MCC Track Announces First Two Signees

From School Reports

Meridian Community College, Head Track and Field Coach, Chip Gayden announced Thursday the first two signees of the 2014 recruiting class.  K’lan Harris, of Henry County (GA) High School and Traveon Gayden, of Ocean Springs High School.  These two men are the start of what will be a large recruiting class, as MCC looks to start back the Track and Field Program.

K’lan Harris comes to MCC as one of the top ranked long jumpers in the country.  Out of Henry County High School in Georgia, Harris is ranked #10 nationally in the long jump in the Class of 2014.  As a junior, Harris posted a personal best of 23’10 in the long jump last season.  Coach Gayden was thrilled upon receiving Harris’s paperwork Friday.  “K’lan is one of the best in the country in his event.  For him to come to MCC is tremendous for our program and we expect him to be one of the top jumpers in the nation and contribute at the National Meet.”  Coach Gayden said.

Traveon Gayden arrives at MCC as one of the state’s top 200m runners.  Gayden comes to MCC from Ocean Springs High School.  Gayden comes to MCC after being ranked fifth in the state of Mississippi in the 200m with a personal best of 21.85 his junior year.  Coach Gayden believes Traveon will be an important asset to the sprints group the next two years.

“Traveon is a great all-around athlete.  He is one of the best in Mississippi at the 200m and we think he will be a vital part of our relays as well.  Anytime you get a true athlete like Traveon it is exciting because the sky is the limit,” Coach Gayden said.

Coach Gayden says this is just the start of their 2014 recruiting class.  “We will be announcing several more signees in the next few weeks, and months. Recruiting never stops for us.”  Coach Gayden believes this recruiting class will be one full of great talent and a great way to start to program back, “This class will have a lot of members joining as recruited scholarship athletes as well as recruited walk-on’s that will be able to contribute right away and help build the foundation for our program.” 

The Meridian Community College Track and Field Team will begin competing in the August of 2014 with cross country in the fall.