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EDINBURG – University of Texas-Pan American men's and women's track & field head coach Xavier Richardson announced on Friday the signing of 12 student-athletes to National Letters of Intent (NLIs) for the 2013-14 academic year.
  
There are two local student-athletes signing with the Broncs, including incoming freshman jumper/sprinter Esmeralda Sosa (5-2, San Benito High School) and sophomore transfer jumper/sprinter Raquel Martinez (5-3, Mercedes High School/Our Lady of the Lake University).
 
Also joining the women's track & field teams are jumper/sprinter Alysse Crowther (5-2, North Shore Senior High School), jumper Kimberly Kuriata (5-9, Laredo United High School), hurdler/sprinter Jermica Lee (5-7, Klein Oak High School), Dej'Onay Miles (5-6, James Madison High School), jumper Jacinda Sanchez (5-3, Sonora High School) and thrower Cristina Santiago Bravo (5-7, Spain).
 
Joining the men's track & field team are thrower Javier Carretero (5-10, Spain), redshirt junior sprinter James Johnson (Texas State University), junior thrower Trey Taylor (5-9, North Iowa Area Community College) and redshirt freshman sprinter Trevion Williams (6-0, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi).
 
"I'm very excited about this incoming class as a whole," Richardson said. "We are adding some very necessary key elements to both the men's and women's programs that will definitely help us in this our first year in the WAC. I can't wait to see what they add to our returners. It should be a potent mixture and we are looking for a great result come conference championships."
 
Sosa holds the San Benito High School records for the 4x200-meter relay and career individual district wins. She won district titles her first two seasons. Her career-best marks were: 12.20 seconds in the 100-meter dash, 25.87 seconds in the 200-meter dash, 5.36 meters in the long jump and 11.13 meters in the triple jump.
 
"She has had great success in several events and we are glad she will be able to come in and do the same for us," Richardson said.
 
Martinez played soccer as a walk-on at Our Lady of the Lake last season, scoring one goal and earning Dean's List honors during both semesters. While at Mercedes, Martinez qualified for regionals in the high jump all four years, winning the 63-4A High Jump Championship in 2009. She was a regional qualifier in five events as a senior, including the high jump, triple jump, 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and 400-meter dash. Martinez earned 63-4A All-District Honors in 2011. She was part of 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams that earned Valley's Best accolades with times of 49.81 and 1:44.72 respectively.
 
"She is a talented young lady who will be coming back to the track finally and will be a necessary addition to our long-sprint group," Richardson said.
 
A native of Channelview, Crowther earned three letters in track & field, cross country and swimming at North Shore. Her career-best long jump was 5.76 meters and her career-best time in 400-meter dash was 58 seconds. She was a part of District and Area Championships teams.
 
"She is a great young lady who will be able to make an immediate impact in our jumps group and other event areas," Richardson said.
 
A native of Laredo, Kuriata lead United to the district championship as a senior. Her best career mark in the high jump was 1.68 meters.
 
"She is a great hard-working young lady who will come in as a great high jumper with the potential to contribute in other events as well," Richardson said.
 
A native of Spring, Lee was part of a District Championship team at Klein Oak … Her career-best time in the 100-meter hurdles was 15.36 seconds, while her career-best time in the 300-meter hurdles was 44.56 seconds. Her career-best split in the 4x400-meter relay was 56 seconds.
 
"She is another young hurdler that we can add to our developing hurdles group and should be able to make strong impact in her first year," Richardson said.
 
A native of Dallas, Miles was a state qualifier in the 4x400-meter relay (2013), 4x100-meter relay (2012) and 4x200-meter relay (2011). She was the district champion in the 200 and 400-meter dashes in 2011 and 2012 … Miles placed third at the regional qualifying meet in the 4x400-meter relay as a senior. She also earned MVP in track and most outstanding in cross country while getting voted as most athletic and most talented by her classmates as a senior.
 
"She will be able to come in and immediately add depth to our women's sprints group," Richardson said.
 
A native of Sonora, Sanchez was a two-time regional champion in the long jump and sprint relay. She won one regional championship in the 800-meter relay and holds program records for the long jump, 800-meter relay and sprint relay. Sanchez led cross country team to two district championships.
 
"She is a fantastic young lady that we are excited to add to our women's jumps core," Richardson said.
 
A native of Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain, Santiago Bravo helped teams to third place finishes in the Spanish Team Championships in 2013 (A.D. Marathon) and 2012 (Puerto de Alicante). She finished second in the hammer throw in the Under 23 Spanish Championships in 2013 and placed third in the javelin throw in the Under 23 Spanish Championships in 2012 She competed in the javelin from 2009-11 at the Youth Spanish Championships, finishing second in 2010 and third in 2009 and 2011. She also set a regional record for the javelin throw at 46.83 meters.
 
"She will be a big impact thrower for us in two disciplines, and will bring an awesome persona to the throws group," Richardson said.
 
A native of Montijo, Badajoz, Spain, Carretero finished third in the Spanish Championship of Universities in 2012 and second in 2011. He placed third in the Spanish under 20 Championship and International with Spanish Selection in 2011. Carretero came in third in the Spanish under 18 championship and to earn a spot in the IAAF World Youth Championship in 2009.
 
"Javi is a well-needed addition to our throws group. We expect him to come in and make an immediate contribution," Richardson said.
 
A native of Houston, Johnson competed at Texas State the last three seasons. Although he redshirted in 2013, he was an NCAA Championships West Preliminary Round qualifier in 2012 in the 200-meter dash and the 4x100-meter relay, finishing 17^th in the relay and 21^st in the quarterfinals of the 200-meter dash. He also won the Southland Conference Outdoor Championships in the 200-meter dash with a time of 20.61 seconds and the 4x100-meter relay with a time of 40.20 seconds. In total, he won five events during the outdoor season. During the indoor season, Johnson won the Southland Conference Championship in the 200-meter dash with a time of 21.50 seconds.
 
"James will undoubtedly be a great athlete at the conference and national level. We're very excited to have him aboard leading the men's sprints group," Richardson said.
 
A native of Bloomfield, Connecticut, Taylor had a strong junior college career, earning U.S. Citizens All-American status two years in a row after placing seventh in the javelin at outdoor nationals in 2013 and fourth in 2012. He was a Second Team All-Region XI outdoor selection in the discus and javelin throw during his sophomore outdoor season and in the weight throw during his freshman and sophomore indoor season. He was a First Team All-Region XI outdoor selection in the javelin and hammer throws as a freshman. He holds the program records in the weight throw, the hammer throw and the javelin throw.
 
"He is a great, well-rounded athlete and energetic young man who will be able to contribute in several disciplines," Richardson said.
 
A native of Houston, Williams attended Texas A&M-Corpus Christi last season, but did not compete in intercollegiate athletics. While at Village High School, Williams won the city and state championships in the 200-meter and 400-meter dashes in 2010 and 2011. He went undefeated in 400-meter dash during high school career. Williams earned gold medals in 12-of-15 races as a junior.
 
"He is more new blood to add to the men's sprints group and will be a great addition and contributor," Richardson said.