Wake Forest Athletics
Track and Field Inks Three for 2016-17
12/10/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track and Field
Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeTrack)
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest director of track and field and cross country John Millar announced the signing of three student-athletes to National Letters of Intent Thursday. Jessica Molina, Ariel Keklak and Jackie Barnes are set to join the Wake Forest track and field program for the 2016-17 season.
Coming to Winston-Salem from Westwood Regional High School in Westwood, N.J., Molina's events include the shot put, hammer and discus. A member of the three-time state sectional champion and two-time state group champion Cardinals, Molina is a First Team All-North Jersey honoree and became a First Team All-American with a sixth-place finish at the New Balance Nationals.
"Jess Molina is going to be a great addition to our ever-improving throws group," said assistant coach Zeb Sion, who oversees throws and strength training. "She has the ability and potential to help us in multiple events and gives us a serious female presence in the shot put, especially."
Molina owns the Bergen County record in shot put and was last season's North Jersey Indoor Field Athlete of the Year. Her indoor shot put personal record of 48-10.00 last year ranked her fourth nationally according to DyeStat. Molina also placed third at the 2015 World Youth Trials with the 3k shot put with a throw that ranked her 14th in the world.
"Jess has the attitude and desire to be a great thrower at Wake Forest," said Sion. "I am thrilled to welcome her to the family and can't wait to work with her next year."
A native of Port Royal, S.C., Barnes competes in the pole vault for Beaufort High School. She has earned varsity letters in each year she has competed for the Eagles and was the South Carolina state champion in her event in both 2014 and 2015.
"Jackie Barnes is an exciting addition to the Wake Forest family," said Tim Sullivan, assistant coach in charge of vertical jumps. "She is a very talented pole vaulter that will contribute to our program at the highest level."
Barnes, a member of the National Honor Society, has added to all-area and Beaufort Gazette All-Area Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year accolades by picking up USATF All-American honors.
"Jackie brings with her the values and determination that every coach looks for in a great athlete," Sullivan added. "I look forward to working with her to achieve extraordinary things as a Demon Deacon."
Also an honor student, Keklak of Sudbury, Mass. has had a decorated career for Lincoln Sudbury Regional High School. In 2015, she was the New Balance Outdoor National runner up in the mile, the Massachusetts Indoor Division I state champion in the 1000m and the state outdoor champion in the mile. Outside of her runner-up finish at Nationals in which she won her heat, she won every mile race she entered this year.
"We are thrilled to welcome Ariel Keklak to Wake Forest University," said Wake Forest cross country and distance coach Brad Hunt. "Ariel is a fantastic fit for our budding distance program and nationally-ranked institution. Her athletic achievements are only eclipsed by her remarkable academic success."
Keklak has also had an incredible high school cross country career, earning a second-place finish at the state Division II meet in 2015 after winning the race as a junior in 2014. A week after this year's Division II meet, she went on to win Massachusetts' all-state meet, leading the Warriors to a runner-up finish as a team. Following an 11th-place finish at the Northeast Regional Championships in 2014, she placed seventh this year and earned a spot in this Saturday's Foot Locker National Finals in San Diego, Calif.
"Ariel will make an instant impact in cross country as well as on the track as she continues to build upon her impressive resume at Lincoln Sudbury Regional High School," said Hunt. "Her coach, Henry Phelan, has done a masterful job guiding Ariel throughout her high school career, setting her up for continued improvement and success at the next level."
