Baylor Track & Field Adds Six to 2020 Signing Class

Tue Apr 28 15:28:26 CDT 2020

BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – April 28, 2020

Baylor Track & Field Adds Six to 2020 Signing Class
Bears’ women’s group ranks among the top recruiting classes in the country.

For more information contact: Kellen Coleman, 254-749-6507, Kellen_Coleman at baylor.edu<mailto:Kellen_Coleman at baylor.edu>

WACO, Texas – Baylor track & field has added six signees to its 2020 recruiting class to bring the women’s group near the top of the nation, head coach Todd Harbour announced Tuesday.

Kavia Francis, Lily Jacobs, Alex Kubicek, Arria Minor and Ackera Nugent bolster an already solid women’s class, while Ben Conacher adds more depth to the men’s group.

“We are extremely excited to welcome this outstanding group of very talented athletes to join our fall signees,” Harbour said. “Our staff has done an outstanding job finishing the job that was started back in the fall. With our fall signees together with this group, we eagerly anticipate the seasons that lie ahead, especially considering what they have all endured this past season.”

Francis ranks No. 7 in the world in the U20 400 meters with a time of 53.38. She also holds a personal best of 23.58 in the 200 meters. The Sanguinetti, Jamaica, product won every 400-meter race she competed in this season, including clocking in at 53.38 on Feb. 18 at Central Ch., GC Foster College, Spanish Town in Jamaica.

“Kavia is the epitome of what Baylor is,” assistant coach/recruiting coordinator Benjamin Dalton said. “She’s a dedicated student and a great young woman with strong faith. Not only is Kavia in the discussion as the top 400-meter prospect for the 2020 class, she is also a great 200-meter sprinter. Coach (Dave) Anderson at Holmwood Technical is a tremendous coach and an even better human being. He has developed a phenomenal program at Holmwood, and we are very excited about Kavia’s potential.”

Jacobs was the 2019 4A UIL 3,200 meters runner-up and fourth in the 1,600 meters. The Sunnyvale, Texas, native is a two-time UIL Cross Country top-10 performer.

“Lily joins her brother at Baylor and will add some depth to the distance squad,” associate head coach Jon Capron said. “We are excited to add Lily to the cross country and track family, and look forward to her working with our team.”

Kubicek hit the 12-10 mark in the pole vault during the 2020 outdoor season at the Pearland Morriss Relays, a career-best. The Pearland, Texas, native placed eighth at the 2018 Texas UIL 6A State Championships as a sophomore, an event current Baylor pole vaulter Mackenzie Hayward won. Kubicek also reached the 12-9 mark as a sophomore at the 2018 Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays to finish fourth.

“Alex brings intellect and athleticism with big potential that will add more depth to our women’s pole vault crew,” assistant coach Brandon Richards said. “Being a top-5 ranked Texas vaulter, I am excited to build off her high school successes. Alex is an outstanding young lady and a great addition to the Baylor Family.”

Minor comes to Baylor as a transfer from the University of Georgia, where she led the team in the 60 meters and 200 meters as a freshman during the shortened indoor season. The Denver, Colo., product had a decorated high school career, winning 12 Colorado state championships and setting four state records. She was No. 1 in the world in the U18 400 meters in 2018 while ranking No. 1 in the U.S. (No. 4 in the world) in the 200 meters and No. 3 in the country in the 100 meters. Her personal bests are 11.31 in the 100 meters, 22.89 in the 200 meters and 51.92 in the 400 meters.

“I am looking forward to coaching Arria Minor for the next four years,” associate head coach Michael Ford said. “She is a very talented student-athlete and she is a great fit for Baylor University and our track & field program. She will definitely help our sprint group on the relays (4x1 and 4x4) and in the 200 meters and 400 meters, at Big 12s and at Nationals.”

Nugent set the U18 world record in the 100-meter hurdles with a blazing time of 12.89 at the Youngster Goldsmith Classic in 2019. The Kingston, Jamaica, native ranked No. 7 in the world for 2019 in the U18 100-meter rankings with a time of 11.42. She also holds personal bests of 24.13 in the 200 meters and 59.80 in the 400-meter hurdles.

“I could not be more excited that Ackera made the decision to be a Baylor Bear,” Dalton said. “She has a strong support network around her in Jamaica, and I am thankful to all those involved in her life. Athletically, there is no one like Ackera in the world right now that is not already in college. Ackera’s coach, Coach Dougie Williams, has done a tremendous job developing Ackera to the World Under 18 record (12.89). This speaks volumes about him as a coach and the entire staff and program at Excelsior High.”

Conacher has an indoor personal-best pole vault of 16-2 and an outdoor personal best of 16-0. The Katy, Texas, native placed sixth at the 2019 Texas UIL State Championships. He cleared his indoor best of 16-2 during the 2020 indoor season at the MAC Vault Last Chance Texas Relays Qualifier, and hit his outdoor best of 16-0 at the 2020 Strake Jesuit Crusader Relays.

“Ben is a great young man and an outstanding athlete with a perfect pole vaulter build,” Richards said. “As the No. 6-ranked high school vaulter nationally, I believe Ben will quickly be a top competitor in the Big 12 Conference and nationally. He is a great addition to the Baylor family that will bring new talent to the men’s vault crew. I look forward to watching him develop into a great pole vaulter and coaching him as a student-athlete.”

These six athletes join Dillon Bedell, Bria Bullard, Chris Dupree, Gontse Morake, Cierra Wash and Lily Williams to give the Bears a total of 12 (nine women, three men) in the 2020 signing class.

For continued updates on the Class of 2020 and the Baylor Track & Field team, follow the team's social media accounts all year: @BaylorTrack.

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Kellen Coleman | Associate Director of Communications
Department of Athletics | Baylor University
O: 254-710-4049 | C: 254-749-6507

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