MIAMI (Dec. 3, 2015) – FIU Head Coach
Ryan Heberling announced on Thursday the signing of eight additions to the women's track and field program, and one addition to the men's program. Shanika Dessein (Maplewood, N.J.), Destiny Fowler (Jacksonville, Fla.), Terneka Gibson (Miami, Fla.), Rahel Gabretsadik (Tel Aviv, Isreal), Timberly Molden (Stone Mountain, Ga.), Gabby Rains (Sherwood Park, Canada), Reide Ryans (Bradenton, Fla.), Janae Taplin (Winter Garden, Fla.), and Andrew Samuels (Brampton, Canada) have all signed to compete for the Panthers beginning in the fall of 2016.
Dessein comes to FIU after competing for ASA College in New Jersey. Specialized in mid-distance, she holds a PR of 56.58 in the 400m, 2:09.63 in the 800m. and 4:51.43 in the 1500m.
"Shanika is a very talented young woman with a great attitude and an infectious smile," said Heberling. "She'll bring a great mid-distance presence to the program and will help Coach Felix build what he is working to establish with his quarter and half milers. She should be an instant contributor on and off the track."
Folwer, a Florida native, comes to FIU after competing for Atlantic Coast High School. A sprinter, Folwer currently holds a 12.01 PR in the 100m, and a 24.53 in the 200m.
"Destiny comes from a soccer background and is still very new to the sport of track and field, and sprinting," Heberling said. "I believe she is primed to have an amazing senior year and I'm so happy that she'll be a Panther. She's a big time sprinter who has 100-200 range. She has set some lofty goals for her senior year, and I 100 percent believe she'll achieve them."
Gibson will enter FIU after her scholastic career at Miami Carol City High School is complete. Gibson holds a PR of 55.71 in the 400m, 2:19.32 in the 800m, and 5'6 in the high jump.
"Terneka is another addition to the mid-distance group who also has great ability in the high jump," said Heberling. "She possesses the range and unique talent set that our program needs to get to the next level. Also, she could not be more excited about becoming a Panther! She has the passion and excitement about FIU that I get pumped up about."
Gabretsadik, one of three international track and field recruits, comes to FIU from Campus Bialik Rogosin School in Israel. Gabretsadik currently holds a PR of 2:12.99 in the 800m and 4:38.62 in the 1500m.
"We first made contact with Rahel back in August and I truly believe we have signed a true miler," Heberling says. "We have not had someone with a great presence in the mile since Paola Reategui. In addition to great talent on the track and on the course, Rahel also possess an amazing and unique story. She has worked so hard to get here and she could not be more excited to begin writing her story at FIU."
Molden comes to FIU from Stephenson High School in Stone Mountain, Ga. Molden holds a PR of 43'1.5" in shot put, 131'11" in discus, and 109'10" in javelin.
"Timberly meshed so well and fit right in with the lady throwers on her visit," Heberling said. "She was the shot put and discus state champion of Georgia her junior year. This year she has her eye set on repeating as champ and she has the potential to possess the best shot put of an incoming thrower in the history of FIU. It's also nice that she has a decent javelin mark as well. As the program continues to improve, it opens up the opportunity for us to sign the best athletes in other states, and Timberly coming to FIU is a sure sign that we're getting there."
Rains, one of two Canadian recruits for the upcoming 2016-17 season, currently competes for Bev Facey High School in Sherwood Park, Alberta. Rains holds a current PR of 45'11" in shot put and 152'1" in discus.
"Gabby is an amazing young woman who also possess the talent to make an immediate impact at FIU," said Heberling. "She is currently ranked as the No. 1 discus thrower in Canada for juniors. She represented Canada at the IAAF World Youth Championships and has her eye set on going back this summer for the IAAF World Junior Championships. She also possess the furthest discus throw of an incoming athlete we've ever had. I'm excited to work with Gabby and help her reach her goals. I also believe she'll be a great hammer/weight thrower once she picks it up come fall."
Ryans, another Florida native comes to FIU from Lakewood Ranch High School in Bradenton, Fla. She currently holds a PR of 14.05 in the 100m hurdles and 46.90 in the 300m hurdles.
"Reide is a wonderful, bright young woman who I am thrilled about adding to the program," Heberling said. "She has great height and guild and an even better attitude. She has many connections to the program as she was high school teammates with Hunter and
Josh Napier (whom currently compete for the FIU men's track and field program) and Coach Myrick has a very good relationship with her coach and father as well. FIU is the perfect fit for Reide, and I believe that after some time with Coach Myrick she will be competing for conference accolades and NCAA qualifications."
Taplin, the fourth Florida native, comes to FIU from West Orange High School in Winter Garden, Fla. She currently holds a PR of 37'2" in shot put and 111'7" in discus.
"Janae is an exciting addition to the lady throws program," Heberling said. "She has put up respectable marks and has made her way to the state championship, but is still extremely raw when it comes to her technique in her throws. She possess amazing weight room strength, and once her technique gets a little fine tuning, she'll be competing for conference titles. She is also very dedicated to her studies and could also qualify for the honors college at FIU. I expect her to be a top-notch weight thrower her freshman year."
Samuels, the third international and only male recruit, currently competes for Coffeyville Community College in Brampton, Ontario. He possesses a PR of 6'7.25" in the high jump.
"Andrew is our lone male early signee, but that shouldn't take away from what he brings to the program," said Heberling. "He will help pick up the slack by the graduation of
Chris Sullivan, and will be teamed up with
Christian Williams to give us a great one-two punch in the high jump for years to come. He also has one of the best and most positive attitudes I've ever been around. He's somebody you want on your team and I can't wait for him to get down."
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About FIU Athletics: FIU Athletics is home to more than 400 student-athletes in 18 different sports. Athletic events are played in seven different venues on FIU's campuses (Modesto A. Maidique and Biscayne Bay), including FIU Arena and at the FIU Football Stadium.
About FIU: Florida International University is recognized as a Carnegie engaged university. Its colleges and schools offer more than 180 bachelor¹s, master¹s and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations, architecture, law and medicine. As one of South Florida's anchor institutions, FIU is Worlds Ahead in its local and global engagement, finding solutions to the most challenging problems of our time. FIU emphasizes research as a major component of its mission. FIU has awarded 200,000 degrees and enrolls 50,000 students in two campuses and three centers including FIU Downtown on Brickell and the Miami Beach Urban Studios. FIU is a member of Conference USA and has 400 student-athletes participating in 18 sports. For more information about FIU, visit http://www.fiu.edu/.
