DETROIT (8/23/2022) -- The University of Detroit Mercy women's track and field and cross country program was busy at work this past year as the Titans have announced the addition of 10 recruits for the upcoming season.
Joining the Titans will be Jada Clark, Maddie Clark, Kaliyah Favors, McKenzie McNitt, Zoe Morris, Taylor Myers, Gracelyn Peebles, Aranza Ramirez, Ayva Schmalz and Faith Williams with Myers and Schmalz also running cross country
"The Detroit Mercy class of 2026 will really help us build on our great finish in 2022," said
Guy Murray '89, Director of Track & Field/Cross Country. "Our core of veterans flourished in the return to a full season last year but was a small group. This rookie class fills many holes in the line-up with plenty of potential to contribute immediately."
Jada Clark * Jumps/Sprints * Detroit, Mich. * Henry Ford II
- Lettered in basketball and track and field
- A two-time team MVP
- Earned All-Conference First Team in the high jump and Second Team in the 200-meters as a junior and senior
- Part of the school record in the 4x100 and 4x200-meter relay
- A Division 1 state qualifier in the 4x200m in 2022
Maddie Clark * Sprints * Davison, Mich. * Davison
- Lettered in basketball, soccer and track and field
- All-Academic all four years
Kaliyah Favors * Jumps/Sprints * Detroit, Mich. * Lincoln
- A four-year letter winner in track and field
- All-State helping the 4x200-meter relay to fourth place and also competed in the 100-meters at the state finals
- Helped the 4x200 to a regional title and was a medalist in the 100m and 4x100m
Mckenzie McNitt * Sprints * Cleveland, Ohio * Cleveland Heights
- Lettered in basketball, field hockey, tennis and track and field
- Won her league's 400-meters as a junior and was runner-up as a senior
- Part of the third-place 4x400-meter relay at the state championships as a freshman
- Helped her team to a second-place finish in the league in 2021
Zoe Morris * Multi * Shelby Township, Mich. * Dakota
- Lettered in soccer and track and field
- A state qualifier as part of the 4x100-meter relay as a senior
- Also a Division 1 regional champion in the 4x200m and a regional medalist in the high jump, 100-meter hurdles and the 4x100m
Taylor Myers * Distance * Frankfort, Mich. * Frankfort
- Lettered in basketball, softball, cross country and track and field
- Was All-Conference all four years in cross country, including First Team as a senior and Second Team as a junior
- Claimed third place at the cross country regional championship as a junior and helped her team to a regional title in 2018 and 2021
Gracelyn Peebles * Hurdles/Sprints * Hilliard, Ohio * Hilliard Bradley
- Earned varsity letters in soccer and track and field
- Team MVP in track and field in 2020 and 2021
- Holds the school record in the 300-meter hurdles and was sixth in the state in that event, the first individual female athlete to place on the podium in her high school's history
Aranza Ramirez * Hurdles/Sprints * Novi, Mich. * Novi
- Lettered in soccer and track and field
- Registered All-Conference accolades in the 100 and 300-meter hurdles as well as All-Region in the 300-meter hurdles in her first year competing in track and field
Ayva Schmalz * Distance * Indianapolis, Ind. * Decatur Central
- Was a letter winner in swimming, cross country and track and field
- Named the Decatur Central Female Athlete of the Year
- Tabbed All-Conference all four years, All-County twice and was All-Section and All-Region Honorable Mention
- Was a part of the 4x800-meter relay that set a school record
Faith Williams * Throws * Roseville, Mich. * Warren Woods Tower
- Lettered in basketball, cross country and track and field
- Team MVP as a senior
- Won the MAC Silver Division in the shot put and discus as a senior, helping her team to a division championship, and was fourth in the disc and sixth in the shot put as the regionals and eighth in the county in the shot put
- As a junior, she was second in the discus and third in the shot put in her division and fourth in the discus at the regionals
