Track & Field Adds Seven Student-Athletes
CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Oregon State women’s track and field team added seven student-athletes to its roster for the 2015-16 season, head coach Kelly Sullivan announced Monday.
The newest additions include Devin Collins, Kindel Bailey, Gillette Field, Riley Ford, Kaely Gordon, Rachel Johnson and Juliana Mount.
“As a staff and program we are really excited to add seven more outstanding student-athletes to our current program,” Sullivan said. “Each of them brings a lot of talent, athleticism, leadership and proven success in both the classroom and in our sport of track and field. We return the majority of our current team for next year and with that in mind we looked across the event areas and feel like with these seven they fit incredibly well.”
Devin Collins -- El Cajon, Calif. (Granite Hills HS)
Personal Bests: 100m Hurdles - 13.59w; 13.83, 400m Hurdles - 59.87
A transfer from Sacramento State University, Collins will be a junior next season. She advanced to the NCAA West Preliminary in the 400 meter hurdles and finished fifth at the Big Sky Championship in the 100 meter hurdles in 2014 with the Hornets.
Collins chose Oregon State “due to the vast academic program, Pac-12 Conference and the new track program.” Her summer plans include training and going to summer school. Her brother is Oregon State freshman quarterback Seth Collins. She plans to major in law and social theory.
Kindel Bailey -- Banks, Ore. (Banks HS)
Personal Bests: Javelin - 145-3
Bailey finished first in the javelin at the Oregon State Championships this past season and holds the Cowapa League and Banks High School record with a throw of 145’-3”. She was named the Oregonian Athlete of the Week in 2013. Bailey also played softball and helped the team finish first in 2013, third in 2014 and second in 2015.
She chose Oregon State because “I will have the opportunity to throw javelin and help to rebuild OSU’s track program. I also have been trained by my grandfather from a young age to root for the Beavers!” Bailey plans to work with her father this summer building residential homes and hopefully find a job shadow or internship in a healthcare related industry. She intends to major in microbiology.
Gillette Field -- Granite Bay, Calif. (Granite Bay HS)
Personal Bests: Pole Vault - 12-4
Field was named the Most Valuable Performer at Granite Bay High School and chose Oregon State because “I've always known I wanted to go to Oregon for college so naturally that's where I began my college search. After several college tours I finally made it to OSU and had the best experience touring the campus and meeting the PV team. When it came down to making a decision it was easy. OSU has amazing programs designed to help their student-athletes with school, which was really important to me. I also learned about the great track program and I knew I'd fit in well.”
This summer Field plans to travel to Europe with her dad, go camping at Lake Tahoe and attend a few pole vaulting meetings. She intends to major in biology.
Riley Ford -- Portland, Ore. (Central Catholic HS)
Personal Bests: 100m Hurdles - 14.59; 300m Hurdles - 44.85; 100m - 12.54; 200m - 25.71; 400m - 57.87
Ford was the 6A 100 meter hurdles and 4x400 meter relay state champion in 2015, which helped her be named First Team All-State. In 2014 she helped lead Central Catholic to the state championship when she was on the winning 4x400 relay.
She chose Oregon State because “every single time I visited during the summer it felt like a second home. I felt I was meant to be there and I feel like I can make a difference in the school. Also having the opportunity to run at OSU is something I could never pass up.” She is doing an internship at Nike this summer and also has plans to visit New York and Santa Barbara. Her intended major is communication and sports marketing.
Kaely Gordon -- Bend, Ore. (Summit HS)
Personal Bests: 800m - 2:16.52; 1500m - 4:41.91; 3000m - 10:34.80; 5000m (XC) - 18:27.40
Gordon was a four-year letterwinner in track and cross country and helped Summit High School win the state championship all four years. She finished first at state in the 800 as a senior and first in the 4x400 as a junior and senior. She also played basketball and volleyball. Gordon placed 4th her junior year and 5th her senior in the state cross country championships and helped lead her team to a state titles both years.
She chose Oregon State because of the “great engineering program and I could run on a team with a great program and coaches.” Gordon plans to camp and travel with her family this summer. Her intended major is engineering.
Rachel Johnson -- Moraga, Calif. (Campolindo HS)
Personal Bests: 800m - 2:23; 1600m - 5:10; 3200m - 11:07
Johnson was named the team’s Most Valuable Performer in 2012 and helped Campolindo High School win the state championship in 2013 and finish second in 2014.
She chose Oregon State because “it is an awesome school with a beautiful campus and has the major I am interested in. The team is great and seems really fun. Also, my parents are alumni and we love the Beavers.” She plans to help her family move to Redding, Calif., this summer and hang out at the beach. Her intended major is nutrition.
Juliana Mount -- San Jose, Calif. (Notre Dame HS)
Personal Bests: 800m - 2:09.55; 300m Hurdles - 44.20; 400m Hurdles - 61.74
Mount was named Most Valuable Performer and selected Most Inspirational by her teammates at Notre Dame High School where she was First Team All League in 2015. She finished sixth at the state championships in the 800 as a junior and was a state qualifier in the 800 as a senior. Mount ran cross country her senior year for the first time and placed 17th overall at state. She also played soccer all four years in high school.
She chose Oregon State because it “is known for their great athletic programs. When I met Coach Sullivan and the team, I knew OSU was the place for me. I could see the close connection each teammate had with each other and Coach Sullivan. It’s a community I wanted to be a part of. Since I am going in as undecided, I like that OSU had such a variety of majors so I could explore what I am really passionate about. OSU has so many opportunities and I am excited to continue discovering more about myself in a safe and uplifting environment.” She plans to camp at Olympic National Park and backpack in Tahoe this summer.
