WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Monmouth University's Director of Track and Field and Cross Country, Mike Nelson, has announced the addition of 10 student-athletes who will join the men's track and field program ahead of the 2022 fall semester.
 
"Monmouth University Athletics is entering an exciting new era as we move into the CAA," Nelson said. "The goal for our staff was to bring in a recruiting class that is filled with talented men and women who can help us reach the top of our new conference. We pride ourselves on being a well-balanced program that can score points in every event area. This recruiting class is a great representation of that philosophy. We're very excited to see these new Hawk track & field student-athletes take flight in the CAA!"
 
A.J. Brooks
Freshman
Voorhees, N.J. / Eastern
Jumps/Hurdles
 
Before Monmouth: Competed for coach Jeana (Favat) Ritchie at Eastern Regional High School ... First Team All-Conference as a senior in the long jump and Second Team All-Conference in the triple jump and 110H ... First Team All-Conference as a junor in the 110H ... Three-time winter track Team MVP ... State champion in the 55H ... Two-time spring track Team MVP ... SJTCA All-South Jersey Team for the 110H ... Third Team All-State in the 55H ... Holds Eastern's school record for the shuttle hurdle ... Best times and marks include a 14.19 in the 110H, 7.54 in the 55H, 44 feet and 5.75 inches in the triple jump, and six feet, two inches in the high jump ... Also played football where he was a captain and named to the WJFL Continental Conference All-Star team ... Graduated with honors and selected as one of the NJEA's scholar athletes.
 
Personal: Parents are Kim and Aaron Brooks ... Intends to major in psychology.
 
James Burrus Jr.
Freshman
Moorestown, N.J. / Moorestown
Sprints
 
Before Monmouth: Competed under coach Troy Pappas for Moorestown High School ... All-Conference First Team in the 100m as a senior ... Best times include a 10.58 in the 100m and a 22.61 in the 200m ... Holds the Moorestown school record for the 100m ... NJ Group III Champion as a senior in the 100m, posted the third-fastest 100m time in Burlington County history.
 
Personal: Parents are Tracey and James Burrus ... Intends to major in business.
 
Brad Cantoral
Freshman
Philadelphia, Pa. / Archbishop Ryan
Sprints/Hurdles
 
Before Monmouth: Competed for coach Roger Munsey at Archbishop Ryan High School ... PCL Champion in the 110H and 300H ... PIAA District 12 Champion in the 110H and 300H ... Seven-time member of the All-Catholic First Team ... Earned Rookie of the Year honors as a freshman and MVP honors as a senior ... United States Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Award ... Part of the 4x100m and 4x400m teams that placed first at the PCL Championships ... Holds the Archibishop Ryan school record in the 300H, besting the previous record by eight tenths of a second ... Best times include a 14.9 in the 110H, 38.15 in the 300H, and a 49.2 (unoffical) in the 400H.
 
Personal: Parents are Jennifer and Brad Cantoral ... Intended major is undecided.
 
Connor Clark
Freshman
Middletown, N.J. / Middletown North
Throws
 
Before Monmouth: Competed under coach Randy Kalman at Middletown High School North ... Helped lead team to a sectional championship as a senior ... Best mark in the shot put was a throw of 54 feet, 6.5 inches.
 
Personal: Parents are John and Maryanne Clark ... Intended major is undecided.
 
Thomas Gibbard
Freshman
Emerson, N.J. / Emerson
Jumps/Hurdles
 
Before Monmouth: Competed under head coach Mark Ledgerwood at Emerson High School ... First Team All-Bergen County as a junior in the high jump and as a senior in the 400H ... Best times and marks include a 54.91 in the 400H and a jump of six feet, two inches in the high jump.
 
Personal: Parents are Annette and Timothy Gibbard ... Intends to major in business.
 
Luke Hitchcock
Freshman
Auckland, New Zealand / Macleans College
XC/Middle Distance
 
Before Monmouth: Competed for coaches Nick Codrye and Perry Cunningham at Macleans College ... Took home the silver medal in the 800m and the bronze medal in the 1500m at Nationals in 2021 ... Secured the bronze medal in the 800m at Nationals in 2022 ... Best times include a 1:50.35 in the 800m and a 3:49.58 in the 1500m.
 
Personal: Parents are Jo and Greg Hitchcock ... Intends to major in business.
 
Alexander Kislenko
Freshman
Fair Lawn, N.J. / Fair Lawn
Sprints/Jumps
 
Before Monmouth: Competed for coach George Alexandris at Fair Lawn High School ... Achieved First Team All-League for the 100m, 200m, and long jump as a junior and a senior ... First-Team All-County for the 200m as a senior ... All-State in the long jump during winter track ... All-State in the 100m and 200m during spring track, taking 4th in both events at the state Meet of Champions ... Holds Fair Lawn school records for the 55m, 100m, and 200m ... Best times and marks include a 6.63 in the 55m, 10.74 in the 100m, 21.97 in the 200m, and 21 feet, 10 inches in the long jump.

Personal: Parents are Yana and Sergey Kislenko ... Also has a sister, Valerie ... Intended major is undecided.
 
Trey Maroon
Freshman
Wellesley, Mass. / Wellesley
Hurdles
 
Before Monmouth: Competed for coach James Everhart at Wellesley High School ... Named a Bay State All Star as a senior ... Helped lead team to a Bay State Championship in 2019-20 and a state championship in 2020 ... Best times include a 7.8 in the 55H and a 15.00 in the 110H.
 
Personal: Parents are Blake and AJ Maroon ... Intends to major in biology.
 
Ryan Tarapchak
Freshman
Langhorne, Pa. / Neshaminy
XC/Long Distance
 
Before Monmouth: Competed for Neshaminy High School under head coach Shawn DeLosAngeles ... First Team All-SOL in track and cross country as a junior and senior ... First Team All-District in track and cross country as a senior, Second Team All-State in cross country as a senior ... Holds the Neshaminy school record in the 1600m with a time of 4:14.22, which was set at the 2022 PIAA Track and Field State Championships ... Placed first at the 2020 and 2021 SOL Cross Country Championships ... Won the 1600m and 3200m at the 2022 SOL Outdoor Track and Field Championships ... Best times include a 1:54.9 in the 800m, 4:14.22 in the 1600m, and 15:44 in the 5K (XC) ... Member of the National Honors Society ... Graduated in the top five percent of his class ... Earned the Kiwanis Scholar Athlete Award which is given annually to the top two scholar athletes in the area who have maintained a high GPA while showcasing a high level of athletic ability in their sport.
 
Personal: Parents are Mike and Janine Tarapchak ... Intends to major in business administration with a concentration in finance and economics.
 
Rondé Washington
Freshman
Schwenksville, Pa. / Perkiomen Valley
Throws
 
Before Monmouth: Competed for coach Joseph Petsko at Perkiomen Valley High School ... Earned Athlete of the Year honors ... Named First Team All-Conference as a senior ... Also earned All-State and All-Area accolades ... Holds the school record in the shot put ... Best marks include a throw of 60 feet, six inches in the shot put and 142 feet, three inches in the discus.
 
Personal: Intended major is undecided.