Long Beach State University Athletics
Talented Jumpers And Multi-Event Athletes Join Beach Track And Field
9/8/2020 10:00:00 AM | Track and Field
Division I transfers and incoming freshmen make up the group.
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Long Beach State Track and Field is excited to announce the addition of a combination of six new student-athletes who will compete in the jumps, decathlon and heptathlon in the first of four groups to be announced this week.
"This special recruiting class represents an outstanding mix of world class, NCAA level, and conference level athletes," said Director of Track and Field Andy Sythe. "These newcomers bring added strength and will help us become an even better program.
"The talent and athleticism of these recruits, combined with the strength of our returnees, brings the opportunity for Long Beach State to be represented well at the top of the Big West podium, the NCAA Championships, and on the international stage in this Olympic year."
Men's Commitments:
Aaron Booth –Junior; Auckland, New Zealand (Kansas State)
Aaron Booth is a tremendously successful multi-event athlete who will conclude his career at Long Beach State after making a graduate transfer from Kansas State. The New Zealand native is the National Record Holder in the Indoor Heptathlon, and was the Gold Medalist in the Decathlon at the 2019 World University Games in Naples. A two-time All-American in both indoor and outdoor, Booth placed 8th overall as a sophomore in the 2019 Indoor Championships and then placed sixth in the 2019 NCAA Outdoor National Championships. Booth then qualified again for the indoor championships in 2020. Booth was also the runner-up at the Big 12 Championships twice in the decathlon as both a freshman and a sophomore. An outstanding student, Booth graduated in three years at Kansas State and was a CoSIDA Academic All-District selection. He will pursue a Master's Degree in Sports Management at the Beach.
Preston Sladek – Freshman; Dutch Flat, Calif. (Colfax HS)
Preston Sladek joins the team as a true freshman after a strong high school record as a pole vaulter. A two-time league champion in the event, he also won the San Joaquin Section Championship in 2018, and reached the CIF State Finals in 2019. He holds the Colfax High School Record in the pole vault, and enters college with a best clearance of 15-7.00. He intends to major in Mechanical Engineering.
Justin Yaskowitz – Freshman, Redondo Beach, Calif. (Redondo Union HS)
Another freshman standout, Justin Yaskowitz will join Booth in competing in the decathlon. Yaskowitz was the Winter State Champion in the indoor pentathlon as a senior, and was the team captain for the Redondo Union team for the last two seasons. He twice competed in the decathlon at the USATF Junior Olympics. Yaskowitz was dominant at the Bay League Championship, winning in the high jump in all three years it was contested during his high school career as well as winning the 2019 Decathlon, ending his career as the Redondo Union record-holder in the event. Yaskowitz will major in International Business.
Women's Commitments:
Imani Carmouche – Junior; Jonesboro, Ga. (South Florida)
Imani Carmouche joins the Beach as a transfer from South Florida. A high jumper who also competed occasionally in the long jump, Carmouche was a two-time state champion in the high jump in Georgia before heading to Tampa, where she found success. With a personal best of 5-8.75 in the high jump, Carmouche placed in the Top 10 at the AAC indoor championships three times and twice at the outdoor championships. As a freshman and sophomore, she qualified for the NCAA Eastern Regionals in the high jump. Carmouche will be majoring in Communications at the Beach.
Crystal Washington – Junior; Carson, Calif. (Eastern Michigan)
Crystal Washington is a Southern California native who competed for two seasons at Eastern Michigan. As a sophomore she finished just off the podium at both the indoor and outdoor MAC championships, taking fourth place in the triple jump. Washington was a highly touted recruit, winning three state championships in the triple jump while representing Carson High School. She intends to major in Sociology.
Hailey Fune – Freshman; Chico, Calif. (Chico HS)
A freshman from Chico High School, Fune was recruited as a heptathlete and will be transitioning to a multi-event platform after primarily competing in the hurdles in high school. Competing at the 2019 CIF State Championship as a junior, she placed 12th in the 100m hurdles, and was named the league Athlete of the Year. Her best time of 14.58 in the 100m hurdles is the CIF Northern Section Record. Fune's intended major will be Kinesiology.
"This special recruiting class represents an outstanding mix of world class, NCAA level, and conference level athletes," said Director of Track and Field Andy Sythe. "These newcomers bring added strength and will help us become an even better program.
"The talent and athleticism of these recruits, combined with the strength of our returnees, brings the opportunity for Long Beach State to be represented well at the top of the Big West podium, the NCAA Championships, and on the international stage in this Olympic year."
Men's Commitments:
Aaron Booth –Junior; Auckland, New Zealand (Kansas State)
Aaron Booth is a tremendously successful multi-event athlete who will conclude his career at Long Beach State after making a graduate transfer from Kansas State. The New Zealand native is the National Record Holder in the Indoor Heptathlon, and was the Gold Medalist in the Decathlon at the 2019 World University Games in Naples. A two-time All-American in both indoor and outdoor, Booth placed 8th overall as a sophomore in the 2019 Indoor Championships and then placed sixth in the 2019 NCAA Outdoor National Championships. Booth then qualified again for the indoor championships in 2020. Booth was also the runner-up at the Big 12 Championships twice in the decathlon as both a freshman and a sophomore. An outstanding student, Booth graduated in three years at Kansas State and was a CoSIDA Academic All-District selection. He will pursue a Master's Degree in Sports Management at the Beach.
Preston Sladek – Freshman; Dutch Flat, Calif. (Colfax HS)
Preston Sladek joins the team as a true freshman after a strong high school record as a pole vaulter. A two-time league champion in the event, he also won the San Joaquin Section Championship in 2018, and reached the CIF State Finals in 2019. He holds the Colfax High School Record in the pole vault, and enters college with a best clearance of 15-7.00. He intends to major in Mechanical Engineering.
Justin Yaskowitz – Freshman, Redondo Beach, Calif. (Redondo Union HS)
Another freshman standout, Justin Yaskowitz will join Booth in competing in the decathlon. Yaskowitz was the Winter State Champion in the indoor pentathlon as a senior, and was the team captain for the Redondo Union team for the last two seasons. He twice competed in the decathlon at the USATF Junior Olympics. Yaskowitz was dominant at the Bay League Championship, winning in the high jump in all three years it was contested during his high school career as well as winning the 2019 Decathlon, ending his career as the Redondo Union record-holder in the event. Yaskowitz will major in International Business.
Women's Commitments:
Imani Carmouche – Junior; Jonesboro, Ga. (South Florida)
Imani Carmouche joins the Beach as a transfer from South Florida. A high jumper who also competed occasionally in the long jump, Carmouche was a two-time state champion in the high jump in Georgia before heading to Tampa, where she found success. With a personal best of 5-8.75 in the high jump, Carmouche placed in the Top 10 at the AAC indoor championships three times and twice at the outdoor championships. As a freshman and sophomore, she qualified for the NCAA Eastern Regionals in the high jump. Carmouche will be majoring in Communications at the Beach.
Crystal Washington – Junior; Carson, Calif. (Eastern Michigan)
Crystal Washington is a Southern California native who competed for two seasons at Eastern Michigan. As a sophomore she finished just off the podium at both the indoor and outdoor MAC championships, taking fourth place in the triple jump. Washington was a highly touted recruit, winning three state championships in the triple jump while representing Carson High School. She intends to major in Sociology.
Hailey Fune – Freshman; Chico, Calif. (Chico HS)
A freshman from Chico High School, Fune was recruited as a heptathlete and will be transitioning to a multi-event platform after primarily competing in the hurdles in high school. Competing at the 2019 CIF State Championship as a junior, she placed 12th in the 100m hurdles, and was named the league Athlete of the Year. Her best time of 14.58 in the 100m hurdles is the CIF Northern Section Record. Fune's intended major will be Kinesiology.
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