(Editor's note: Carroll College athletics release)
HELENA -- The Carroll College track and field team, headed by longtime mentor Harry Clark, signed 21 student-athletes in its 2020 recruiting class, the team announced this week.
The list includes athletes from all over the region. Carroll signed athletes from Montana, Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Wyoming and California.
Jonah Fisher signed with Carroll while prepping right down the road at Helena High. Fisher holds a personal-best in the 1,600-meter run of 4 minutes, 40 seconds, a 2:05 time in the 800 and a 16:12 mark in the 5K. He's been honored as academic all-state in cross country and track and has earned all-state honors in cross country.
"I really enjoyed the overall vibe of Carroll while I was there visiting," Fisher said. "All the students and staff I met were very friendly and welcoming."
Fisher is the son of Klint and Jesika Fisher. He holds a 3.5 GPA and plans to major in civil engineering.
Kaiden Romney comes to Carroll out of Frenchtown. The runner holds PRs in the 400 of 51.1 and in the 800 of 2:00.5. He has been an all-conference performer in the 800, 400, 400-meter relay and 1,600-meter relay. He became an all-stater in the latter and is a part of the team that holds Frenchtown's school record in the race.
"I chose Carroll because I want to stay in Montana to continue doing the things I enjoy in life while competing at the collegiate level," Romney said. "I was also drawn by the high-standing academic reputation and valued education offered by Carroll."
He is the son of Clint Romney and Jami FitzGerald. He holds a 3.96 GPA and plans to major in biology.
James Normandeau is a distance runner out of Ronan who holds a PR in the 800 of 1:58 and in the 1,600 of 4:32. He's been an all-state runner once in the 800 and twice in the 1,600. He's been an all-conference performer in both events for three consecutive seasons.
"Carroll resonates with a home-like atmosphere," Normandeau said. "I know it's a place I belong."
He is the son of Michael and Annie Normandeau. He holds a 4.0 GPA and plans to study pre-med.
Jocelynn Coley comes to Carroll after a standout career at Bozeman High. She helped Bozeman claim the 2019 girls state track championship and has been an academic all-state performer since 2017.
Coley's PRs include an 8.16-second 55-meter (indoor) and an 8.67 in the 60-meter (indoor). She has posted personal-best times of 13.65 in the 1000, 27.93 in the 200 and 1:06.14 in the 400-meter dash. A participant in both of Bozeman's relay teams, Coley has also found success in the long and triple jump, with marks of 15 feet, 6.5 inches and 33 feet, 10 inches, respectively
"I wanted somewhere that I could run and work on what I want as a career at the same time," Coley said. "As soon as I got to know Carroll better and see the community there, I was sold."
She is the daughter of Lucy and Chad Coley. Her god sister, Danielle Olsen, is also a Saint. She holds a 3.87 GPA and is undecided on her major, but leaning toward health sciences.
Connor O'Hara comes to Carroll from Ulm and attended C.M. Russell High in Great Falls. He holds PRs in the 3,200 of 9:48 and in the 5,000 with a time of 15:54. He's twice been all-state in cross country, placing 10th in 2018 and fifth in the 2019 at the state meet. He qualified for the state track meet in 2019.
"I chose Carroll because the minute I stepped foot on campus it felt like home," O'Hara said. "Everyone was very supportive and welcoming. The school offers the degree I am looking for and I get to be a part of an awesome cross country and track team."
O'Hara is the son of Todd and Becki McMickle. He plans to study secondary education and holds a 3.65 GPA.
The rest of the class can be found below.
Carroll College track and field
Class of 2020 signees
Izak Garza - Grandview, WA - Distance
Dylan Stearns - Spokane, WA - Distance
Crisha Polk - Great Falls, MT - Throws
Conner Bawden - Boise, ID - Distance
Clayton Ryerson - Helena, MT - Distance
Brielle Aklestad - Shelby, MT - Throws
Zach Rector - Portland, OR - Distance
Finleigh Levinson - San Anselmo, CA - Distance
Audrey Brown - Plains, MT - Throws & Sprints
Timothy Sellars - Lacey, WA - Throws
McKenna Bomengen - Thermopolis, WY - Distance
Olivia Weyer - Thermopolis, WY - Pole vault & distance
Elias Hill - Coeur d'Alene, ID - Jumps & Sprints
Ashley Rose - Spokane, WA - Distance
Emma Patek - Boise, ID - Sprints
Justin Neu - Upland, CA - Pole Vault
