Kansas State Director of Track & Field and Cross Country, Travis Geopfert, announced his first recruiting class on Wednesday, November 20. The inaugural group includes 21 student-athletes spanning all event categories, featuring national and state record holders, junior college national champions, and 17 individual state champions, many hailing from Kansas.
“I’m absolutely thrilled with this first wave of signees,” Geopfert said. “It’s an impressive mix of talent across various events, with student-athletes from Kansas, neighboring states, and international stars. This group excels both academically and athletically, embodying the drive for excellence that defines Kansas State.”
Geopfert emphasized the program’s rich history and state-of-the-art facilities, which provide an ideal environment for athletes to thrive on a national and global stage. He also expressed gratitude for the collaborative efforts of the staff, current athletes, and administration in assembling what he considers one of the nation’s top recruiting classes.
“This is a fantastic start, but we’re not done,” Geopfert added. “We’re eager to build on this momentum through December and further establish Kansas State as a premier destination for elite track and field talent.”
A detailed overview of each signee is provided below in alphabetical order.
Reece Ademola, a jumper from Cork, Ireland, will join the Wildcats in January 2025. Representing Leevale Athletic Club, Ademola specializes in the long jump, boasting a personal best of 7.97m (26′ 1.75″). He finished 5th in the U-20 World Athletics Championship in 2022 and holds Irish U-20 and U-23 records. Additionally, he excels in the high jump, with a personal best of 2.10m (6′ 10.75″).
Bree Allen, a distance runner from Prairie View High School in La Cygne, Kansas, is a 13-time state qualifier with six 3A state titles across events from the 800m to the 5000m. As a junior, she won the KSHSAA 3A state championships in the 1600m and 3200m. Her personal bests include 18:22.80 in the 5000m and 10:50.17 in the 3200m.
Dorian Charles, a combined events athlete from Trinidad and Tobago and graduate of Jamaica College, will join in spring 2025. He holds a decathlon best of 6,954 points, a national record, and a U-20 world-leading mark. His standout events include the javelin (66.12m/216′ 11.25″) and 400m hurdles (52.02), earning him qualification for the U-20 World Championship in Lima, Peru.
Tafadzwa Chikomba, a sophomore transfer from Meridian Community College in Mississippi, hails from Zimbabwe and specializes in the long jump. He claimed the 2024 NJCAA Outdoor Championship with a personal best of 8.11m (26′ 7.25″), which would have placed 7th at the 2024 Paris Olympics. He also competes in the triple jump and has a 10.44 100m personal best.
Logan Beckman, a distance runner from Spring Hill High in Kansas, recently won the KSHSAA 5A individual cross-country state title, leading his team to their first-ever championship. Beckman later led Spring Hill to the Nike National Championship. His personal bests include 15:01.2 in the 5000m, 9:22.27 in the 3200m, and 4:20.36 in the 1600m.
Delaney Brinker, a sprinter from Ladue Horton Watkins High School in St. Louis, Missouri, placed second in the 400m at the MSHSAA Class 4 State Championship and finished 7th at the New Balance National Outdoor Championship with a personal best of 54.47. Her other bests are 24.59 in the 200m and 2:13.03 in the 800m.
Reese Brownlee, a junior from Clear Lake High in Iowa, is a three-time IHSAA 3A state champion. She set state meet records in the 400m hurdles (59.83), long jump (5.88m/19′ 3.50″), and 400m (55.56). She also competed at the USATF U-20 Championship, finishing 10th in the 400 hurdles.
Payton Fink, a distance runner from Washburn Rural High School in Topeka, Kansas, placed 5th in the 6A state cross-country championship and has a 5000m best of 17:33.30. She narrowly missed qualifying for the Nike Cross Country Nationals with a 14th-place finish at the Heartland Regional.
Jack Guthridge, a sprinter from Kapaun Mount Carmel High School in Wichita, Kansas, is a two-time 5A state champion in the 200m and 400m. His personal records include 10.40 in the 100m, 21.25 in the 200m, and 47.57 in the 400m.
Trevon Hamer, a transfer from Barton Community College and native of Guyana, is a triple jump specialist. He won both indoor and outdoor national titles at Barton, with a personal best of 15.90m (52′ 2″). Hamer also excels in the long jump (7.47m/24′ 6.25″).
Ricardo Hayles, a thrower from Barton Community College and native of Clarendon, Jamaica, competes in the shot put and discus. His bests include 16.97m (55′ 8.25″) in the shot put and 60.83m (199′ 7″) in the discus, ranking him among the NCAA’s top throwers as a freshman.
Reese Kasper, a sprinter from Niwot, Colorado, won the CHSAA 4A state title in the 300m hurdles with a best of 42.23 seconds and placed 2nd in the 100m hurdles. Her 400m personal best is 56.36, and she placed 10th in the 400 hurdles at the Nike Outdoor Nationals.
Hanna Keltner, a distance runner from Eudora High School in Kansas, is the 2024 KSHSAA 4A state champion in cross country and the 1600m. Her personal bests are 4:58.63 in the 1600m and 18:15.66 in the 5000m.
Vance Krudwig, a middle-distance runner from DeSoto High in Kansas, was the KSHSAA 5A cross-country state runner-up. His bests are 15:20.73 in the 5000m, 4:13.92 in the 1600m, and 1:53.20 in the 800m. He also placed 6th in the 1600m at the Nike Outdoor Nationals.
Chase McMullen, from San Ramon Valley High School in California, is the nephew of Olympian Paul McMullen and son of decathlete Phil McMullen. Primarily a long sprinter, Chase plans to follow his father’s path and compete in combined events.
Taegan Olson, a pole vaulter from Roosevelt High in Colorado, won the CHSAA 4A state title and placed 13th at the Nike Outdoor Nationals. She has a personal best of 3.91m (12′ 10″).
Dylan Plath, a middle-distance runner from Olathe South High in Kansas, was runner-up at the KSHSAA 6A cross-country state championship. He holds personal bests of 15:01.70 in the 5000m, 1:53.18 in the 800m, and 4:12.66 in the 1600m.
Destini Smith, a jumper from Souderton Area High School in Pennsylvania, is a state champion in the triple jump with a best of 12.78m (41′ 11.25″). She also excels in the high jump and long jump.
Camden Vulgamore, from Scott City High in Kansas, is a combined events athlete specializing in the pole vault and 400m. He won the KSHSAA 4A state title in the 400m with a time of 48.07 and plans to compete in the decathlon.
Niomi Wines, a jumper and sprinter from Lubbock-Cooper High School in Texas, won the 2024 Texas 5A state title in the high jump with a clearance of 1.72m (5′ 8″). She also runs the 200m with a personal best of 24.09.
Payton Wurtz, a middle-distance runner from Wabaunsee High School in Kansas, was runner-up in the 2A cross-country state championship and won the 800m state title in track. Her personal bests include 2:16.16 in the 800m and 18:21.90 in the 5000m.
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