YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Eastern Michigan University men’s track & field and cross country Head Coach John Goodridge announced today, Nov. 18, the addition of three student-athletes to the 2016 class following their signing of National Letters of Intent during the early signing period. Nik Curtiss (Lancaster, Ohio – Lancaster), Tyler Johnson (Dayton, Ohio – Stivers Arts), and Drew Lament (Lakeview, Ohio – Waynesfield-Goshen) will all be joining the Eagles next fall.
“I am very happy to welcome each of these three student-athletes to the EMU track and field family,” remarked Goodridge. “They were identified very early in our recruiting plan and they mutually had a very strong initial interest in us, so we are very happy to have received their commitments at this date.”
Curtiss will join the Eagles as a thrower out of Lancaster High School. As a junior, at the Ohio High School Athletic Association Track and Field Championships, Curtiss took eighth in the shot put with a throw of 58’4.5″ while also taking sixth in the weight throw at 64’7.25″. His personal bests include 58’8.5″ in the shot put, 156’11” in the discus, and 68’5.75″ in the weight throw.
“Coach Manz and I are very excited about Nik’s potential to develop as a versatile collegiate thrower,” said Goodridge.
Hailing from Dayton, Ohio, Johnson comes to EMU as a top sprinter out of Stivers-Arts High School. He was named a double champion at the 2015 USATF Youth National Championships in the 200 and 400 with times of 21.45 and 46.80, respectively. At the 2015 Ohio D2 State Championships, he took fifth in the 100m, was the runner-up in the 200m, and the state champion in the 400m. In 2015, he also took home the state title in the 400m at both the indoor and outdoor championships. He currently holds a personal record of 10.52 in the 100m as well.
“Coach Roberts and I are very excited about having Tyler select Eastern Michigan University,” discussed Goodridge. “Tyler is one of the very best recruits in the nation. He and his family felt immediately at home with our staff, athletes, tradition, and campus educational environment.”
Lament was recruited as a multi-event athlete and will look to compete as a combined events athlete for the Eagles. He earned a silver medal in the Decathlon with 6,148 points at the 2015 USA Youth Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Additionally, he qualified to the Ohio State Championships and the Regional Championships multiple times in multiple events, including the high jump, pole vault, triple jump, and 4x400m relay. Lament also took fifth at the Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches Indoor State Championships in both the high jump and the triple jump. Currently, he holds personal records of 6’7″ in the high jump, 15.11 in the 110m HH, 13’6″ in the pole vault, 141′ in the discus throw, 46′ in the shot put, and 6,148 points in the decathlon.
Goodridge is excited to see Lament continue to grow, stating “Drew has been recruited as a future combined events athlete who shows much promise for development. We are looking forward to seeing how his marks develop his senior year.”
From: http://www.emueagles.com/news/2015/11/18/MTRACK_1118152123.aspx
