Men's Track and Field Announces 2021-22 Incoming Class
8/31/2021 12:59:00 PM | Men's Track & Field
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan director of track and field / cross country Kevin Sullivan announced Tuesday (Aug. 31) the full contingent of 10 men who will be joining the Wolverines for the upcoming 2021-22 school year.
Composed of four transfer students and six newcomers from around the world, the class will make an instant impact across the sprinting, distance and throwing events.
Joining the Michigan roster starting this fall are graduate transfers Gabe Piepergerdes (Holy Cross) and Anthony Sommers (Long Beach State); undergraduate transfers Aiden Felty (Duke) and Ryan McCloskey (Clemson); and high school graduates Xander Black, Miles Brown, Lawrence Gilliam, Henry Johnson, Jack Juds and Jacob Koerner.
The talented group hails from around the country and beyond. Johnson (England) and Juds (South Africa) come to Ann Arbor from across the Atlantic, with others hailing from as close to home as Detroit and Novi. Arizona, California, Massachusetts, New Jersey and North Carolina also are represented in the class.
More information about each of the newcomers can be found below. Personal best performances and additional information can be found by clicking through to each student-athlete's bio page.
Xander Black | Distance | Phoenix, Ariz. | Brophy College Prep HS
Two-time AIA Division 1 State Champion in 2021 in the 1,600-meter and 3,200-meter events ... Ranked No. 1 among Arizona high schoolers in 2021 at 3,200 meters, and No. 6 at 1,600 meters ... Won the 2020 AIA State Cross Country Championships ... Finished runner-up at the 2019 state championships
Miles Brown | Distance | Novi, Mich. | Novi HS
Finished runner-up over 800 meters at the 2021 Outdoor Nationals and eighth at 400 meters, in addition to a pair of top-10 relay finishes ... Two-time AAU Junior Olympic Games winner over 800 meters in 2017 and 2019 ... Finished runner-up over 800 meters at the 2021 MHSAA Division 1 State Finals and ran legs of the state-champion 4x800 relay and fourth-place 4x400 relay ... Won the 800-meter title at the 2019 MHSAA Division 1 State Finals and ran on the fourth-place 4x800 relay
Aiden Felty | Throws | Billercia, Mass. | Innovation Academy Charter HS | Duke
Competed in two indoor campaigns for Duke, but did not compete outdoors ... 2019 New Balance Indoor National Champion in the shot put ... Finished ninth in the shot put at the 2018 at New Balance Nationals Outdoors ... Four-time New Balance Nationals competitor ... two-time New England shot put champion and record holder ... three-time Massachusetts shot put state champion and record holder ... two-time Massachusetts discus state champion.
Lawrence Gilliam | Sprints | Detroit, Mich. | University of Detroit Jesuit High School HS
Finished 18th individually over 400 meters at the 2021 Outdoor Nationals to go along with three top-10 relay finishes in the 4x200 (4th), sprint medley relay (seventh) and 4x400 (eighth) ... Finished fourth over 400 meters at the 2021 MHSAA Division 1 Finals.
Henry Johnson | Distance | Houghton-Le Spring, England | Houghton Kepier School HS
Finished eighth in the 2021 European U20 Championships 800 meters final ... Finished runner-up at the 2021 England Athletics U20 Championships at 800 meters ... Won the 2020 England Athletics U20 Championships title in the indoor 1,500 meters ... Won the 2019 England Athletics U17 Championships title in the indoor 1,500 meters ... Ranked No. 38 in the world among U20 athletes at 800 meters for the 2021 outdoor season.
Jack Juds | Sprints | Bryanston, South Africa | St. Davids Marist - Inanda HS
Won the 2020 Central Gauteng Athletics Championships title at 400 meters ... Placed seventh at the 2019 South African U18 Championships over 400 meters ... Finished 2020 ranked No. 4 among U20 South Africa athletes at 400 meters.
Jacob Koerner | Sprints | Waxhaw, N.C. | Cuthbertson HS
Ran legs of four top-five relay teams at the 2021 Outdoor Nationals ... Competed at the 2021 Outdoor Nationals at 100 meters (36th) and 200 meters (29th) ... Finished runner-up at the 2021 NCHSAA 3A Outdoor State Championships at 200 meters ... Ran legs of a pair of 2020 state indoor title-winning 4x200 and 4x400 relays to go along with an individual fourth-place finish at 300 meters.
Ryan McCloskey | Sprints | Flemington, N.J. | Hunterdon Central Regional HS | Clemson
Competed in two indoor campaigns for Clemson, but did not compete outdoors ... Finished 14th over 200 meters at the 2020 ACC Indoor Championships ... Finished 11th at 55 meters indoors at the 2019 NJSIAA Meet of Champions ... Finished ninth at the USATF Region 2 Junior Olympic Championships in 2018.
Gabe Piepergerdes | Sprints/Hurdles | Westfield, Mass. | Westfield HS | Holy Cross
Competed in three outdoor and indoor seasons for the Crusaders, transferring to Michigan as a graduate student ... Qualified for the 2021 NCAA East Preliminary Rounds in the 400-meter hurdles ... Three-time Patriot League scorer in the 400-meter hurdles, finishing second in 2021, fourth in 2019 and fifth in 2018 ... Won the 400-meter hurdles at the 2019 IC4A Outdoor Championships ... Won the 400-meter hurdles at the 2021 NEICAAA Outdoor Championships ... six-time scorer for the Crusaders' 4x400 relay teams at Patriot League championship meets.
Anthony Sommers | Throws | San Diego, Calif. | San Dieguito Academy HS | Long Beach State
Competed in three outdoor seasons and two indoor seasons ... Finished seventh at the 2021 Big West Outdoor Championships in the hammer throw ... Placed third in the discus at the 2015 CIF-San Diego Section Division 2 championships, and was a second-place finisher as a senior in 2016.
