👟 Kansas Track & Field Announces 2020-21 Signing Class

LAWRENCE, Kan. – With the start of the 2020 early signing period beginning on Tuesday, November 11, Kansas track and field has announced the signings the newest group of Jayhawks.

The signing class currently consists of two individuals, including Lauren Heck and Kennedy Doakes. The signees represent two different states, including Kansas and Texas, while representing two different event groups (combined events, high jump).

The signings below are as of 11/12/2020. This page will be updated as necessary.

LAWRENCE, Kan. – With the start of the 2020 early signing period beginning on Tuesday, November 11, Kansas track and field has announced the signings the newest group of Jayhawks.

The signing class currently consists of four individuals, including Lauren Heck, Kennedy Doakes, Treyson True and George Jackson. The signees represent three different states or countries, including Kansas, Texas and Minnesota while representing four different events (combined events, high jump, distance and hurdles).

The signings below are as of 12/8/2020. This page will be updated as necessary.

Lauren Heck | Combined Events | Overland Park, Kan. | Blue Valley Southwest

Lauren Heck joins the Jayhawks out of Blue Valley Southwest High School in Overland Park, Kansas, where she was a three-sport athlete between volleyball, basketball and track & field. Heck most recently competed at the 2020 West Coast AAU Junior Olympics, where she placed second in the 100 meter hurdles and high jump. Heck has also medaled at the AAU Junior Olympics for eight consecutive years.

Kennedy Doakes | High Jump | The Woodlands, Texas | The Woodlands

Coming to KU from The Woodlands, Texas, Kennedy Doakes holds a personal best of 1.70m (5-7 ft.) which she set at the UIL 6A Region II meet in 2019, winning the event. Doakes was off to a strong start to her 2020 outdoor season, winning each of her first three competitions and clearing 1.67m (5-6 ft.) twice.

Treyson True | Distance | Emporia, Kan. | Emporia

Treyson True stays in his home state of Kansas, after competing at Emporia High School in Emporia, Kansas, where he was the runner-up at the KSHSAA 5A Cross Country Championship in 2019. True also placed third at the 2019 KU Rim Rock Classic and wrapped up his prep career with a sixth-place finish at the 2020 KSHSAA Cross Country State Championship.

George Jackson | Sprints/Hurdles | Minnetonka, Minn. | Hopkins

George Jackson signs with KU from Hopkins High School in Minnetonka, Minnesota, where he was a part of the 2019 state record setting 4×100 team. Jackson was the Hamline Elite meet champion in the 110-meter hurdles (14.16) and helped Hopkins to the AA state team championship in 2019, placing third in the 110-hurdles, seventh in the 200-meter hurdles and seventh in the long jump.

Sommer Herner | Distance | St. Joseph, Mo. | Bishop LeBlonde/UMKC

Sommer Herner arrives to KU after a standout season with UMKC, where she was the 2020 WAC Indoor Champion in the 800 meters and mile and was the runner-up in the 3,000 meters. Herner earned high-point honors for the WAC meet, before being named the WAC Indoor Performer of the Year, becoming the first female from UMKC to accomplish such a feat. Throughout her career at UMKC, Herner owns six all-time top-five performances, including the school record in the 1,000 meters (2:54.46), while only Courtney Frerichs has run a faster mile while at UMKC.

Avery Brooks | Pole Vault | Georgetown, Texas | Georgetown

Avery Brooks comes to KU from Georgetown High School in Georgetown, Texas, where she began an undefeated 2020 outdoor season before it was cut short due to COVID-19. Brooks holds a personal best of 3.83m (12-7 ft.) in the pole vault, which she set at the Vandegrift Viper Relays. In 2019, Brooks was the UIL 5A District champion, clearing 3.75m (12-4 ft.).

Christopher Stone | Distance | Lawrence, Kan. | Free State

Christopher Stone chose his hometown Kansas Jayhawks, after a successful high school career at Free State High School in Lawrence, Kansas. Stone competed in cross country for the Firebirds, placing 10th overall at the KSHSAA Class 6A State Championships, while he was the third place finisher at the Class 6A Olathe North Regional. Stone’s personal best of 15:32.2 came at the Sunflower League Championships, where he placed as the meet’s runner-up.

Logan Read | Distance | Olathe, Kan. | Olathe Northwest

Logan Read comes to KU after a strong senior cross country season, which saw him finish third at the KHSAA 6A State Championship in 16:38. Throughout the 2020 season, Read finished in the top-6 of every race he competed in.

Quenton Walion | Distance | Gardner, Kan. | Gardner-Edgarton

Quenton Walion finished off his prep cross country season with a great finish at the 2020 KSHSAA 6A State Championship, where he finished as the runner-up in 16:36.0. Walion was the Class 6A Regional Champion (Olathe North), finishing in 15:41.1. During the 2019 Track & Field season, Walion helped Gardner-Edgarton to the KSHSAA State Championship, where he was teammates with current Jayhawks, Tae-Vheon and Sae-Vheon Alcorn.