Fresno State Athletics
Track and Field Signs Four New Bulldogs
4/5/2011 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
April 5, 2011
FRESNO, Calif. - Head coach Scott Winsor and the Fresno State track and field team announced the signing of National Letters of Intent for the 2011-12 season. Kelli Boyd, Lyndsie Etherton, Devin Harrison and Je'Nia Sears will join the Bulldogs in 2011-12 for the fourth year under head coach Winsor.
Kelli Boyd is currently a senior student-athlete at King High School in Riverside, Calif. where she has excelled in both the high jump and triple jump.
"She will be an immediate help in both the high jump and triple jump," said Winsor. "Adding quality and depth to both events should help us pick-up much needed points at the conference level. Kelli is an outstanding young lady and we're excited that she will be joining our program in the fall."
Currently competing in her senior season Boyd is the elected team captain and looking to top her previous three years of accomplishment. At this time she is ranked fifth in the State in the high jump event.
As a freshmen Boyd was elected rookie of the year. In her sophomore and junior years she was considered the most outstanding field event performer. She has been an Ivy and Big 8 League Champion in both jumping events each of the past two years (2009 and 10). In 2009 she placed in the CIF Finals, and in 2010 placed in the CIF Masters Meet. Her personal bests are 5-6 in the high jump, and 38-3 in the triple jump.
Lyndsie Etherton is one of two local talents signing National Letters of Intent to join Fresno State. Etherton is a senior at Bullard High School who performs highly on and off the field, surely to compliment the Bulldog track and field team.
"We're really excited to add Lyndsie to our cross country and track programs," said head cross country coach and assistant track and field coach Sean McManus. "She is a very tough and gutsy runner with a tremendous work ethic and she isn't afraid to race aggressively.
"I expect her to make an immediate impact in our top 7 next fall," continued McManus, "and be a factor to score at the WAC track championships as well. Lyndsie is also a superb student and demonstrates the blend of academic and athletic success that our coaching staff demands."
Etherton was the 2010 Central Section Champion in the 3,200-meter distance race and went on to place 14th at the State Championships, competing most of that race with just one shoe demonstrating her toughness and aggressive mentality.
She lists her personal bests as 5:10.27 in the 1,600-meter and clocking a 10:48.77 in the 3,200-meter. She crossed the finish line in her personal best cross country 5,000-meter race at 18:10.
Devin Harrison is one of the fastest sprinters in the state of California and holds multiple high school records and will look to come with a bang to Fresno State.
"Devin will be an immediate impact for our program," said Winsor. "He has tremendous ability and work ethic. With focus and determination Devon should be able to transition into the next level with little problem. We are excited that he'll be joining us in the fall."
Harrison is currently tied as the fastest 200-meter sprinter in California with a time of 21.54. His current fastest time in the 400-meter race is 47.94 that ranks in the top five in the state. In both sprint races he was the South Coast League Champion in 2010.
He is also a top contributor to the relays and has been a part of multiple school record breaking teams.
The recently signed Bulldog is also a top performer in the long jump. He won the event at the Nike Track National in the summer of 2010 with a jump of 23-6, placed third in the state his junior season with a marked jump of 23-8 and currently hold the record for long jump at his school with a personal best of 24-1.
Further in the long jump he was the South Coach League Champion in 2008, 09 and 10 and is competing to win his fourth and final senior season.
Je'Nia Sears is one of the top athletes in the Central Valley and the second of two to sign National Letter of Intent to Fresno State. Sears attends Edison High School where she participated on the volleyball team and is in her senior season of track and field.
"Je'Nia will be an immediate contributor for the women's team at the conference level and has the potential to be a national caliber jumper," said assistant coach Chris Baptista. "Her speed will also provide depth in the sprints and the relays."
After her junior season, Sear was ranked 19th in the U.S. in the long jump event with a best mark of 19-3. That season she also ran a personal best of 12.22 in the 100-meter dash and was named the team captain.
Sears was a competitor on the Edison HS 4x100-meter relay team at the California State Track and Field Championships in both 2008 and 2009.
She also competed on the volleyball court and in the fall her team was the Division II Central Section Girls Champions. Her freshman year of volleyball she was named MVP of her team and also earned most inspiration honors on her basketball team that same year.
"We Are Your Team!" - The Fresno State track and field team travels to the Mondo Invitational in Sacramento April 9th. They return to Fresno at the end of the month to host the Bulldog Invitational at Buchanan High Schools Veterans Memorial Stadium. Admission will be free so come out and cheer on your Dogs.
