Arizona HS track and field 2024 commitment list: Horizon runner to Arkansas

This is a list of Arizona high school track and field 2024 prospects who have committed to college. Keep coming back for updates.

Horizon runner commits to Arkansas

June 6

Scottsdale Horizon senior Donovan Bitticks, one of the state's top distance runners, announced his commitment to compete on the cross-country and track and field teams at Arkansas. Bitticks became the first Arizona athlete since Gilbert's Highland Leo Daschbach in 2019 to win the coveted Desert Twilight in cross-country this past fall and ran 1:52.12 in the 800 meters, 4:09.19 in the 1,600 meters and 9:11.02 in the 3,200 meters on the track.

Bitticks joins one of the top NCAA track and field and cross-country programs in the nation. Arkansas has won 21 national titles in men's indoor track and field and 12 national titles in men's outdoor track and field. In men's cross-country, the school has won 11 national titles.

"It can be a little stressful knowing that I have to match that," Bitticks said about the program's prestige. "I know they have super good coaches there that are going to help push me to be even better. I'm really excited and looking forward to that.

"Freshman me would have not believed this at all. I was forced into cross-country, so I was not really expecting to be good at running. Yet, here I am. This was a huge surprise for me, looking back at it."

The recruitment process picked up for Bitticks after he ran 4:09.19 to finish second in the 1,600 meters at the Arizona Interscholastic Association State Track and Field Championships on May 11. Bitticks, who was admittedly getting worried with the recruiting cycle almost over, sent out messages to different coaches across the country. He soon received a phone call on Mother's Day from Arkansas and an official visit was set up. The decision to commit was easy for Bitticks.

At Arkansas, Bitticks will be testing out some new events on the track — the 1,500 meters and the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Bitticks said the coaches at Arkansas liked his ability to run in events ranging from the 800 meters to the 5,000 meters.

He'll be joining a strong group of distance runners. Arkansas just had two athletes finish in the top 10 in the 10,000 meters at the NCAA Track and Field Championships and the team finished fourth at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in November.

"It's a really solid distance squad," Bitticks said. "I think running with a team like that can for sure help me just improve a lot."

Highland thrower commits to BYU

May 20

Gilbert Highland senior Jea Genet's whirlwind spring continues. After leaving softball and deciding to focus on the javelin for her senior year, Genet quickly became one of the state's top throwers.

Genet threw 142 feet in the very first meet of the season, immediately turning heads. She showed that the throw was no fluke as not only did Genet improve and end up throwing 152-10, but she also won both the AIA Division I and Open state championship in the event. The 152-10 is the No. 4 mark in state history.

Now, she's committed to her dream school, BYU.

"It's been so surreal," Genet said. "There's no better way to put it. It's been the craziest ride I've ever been on."

Genet is the fourth Arizona athlete to join BYU's recruiting 2024 class, with Mesa Red Mountain distance runner Tyler Mathews, Gilbert Campo Verde thrower Brooklyn Montgomery and American Leadership Academy Queen Creek pole vaulter Taylor Searle already committed.

Last year, two athletes, Gilbert Highland pole vaulter Zach Bingham and Queen Creek distance runner Alona Haymore, also signed with BYU. The school is developing a strong recruiting presence in the area.

"I think it's really cool to be able to have people who know where I'm from and know the layout and competition level of my high school," Genet said. "It's great to have people with similar experiences continue with me into college."

At BYU, Genet plans to focus on her signature event, the javelin. She will compete next school year before heading off on an 18-month mission. Genet will rejoin the track and field team after her mission.

Liberty distance runner commits to ASU

May 14

Peoria Liberty senior Ryan Denhof, who was a member of The Republic's 2023 all-state team for cross-country, announced his commitment to ASU. Denhof won the Division I state championship in cross-country this past fall and was named the Arizona Gatorade Cross Country Player of the Year.

In the track season, Denhof recently ran 4:13.65 to finish sixth at the AIA State Track & Field Championships. Denhof joins a strong local recruiting class of distance runners for the Sun Devils, who have already signed Phoenix Northwest Christian's Glenn Thomas and Chandler Seton Catholic Prep's Zachary Albanese on the boy's side. Thomas won the 2022 Division IV state title in cross-country while Albanese won the Division III title in 2023.

After years of running against each other on the high school running circuit, they'll be donning the maroon and gold together as teammates.

"I'm really excited about that," Denhof said. "I've competed against them multiple times and now that they'll be on my team, especially all three of us are cross-country state champions, it makes the team work even better knowing that we have a little bit of confidence there."

Denhof is looking forward to the move to the Big 12 conference, which has an official indoor track and field season unlike the Pac-12. He sees himself as a 1,500-meter and 5,000-meter runner on the track.

"I'm ecstatic," Denhof said. "I know my talents are good enough for the NCAA level. My goal was always Division I. I know that Arizona State is rebuilding, and I can contribute a lot more right now as a freshman. With the Pac-12 being terminated, the Big 12 is going to be a lot more hard. So that's even better competition to challenge myself."

Canyon View hurdler commits to Oregon

April 25

Waddell Canyon View senior Annaleise Taylor, who is ranked No. 2 in the country for the 300-meter hurdles, announced her commitment to Oregon. Taylor follows directly in the footsteps of her coach, Muhammad Oliver, who was a decathlete at Oregon in the 1990s before playing in the NFL.

She’s the second West Valley athlete to commit to Oregon after Goodyear Millennium senior Landen LeBlond did so earlier this school year. Taylor was at Millennium for the first two years of high school before transferring to Canyon View – now they’ll be teammates once again.

They both follow another Arizona-based athlete at Oregon in Phoenix North Canyon alum Jadyn Mays, who is now one of the school’s top sprinters.

Millennium thrower commits to UNLV

April 23

Goodyear Millennium senior Erika Grossman, the No. 1 athlete in Arizona for the shot put, has commited to UNLV for track and field.

Grossman has thrown 43-6.5 feet so far this season. She is only of two athletes in 2024 to have thrown further than 42 feet.

“The coaches there were really awesome, they care about your future more than anything,” Grossman said. “It’s just a really good atmosphere overall.”

As well as the shot put, Grossman will be taking on a new event at the college level: the hammer throw. The event is not contested here in the state at the high school level. In the hammer throw, athletes throw a metal ball that is attached to a grip by a steel wire. The hammer weighs 8.8 pounds.

Who’s already committed so far in 2024

• Vance Nilsson, Gilbert, hurdles: Florida

• Kori Martin, Chandler Hamilton, hurdles: Kentucky

• Tyler Mathews, Mesa Red Mountain, distance: BYU

• Hayden Gorovitz, Phoenix Desert Vista, throws: Nebraska

• Landen LeBlond, Goodyear Millennium, distance: Oregon

• Stacey Onyepunuka, Avondale Agua Fria, sprints: Kentucky

• Sylvan Osman, Lake Havasu, jumps: Arizona

• Lea Spindell, Gilbert Campo Verde, sprints: North Carolina

• Brooklyn Montgomery, Gilbert Campo Verde, throws: BYU

• Kimi Cahoon, Phoenix Country Day School, distance: Air Force

• Taylor Searle, American Leadership Academy Queen Creek, jumps: BYU

• Brooklyn Hanania, Phoenix Desert Vista, distance: Arizona

• Owen Lee, Phoenix Desert Vista, throws: ASU

• Hayden Weaver, Surprise Shadow Ridge, throws: NAU

• Diego Aguirre-Stewart, Goodyear Millennium, sprints: Utah State

• Zachary Ripperdan, Queen Creek, mid-distance: Utah State

• Jadyn Montgomery, Queen Creek, hurdles: NAU

• Glenn Thomas, Phoenix Northwest Christian, distance: ASU

• Ashley Tarasenko, Phoenix Northwest Christian, distance: ASU

• Sara Jones, Gilbert Perry, distance: Boise State

• Julia Russo, Phoenix Xavier Prep, distance: Santa Clara

• Bella Gomez, Phoenix Xavier Prep, distance: Creighton

• Zach Albanese, Chandler Seton Catholic, distance: ASU

• Jezelle Santiago, Phoenix Sandra Day O'Connor, jumps: GCU

• Matthew Hamilton, Mesa Red Mountain, distance: GCU

• M'Tima Hamilton, Mesa Red Mountain, jumps: ASU

• Cole Hagaman, Flagstaff Coconino, hurdles: GCU

• Madelyn Palmer, Peoria Sunrise Mountain, distance: GCU

• Luca Cannizzo, Phoenix Brophy Prep, sprints: GCU

• Otis Knapper, Chandler, sprints: Yale

• Kaleel Galloway, Waddell Canyon View, sprints: NAU

• Oluwatoni Adigun, Gilbert Perry, jumps: NAU

• Brooklyn Grizzell, Waddell Canyon View, sprints/hurdles: NAU

• Kaira Burrage, Phoenix Xavier Prep, hurdles: Cal Poly

• Alexis Ortiz, Chandler Lincoln Prep, distance: Saint Mary's

• LaQuay Jerkins, Paradise Valley Phoenix Country Day School, sprints: Occidental College

• Jocelyn Phillips, Chandler Basha, jumps: Utah Valley University

• Ryley Nelson, Gilbert Christian, distance: Cedarville University

• Jonah Pearson, North Phoenix Prep, distance: University of St. Thomas

• SaRae Kennard, Phoenix Desert Vista, sprints: Manhattan College

• Oliviah Hussey, Phoenix North Canyon, sprints/jumps: Manhattan College

• Jade Reid, Page, distance: Fort Lewis College

• Crewe Resendez, Gilbert Highland, distance: Fort Lewis College

• Gabriel Price, Mesa Desert Ridge, hurdles: Nebraska Wesleyan University

• Kylin Beard, Phoenix North Canyon, hurdles: Shaw University

• Kevin Martin, Mesa Eastmark, distance: The Citadel

• Brayden LeVander, American Leadership Academy West Foothills, distance: Salt Lake Community College

• Catie Case, North Phoenix Prep, distance: Paradise Valley Community College

• Aleksandra Reno, North Phoenix Prep, distance: Paradise Valley Community College

• McKenna Martin, Scottsdale Horizon, distance: Paradise Valley Community College

• Mike Young, Phoenix South Mountain, sprints: Mesa Community College

• Dwight Culpepper, Mesa Mountain View, sprints: Mesa Community College

• Anthony Lopez, Laveen Cesar Chavez, hurdles/jumps: Mesa Community College

• Elijah Bobo, Mesa Red Mountain, sprints: Mesa Community College

• DeAndre Gatlin, Mesa Mountain View, jumps: Mesa Community College

• Danny Warren, Queen Creek, sprints: Mesa Community College

• Erin Mabry, Queen Creek, sprints: Mesa Community College

• Jaiden Meriwether, Chandler Basha, sprints: Mesa Community College

• Jai'Dah Edwards, Phoenix Mountain Pointe, hurdles: Mesa Community College

• Brayden Faris, Gilbert Highland, sprints: Mesa Community College

• Jalen Jackson, Queen Creek, sprints: Mesa Community College

• Israel Clark, Chandler, sprints: Mesa Community College

• Demetrius Malone, Mesa Dobson, hurdles/jumps/sprints: Mesa Community College

• Nkoyo-May Usoro, Laveen Cesar Chavez, sprints: Mesa Community College

• Jaden Laffitte, Tempe McClintock, sprints: Mesa Community College

• Dallas Starke, Phoenix Desert Vista, sprints: Mesa Community College

• James McSwain Jr., Gilbert Williams Field, sprints: Mesa Community College

• Cal Schnepf, Gilbert, distance: Mesa Community College

• Wakiya Puente, Fort Defiance Window Rock, distance (cross-country): Coconino Community College

• Cian Davis, Whiteriver Alchesay, distance (cross-country): Coconino Community College

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona HS track and field 2024 commitment list: Horizon runner to Arkansas