Recipient
Principal's Student of the Month - September 2016
P.M.L.A. Outstanding Leadership Award Recipient
A.P. Chemistry Achievement through Outstanding Motivation Award Recipient
Personal Records
XC 5k - 16:29.07 • 1500m - 4:32 • 800m - 2:11
Michelin - "Words cannot begin to describe how excited and blessed I am to join the tar heel family. I cannot wait to continue my athletic and academic career at the University of North Carolina."
Coach VanAlstyne - "All three signees, Enyaeva, Tristan and Ryan, are fearless competitors who will be perfectly at home on the track and cross country course. More importantly, they're outstanding young people who will be great students and leaders on our team and campus."
