Alford-Sullivan Announces 2019-20 Men's Signing Class

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee director of track & field Beth Alford-Sullivan has announced the addition of 15 signees for the program's 2019 men's recruiting class. From Belgium to Barbados, the group features a wealth of international standouts, as well as homegrown talent from all across the United States.

"Our men's recruiting efforts have been outstanding this past fall semester and thus far into the year of 2019," Alford-Sullivan said. "My assistant coaches worked hard to bring in a balanced, competitive level of recruits. We have a great international flavor, all the way down to homegrown kids here in Tennessee. We had a lot of holes to fill on the men's side, as we had been down on recruiting the last few years, but we're very, very strong with this class and excited to finish it off as this semester rolls through."

The class includes a plethora of national champions, All-Americans, state champions and all-state performers. Mid-year enrollee Jonathan Sacoor stands out as an IAAF U-20 World Champion in the 400m dash, clocking a time of 45.03 to take gold in the summer of 2018. That mark would rank third in Tennessee history outdoors. Two-time Illinois state champion Brayden Hamblen also joins the Vols as a mid-year transfer, while the rest of the class will arrive on campus in the fall of 2019.

A full breakdown of UT's men's signees can be found below. For the most up-to-date information on Tennessee track & field, follow @Vol_Track on Twitter.

--

Emmanuel Bynum
Memphis, Tenn. (Whitehaven High School)
Event: Sprints
PRs:
200m - 21.59

Notables:
• Tennessee state champion in the 200m

Bynum: "The reason I chose UT-Knoxville is because their team is like a family. I know that when I leave home, I'll be in good hands there. Coach Neville is an amazing coach, and I know he will get me to the next level. I can't wait to spend my next four years being a Vol!"

Coach Sullivan: "We're so excited to have Emmanuel joining our sprints squad. He's an in-state stud and I have no doubt that he'll help propel the Vols to the top of podiums."
--

Sebastian Cooper
Cypress, Texas (Cypress Woods High School)
Field of Study: Kinesiology
Event: Sprints
PRs:
400m – 47.35
800m – 1:58.01

Notables:
• 4x800m AAU national record holder

Cooper: "I chose Tennessee because of the great academics, along with a great team and phenomenal coaching staff."

Coach Sullivan: "Sebastian brings both talent and depth in the 200 to 400 range for us. We're excited for him to be joining our sprints squad. Definitely going to be a great leg on the 4x400 relay."
--

Peyton Davis
Centralia, Mo. (Centralia High School)
Field of Study: Biomedical Engineering
Event: Decathlon
PRs:
Decathlon – 6,912 points
High Jump – 1.98m (6-6)
Long Jump – 7.03m (23-9.75)
Javelin – 56.98m (186-11)

Notables:
• 11-time Junior Olympic All-American
• Two-time USATF Junior Olympic Decathlon national champion
• Member of the FBLA, FCA and student council at Centralia HS
• Varsity starter on Centralia's basketball team, earning all-conference honorable mention honors as a junior

Davis: "I chose Tennessee because the people chose me. The coaches and team wanted me at Tennessee as much as I wanted to be there. I felt that Tennessee was where I belonged, would improve the most, and would have the most fun. The decision took time, prayers, and thinking, but UTK is definitely where I am supposed to be. I want to use my abilities in education and athletics to help people and solve problems. To me, biomedical engineering seems like the best path to accomplish those goals and affect people's lives for the better."

Coach Sullivan: "It's exciting to have Peyton join us. He has untapped potential and will undoubtedly develop into an outstanding SEC decathlete."
--

Rasheeme Griffith
Bridgetown, Barbados (Harrison College Secondary School)
Field of Study: Biochemistry
Event: Sprints
PRs:
400m Hurdles – 50.75
400m – 47.98

Notables:
• 2018 Barbados Junior National Champ in the 400m hurdles
• 2017 U18 CARIFTA Games Champ in the 400m hurdles
• Competed at the 2018 IAAF World U20 Championships, reaching the semifinals in the 400m hurdles (51.02)
• Also plays soccer and cricket

Griffith: "I see great promise in the coaching staff. Also the academic programs are second-to-none."

Coach Sullivan: "Rasheeme is a great pickup for us. The CARIFTA Games champion in the 400 hurdles, he has great upside and potential for an amazing collegiate career. He can provide great relay legs for us as well."
--

Brayden Hamblen
Rock Falls, Ill. (Rock Falls High School/Illinois)
Field of Study: Kinesiology
Event: Distance
PRs:
800m - 1:58.85
Mile - 4:08
3000m - 8:20

Notables:
• Mid-year transfer from the University of Illinois
• 2017 IHSA Class 1A 3200m State Champion
• 2016 IHSA Class 1A Cross Country State Champion
• New Balance Nationals 2,000m steeplechase - 9^th place
• 2016 IHSA Class 1A 800m State Runner-Up

Hamblen: "It was apparent that this program was everything I had hoped for in a team. The team atmosphere is incredible at Tennessee. There's a collective goal to do damage at the highest level and each person within this program is fully invested. To add to that, the coaching staff does everything in their power to set us up for the best chance at success, as well as always making sure us athletes are at our happiest and that means everything."

Coach Sullivan: "Brayden is here, already in classes and training with our distance corps. Brayden's family has moved to the great state of Tennessee, so he joined us from Illinois. Thrilled with his potential, and excited that he brings more depth to our distance group."
--

Kameron Helmlinger
Mechanicsville, Va. (Atlee High School)
Field of Study: Business Management
Event: Middle Distance/Distance/Cross Country
PRs:
800m – 1:53.00
1600m – 4:20.45
3200m – 9:33.87

Notables:
• 11-time Virginia All-State
• New Balance Nationals SMR Emerging Elites champion
• 2017 Virginia Class 5A 800m runner up
• Four-time Atlee track MVP

Helmlinger: "The chemistry of the team is very strong and everyone in the program is amazing. Great academics and the campus is beautiful."

Coach Sullivan: "I believe Kameron will bring not only some depth to the distance and mid-distance corps, but will also evolve into a productive and successful student-athlete within the UT system."
--

Alex Kay
Ocala, Fla. (Vanguard High School)
Field of Study: Economics
Event: Middle Distance/Cross Country
PRs:
400m – 49.69
800m – 1:52.24
1600m – 4:24.01

Notables:
• Two-time Florida regional champion and three-time district champion
• Two-time Florida All-State
• County 800m record
• Competes for the North Central Florida club, which won the 2016 AAU national club championships

Kay: "I chose Tennessee because of the family atmosphere among the entire team I connected with. It felt like home from day one. I feel like this place has the all the tools to allow me to succeed."

Coach Sullivan: "Thrilled to have Alex become a Tennessee Vol. Outstanding character, outstanding athletic ability. Fun to pull a kid up from Florida to join us. He adds a lot to our middle distance corps."
--

Zach Larkin
Louisville, Ky. (St. Xavier High School)
Field of Study: Sport Management (hopes to go to law school and become a sports agent)
Event: Distance/Cross Country
PRs:
1 mile – 4:22
3200m – 9:19
5000m – 15:21

Notables:
• 3-time Cross Country All-State
• 2016 Nike Cross Country Nationals Qualifier
• 2016, 2018 – New Balance Indoor Nationals Qualifier
• Been a part of three team state championships
• Also a member of the swim team at St. Xavier

Larkin: "I chose to attend University of Tennessee because the school felt like home and the team felt like family."

Coach Sullivan: "Zach is already a very proud Vol. I believe he'll develop into the long distance and cross country events very well for us. He's from the neighboring state of Kentucky, and it's always fun to bring a Kentuckian down to Tennessee."
--

Will Mazur
Waxhaw, N.C. (Weddington High School)
Field of Study: Biological Sciences
Event: Middle Distance/Distance/Cross Country
PRs:
800m – 1:55.84
1600m – 4:19.76
3200m – 9:31.34
5000m – 15:57.5

Notables:
• North Carolina All-State in cross country
• Three-time state champion as part of the 4x800m relay team
• National Honor Society member in math, science, history, English and French
• Volunteered with numerous organizations and worked two years with the Catawba Animal Clinic

Mazur: "I chose to attend the University of Tennessee because of the accomplished coaching staff, the welcoming team, and the beautiful campus."

Coach Sullivan: "Will is a very focused and strong runner. Brings great academics with him, and will definitely fill out our distance corps."
--

Carey McLeod
Kingston, Jamaica (Kingston College/Emporia State)
Field of Study: Architecture
Event: Jumps
PRs:
Long Jump – 7.79m (25-6.75)
Triple Jump – 15.86m (52-0.5)

Notables:
• Jamaican HS Champs Long Jump and Triple Jump Champion
• Gold medalist (long jump) and silver medalist (triple jump) at the 2017 U-20 CARIFTA Games
• Pan American 4x100m silver medalist
• Penn Relays Long Jump Runner-Up
• His PR in the triple jump (15.86m) would rank 7^th in UT program history

McLeod: "It's a great school with great history. The facility is amazing."

Coach Sullivan: "Carey is going to be a great future Vol. He has already lit it up in the Division II ranks, and we are so excited to have him join our bounce squad."
--

Matthew McMillan
Nashville, Tenn. (Brentwood Academy)
Field of Study: Entrepreneurship & Supply Chain Management
Event: Distance/Cross Country
PRs:
Mile – 4:17.58
3200m – 9:18.45
5K (XC) – 15:59.56

Notables:
• 2018 Tennessee state champion in the 1600m and 3200m (plus third place in the 800m)
• 2018 Tennessee state cross country champion in the 5K
• Four-time All-State in XC – 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
• All Mid-state gold team – 2016, 2017
• Two-time member of the National Honor Society

McMillan: "During my visit to UT, I felt like I was at home, and everything felt natural to me. The team was so inviting and welcoming, and truly made an effort to get to know me. The nature of the coaching staff and team was something special that I didn't see anywhere else."

Coach Sullivan: "Matt is one of the best distance dudes from the state of Tennessee. He's just a great guy with a great background and a true love for UT. He'll join the distance corps and fill us out well."
--

Eli Nahom
New Milford, Conn. (New Milford High School)
Field of Study: Engineering
Event: XC/Distance
PRs:
3K - 8:42.60
2K Steeplechase - 6:17.83

Notables:
• 2018 State Open Cross Country Champion
• 3x Class L Cross Country Champion
• 3x SWC Cross Country Champion
• 2018 SWC Indoor 1600m Champion
• 2017/18 SWC Outdoor 3200m Champion
• 2018 Class L Outdoor 3200m Champion

Nahom: "I chose Tennessee because it felt like the best place for me to be challenged athletically and academically to achieve my goals, as well as the close-knit team atmosphere."

Sullivan: "Eli will be a nice addition to our distance corps. He comes to Rocky Top following a great prep career, and both of his parents were outstanding student-athletes at Colorado. We're excited to have him join us from the great state of Connecticut."
--

Anthony Riley
Oklahoma City, Okla. (Westmoore High School)
Field of Study: Business
Event: Jumps
PRs:
Long Jump – 7.64m (25-1)

Notables:
• Two-time Oklahoma state long jump champion
• Class 6A long jump state record holder
• Oklahoma All-State

Riley: "I chose Tennessee because of the amazing family atmosphere and the bond I have built with the coaching staff."

Coach Sullivan: "Anthony is a great addition to our jumps squad. He has the talent to step into the SEC, to get after it there and at the NCAA level."
--

Jonathan Sacoor
Lot, Belgium (Sint-Victor Alsemberg & Olympic Essenbeek Halle)
Field of Study: Sport Management
Event: Sprints
PRs:
200m – 21.26
400m – 45.03

Notables:
• Took gold in the 400m at the 2018 World U20 Championships (45.03)
• Earned bronze in the 4x400m Relay at the 2018 IAAF World Indoor Championships (3:02.51 – national record) and took gold in the event at the European Championships
• Won a 400m Diamond League title in Bruxelles, Belgium in August
• 400m PR would rank third in UT program history and would be a freshman record.

Sacoor: "It is a university with a rich sprinting history. Coach Ken Harden trained the Borleé brothers when they trained in the USA, and I can't wait do the same and learn from an experienced coach like Ken."

Coach Sullivan: "Jonathan is here, well into his classes and his routine here in Knoxville. We're very thrilled he has joined us. As the 2018 Under-20 World Champion and a 45.03 400-meter specialist, I expect that we will be cheering him on and hearing his name a lot as the years progress."
--

Yariel Soto
Centerville, Ohio (Centerville High School)
Field of Study: Sport Management
Event: Decathlon
PRs:
Decathlon – 7,025 points
Long Jump – 7.38m (24-2.75)
Pole Vault – 4.80m (15-9)

Notables:
• Representing Puerto Rico, won the 2018 U20 Pan American Combined Events Cup
• Second place in decathlon at the 2018 New Balance Outdoor Nationals with a personal best 7,025 points
• Four-time Ohio state high school champion

Soto: "I chose to attend University of Tennessee because the school felt like home and the team felt like family."

Coach Sullivan: "Yariel will be a great one for us. Absolutely committed and determined student-athlete. I'm thrilled to have him and Peyton Davis join us as decathletes, because we're on a mission to bring the decathlon back for UT."

University of Tennessee Athletics

Related News

Players Mentioned

Brayden Hamblen

Jonathan Sacoor

Related Videos