T&F Inks Six to National Letters-of-Intent
Nov 20, 2014 | Track & Field
NEW ORLEANS - Six new faces will join the Tulane track and field program for the start of the 2015-16, as Tulane track and field's director, Eric Peterson, has announced his signing class on Thursday.
Peterson and his staff have secured the talents of Jessica Duckett (Houston, Texas), Jordan McClendon (St. Louis, Missouri), Anna "Luisa" Hellriegel (Banzkow, Germany), Rebekah Markel (Lafayette, Louisiana), Rose Brutkiewicz (Mobile, Alabama) and Gabriella Leuthner (Summit, New Jersey) during the fall signing period, as each of the six have sent in signed national letters-of-intent to Tulane. The group will begin competition for the Green Wave for the 2015-16 season.
"I am extremely excited about this class," stated Peterson. "We have added not only really high level athletes with very strong national rankings, but we've added some much needed depth to our team in all of our field event areas and hurdles."
Hellriegel, Markel, Brutkiewicz and Leuthner will join the already deep stable of jumpers at Tulane, coached by Tulane's Doug Fraley.
McClendon will add to the depth of the up-and-coming throws program that has been built over the past few years by Gary England, while Hasani Roseby will work closely with Duckett, who stars as a hurdler.
"I feel like the program is stronger than it has been since I've been coaching here," added Peterson. "This class is a reflection of that, led by Jessica, Jordan and Luisa. Those three have been very successful in their state championship meets, and have also been successful at the national level. I'm proud of my coaching staff for working so hard and doing such a good job of signing such a great class."
Duckett prepped at Cypress Lakes High School and is one of the nation's top hurdlers. During her sophomore season in 2013, Duckett placed sixth in both the 100 meter hurdles and the 300 meter hurdles at the Texas UIL Outdoor State Championships. She owns a personal-best time of 14.11 in the 100 meter hurdles and a top time of 42.56 in the 300 meter hurdles. Her top 400 meter hurdle mark of 59.77 during the 2013 season was the 11th-fastest mark in the nation that year. Additionally, Duckett is an accomplished 800 meter runner having posted a personal-best 2:13 during her freshman season. Duckett did not compete during the 2014 campaign due to an injury.
McLendon is one of the nation's most well-rounded throwers out of John Burroughs High School. McClendon notched Missouri's top hammer throw toss at the USAFT Youth Championship in June with a throw of 46.71 meters (153-3), ranking 22nd in the nation. During the 2014 indoor season, McLendon's 15.36 meter (50-4.75) weight throw was tops in Missouri, as well as 20th in the United States. McLendon also won the 2014 Missouri MSHSAA Outdoor State Championship in the shot put with a throw of 13.33 meters (43-8.75) while placing second in the discus with a throw of 37.85 (140-5). The senior owns personal records of 13.64 meters (44-9.25) in the shot put and a distance of 43.02 meters (141-2) in the discus.
Hellriegel hails from Banzkow, Germany, where she stars at Sportgymnasium Schwerin. The pole vaulter has won three Indoor U16/U18 State Championships in the pole vault as well as capturing the North German Championships in July 2011 with a vault of 3.65 meters (11-11.75) at the regional level. Nationally, Hellriegel won the National Student Championships U16 in Sept. 2011 with a mark of 3.76 meters (12-4) while also placing second at the German Youth Championships Moenchengladbach in July 2012 with a leap of 3.65 meters (11-11.75). She recently placed eighth at the U20 National Championships with a leap of 3.70 meters (12-1.5). Hellriegel's personal-best leap is 3.80 meters (12-5.5).
Markel is a highly-accomplished pole vaulter and triple jumper from Lafayette High School. The Louisiana native placed third in the Louisiana LHSAA Outdoor State Championships in the pole vault this past spring with a personal-best jump of 3.55 meters (11-8). During the 2014 indoor season, Markel won the state championship in the triple jump with a leap of 10.90 meters (35-9.25) while placing second in the pole vault with a jump of 3.45 meters (11-4). Markel owns a personal-best mark of 10.98 meters (36-0.5) in the triple jump.
Brutkiewicz, out of UMS Wright Prep, is one of Alabama's top jumpers. In 2014, the native of Mobile won the Alabama AHSAA Outdoor State Championship in the pole vault with a leap of 3.70 meters (12-1.5). Brutkiewicz also won the 2014 AHSAA Indoor Championship in the pole vault with a jump of 3.69 meters (12-1.25) while also capturing the 2013 AHSAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships in the pole vault. Brutkiewicz has also competed in the long jump and high jump during her high school career.
Leuthner, who prepped at Oak Knoll School of the Holy, has competed in a variety of events during her high school tenure, but will focus on the pole vault at Tulane. The senior owns a personal-best mark of 3.35 meters (11-0) in the pole vault after just having picked up the event this past year. Additionally, Leuthner has competed in the long jump, the triple jump, the javelin, the 100 and 200 meter dash races and the 4 x 100 meter relay. She was a part of the 2014 New Jersey NISIAA Outdoor State Champion 4 x 100 meter team that posted a time of 51.33 this past spring.
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