* Westerville Central's Justin Braun signed with Southern California on Friday
Photo Credit: Ohio MileSplit
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The National Letter of Intent period is officially open, and we've had some truly big-time signings over the last few days.
Sprinters, throwers, distance runners, they've been signing with their colleges of choice since Nov. 10, though in the last several days we've seen some powerhouse recruits get locked down.
Below are the top seven signings since the Nov. 10 signing date.
Related Links:
MileSplit50: The Class of 2022's Top 50 Ranked Men's Recruits
MileSplit50: The Class of 2022's Top 50 Ranked Women's Recruits
7. Zane Forist, Carson City-Crystal
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Class of 2022 Recruiting Rank: 19
Signed: University of Michigan
Date: Nov. 14
One of the country's top throwers returning to the 2022 season, Forist owns personal best marks of 205-1 in the discus and64-7.25 in the shot put. He won national titles in both of those events back in June at Outdoor Nationals. This past spring he produced three throws in the shot put over 64 feet. He was over 200 feet in the discus four times, too.
6. Shamali Whittle, Hamilton North (NJ)
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Class of 2022 Recruiting Rank: No. 29
Signed: University of Georgia
Date: Nov. 13
Whittle broke through in a tremendous way outdoors in 2021, clocking times of 10.48 in the 100m and 20.75 in the 200m. He won NJSIAA State Meet wins in both events and would go on to finish fourth at The Outdoor Nationals in the 200m. He's also clocked a time of 49.22 in the 400m and has gone an elite-level performance of 13.86 in the 110mH. Whittle is a combo-recruit whose true focus may be the hurdles. But at the collegiate level, he has relays-type versatility, too.
5. Jayson Ward, L.C. Bird (VA)
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Class of 2022 Recruiting Rank: No. 5
Signed: University of South Carolina
Date: Nov. 11
A ridiculously versatile recruit with long-term experience both indoors and outdoors, Ward will be an asset for the Gamecocks right away. Indoors, he owns personal best times of 21.98 in the 200m, 34.11 in the 300m, 47.89 in the 400m and 1:02.92 in the 500m. Outdoors, he's gone 10.93 in the 100m, 21.31 in the 200m, 47.20 in the 400m and even 2:03.59 in the 800m. Sure, his versatility is what's made him such a coveted recruit. But let's flip that on its head. Perhaps with some honing in on a preferred event, Ward could offer even more at the collegiate level, maybe even at the NCAA Championship level.
4. Lauren Tolbert, Highland Tech (NC)
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Class of 2022 Recruiting Rank: Honorable Mention
Signed: Duke University
Date: Nov. 13
A mid-distance talent, Tolbert owns personal bests of 25.07 in the 200m, 54.30 in the 400m and 2:07.77 in the 800m. This spring, she won an AAU Junior Olympic Games title in the 800m in 2:10.27. She owns six 800m performances under 2:14.
3. Tamaal Myers, Detroit Cass Tech (MI)
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Class of 2022 Recruiting Rank: No. 27
Signed: University of Southern California
Date: Nov. 14
An electric high and long hurdlers, Myers has that special combination of speed and endurance. He's the top returning 400mH hurdler in the country, with a personal best of 51.46 from the AAU Junior Olympic Games. He's also dropped a personal best of 13.93 in the 110mH and has gone 21.98 in the 200m and 49.37 in the 400m.
2. Ramiah Elliott, North Central (IN)
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Class of 2022 Recruiting Rank: No. 8
Signed: University of Florida
Date: Nov. 11
A study since her freshman season for North Central, Elliott dropped her 100m personal best down to 11.78 this past spring at the USATF National Youth Outdoor Championships. It was part of four performances under 12 seconds on the campaign. Ultimately, though, her upside in the 200m and 400m, where she's run wind-legal times of 23.37 and 52.89 are what make her special from a foundational point of view. With the right training, Elliott could be an NCAA Championship-level athlete in Gainesville.
1. Justin Braun, Westerville Central (OH)
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Class of 2022 Recruiting Rank: No. 3
Signed: University of Southern California
Date: Nov. 13
Braun could be a potential difference-maker right away at Southern California. He owns personal best times of 10.47 for 100m, 21.01 in the 200m and 46.14 in the 400m. And those performances were in his junior season. Braun's versatility in the sprints is what makes him so valuable, as he has the potential to run in either the 4x100 or 4x400.