Originally posted by 1972Shocker
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2023-2024 Men's XC and T&F
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It looks like Darius initially signed to play both football and compete in track and field with D-II Missouri S&T in Rolla, Mo.
One of the best athletes to come through Poplar Bluff High School in recent years has decided where he will play at the collegiate level. Three-sport (track and field, football and basketball) standout Darius Graham signed his letter of intent Wednesday to play football and compete in track and field at Missouri S&T in Rolla...
He is actually still listed (at 6-0, 170) on the Missouri S&T 2024 Football roster.
In addition to track and field (HJ, LJ, TJ, etc) and football (WR, FS) he was also a combo guard on that basketball team at Poplar Bluff High School.
You don't see a lot of 6 foot athletes clearing 7-0 foot which tells you something about the athleticism this kid has. I wonder if Coach Rainbolt might have designs on making him a heptathlete/decathlete. That might appeal to an all-round athlete like this young man.Last edited by 1972Shocker; June 28, 2024, 12:23 AM.
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I was thinking about the possibility of Darius Graham as a heptathlete/decathlete at Wichita State.
Hunter Veith, from Cheney, is the gold standard from Shocker multi-event athletes. Hunter ran track and played basketball in high school. He came to Wichita State with experience mostly in the sprints and jumps. To grow into an elite multi-event athlete, he learned to pole vault and master the hurdles. I think Hunter also threw the javelin in high school.
Hunter, who I believe is 6-4, had high school best marks of 6-4 in the high jump, 23-0.5 in the long jump, 46-4.25 in the triple jump, 24.95 in the 200m dash, 2:25.68 in the 800m run and 187-4 in the javelin.
Incoming freshman Darius Graham, a 6 footer from Poplar Bluffs, MO, played football and basketball in high school in addition to track and field. His high school best marks are 7-1 in the high jump, 24-4 in the long jump, 46-7 in the triple jump, 12.02 in the 100m dash and 24.88 in the 200m dash. The challenge for Darius would be to become proficient at the hurdles, pole vault. and 1000/1500 meter runs, javelin and shot put. Hunter had some high school experience in the javelin and the 800m run.
Just saying the possibility is there although that is a very tough gig. But even if Darius decides to stick with the jumps this is an exciting addition to the Shocker Track and Field team.
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Jackson Caldwell Named AAC Male Scholar Athlete of the Year
Jackson Caldwell was named the American Athletic Conference Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year and the Men's Cross Country Scholar-Athlete of the Year, the conference announced Wednesday afternoon.
Caldwell is the second-straight Shocker to be named the AAC Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year, after Brock Rodden (baseball) claimed the honor last year, and is the Shockers' first Cross Country Scholar-Athlete of the Year since Wichita State joined The American in 2017.
The Faculty Athletic Representatives annually select 22 student-athletes (10 males, 12 females), one from each AAC sponsored sport, who receive a post-graduate, post-eligibility financial scholarship of $2,000 and a trophy. Caldwell will receive an additional $2,000 as the overall male scholar-athlete.
Caldwell, an Overland Park, Kan. native, graduated in December after breaking Wichita State's 8,000-meter cross country record at the AAC Championships in Greenville, N.C. to finish 15th and be named all-conference with a time of 23:31.7.
He was named to the Athletic Director's Honor Roll every semester, earning a 4.0 GPA in five of six semesters. Caldwell finished his career with a 52nd-place finish at the NCAA Midwest Regional.
Not a bad resume enhancer as you enter life in the world, especially for a long distance runner who does his work mostly in the shadows.
BTW, Mr. Caldwell earned a Bachelor of Science in Applied Science - Aerospace Engineering degree which certainly qualifies him as a STUDENT-Athlete.Last edited by 1972Shocker; July 10, 2024, 03:22 PM.
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