Long Beach State University Athletics
Talented Jumpers Join Long Beach State Track and Field
8/27/2021 10:12:00 AM | Indoor Track, Track and Field
There are six new jumpers joining the Beach for the 2021-22 season.
LONG BEACH, Calif. – The Long Beach State is adding six recruits to their storied jumping program for the upcoming indoor and outdoor seasons.
"I am very excited about the potential of this group of jumpers in this recruiting class," said Director of Track and Field, Andy Sythe. "The developmental talent each individual brings will add depth and strength to our successful jump squad. It is my hope that our new additions can contribute immediately to our positive culture and work ethic, and utilize each other to push themselves to higher heights and greater distances."
Sythe continued, "these student-athletes have chosen some of our most outstanding majors that Long Beach State has to offer. They will graduate and be successful in life, but while they are at this university, I expect to see them make their mark athletically, both at the conference and national level."
Women's Commits:
Calista Apostol – Freshman; Missoula, Mont. (Apple Valley HS)
Apolstol joins Long Beach State after a record-breaking high school career, holding the school records in High Jump and Triple Jump. As a senior, was named the Mojave League Field Athlete of the Year after claiming the league's High Jump and Triple Jump titles. She also went on to post a third-place finish in the State Championships and a second-place finish in the CIF Southern Section Championships. Her lifetime-best mark in the High Jump is 5-6 (1.67m).
Riley Millard – Freshman; Carlsbad, Calif. (Carlsbad HS)
Millard is a long jumper out of Carlsbad High School, where she was named All-League four times in the Long Jump and 4x100m Relay. In 2021, she went on to win the Carlsbad HS Jane McGhee Award which honors the school's best women's athlete, after winning the CIF Open Championship in Long Jump and finishing third in the CIF San Diego Section Finals. Her career-best in the Long Jump is 17-07.5 (5.37m).
Maggie Lear – Freshman; Seattle, Wash. (Garfield HS)
Lear is a pole vaulter from the Pacific Northwest, coming out of Garfield High School. She finished second place in the 2021 Junior Olympic State Meet and third in her high school league championships. Named the team captain for her final three years, she also finished third at the Junior Olympic Regionals in 2019 and fifth in the state championships her freshman year. Her career-best mark is 12-06 (3.81m).
Men's Commits:
Benjamin Ahenguah – Sophomore; Richmond, Calif. (Diablo Valley College)
Ahenguah transfers to the Beach after spending time at Diablo Valley College and Sacramento State. As a Hornet, competed in Long Jump at the Big Sky Championships in 2019. Set his lifetime-best last season jumping 24-08.25 at Diablo Valley College
Miguel Orozco – Freshman; Long Beach, Calif. (Long Beach Poly HS)
Orozco put together a standout career at Long Beach Poly competing in the Long Jump. The local product was a two-time CIF Southern Section Division 1 Finalist and named the Long Beach Poly Standout Field Athlete in 2019. His career best Long Jump mark sits at 23-5 (7.13m) as he begins his collegiate career.
Cyprus Rice – Freshman; Clovis, Calif. (Clovis North HS)
Rice joins Long Beach State after setting records at Clovis North High School. The 2021 grad holds the school record, freshman record, Clovis North Stadium record, and Sanger Metric Meet record in the Pole Vault. As a senior, won the CIF Central North Area Championship, CIF Central Section Masters Championship, and finished runner-up at the State Championships. His lifetime-best in Pole Vault is 16 feet, three inches.
This group joins the seven early signees announced in February and the nine new distance runners that are set to compete this cross country season.
"I am very excited about the potential of this group of jumpers in this recruiting class," said Director of Track and Field, Andy Sythe. "The developmental talent each individual brings will add depth and strength to our successful jump squad. It is my hope that our new additions can contribute immediately to our positive culture and work ethic, and utilize each other to push themselves to higher heights and greater distances."
Sythe continued, "these student-athletes have chosen some of our most outstanding majors that Long Beach State has to offer. They will graduate and be successful in life, but while they are at this university, I expect to see them make their mark athletically, both at the conference and national level."
Women's Commits:
Calista Apostol – Freshman; Missoula, Mont. (Apple Valley HS)
Apolstol joins Long Beach State after a record-breaking high school career, holding the school records in High Jump and Triple Jump. As a senior, was named the Mojave League Field Athlete of the Year after claiming the league's High Jump and Triple Jump titles. She also went on to post a third-place finish in the State Championships and a second-place finish in the CIF Southern Section Championships. Her lifetime-best mark in the High Jump is 5-6 (1.67m).
Riley Millard – Freshman; Carlsbad, Calif. (Carlsbad HS)
Millard is a long jumper out of Carlsbad High School, where she was named All-League four times in the Long Jump and 4x100m Relay. In 2021, she went on to win the Carlsbad HS Jane McGhee Award which honors the school's best women's athlete, after winning the CIF Open Championship in Long Jump and finishing third in the CIF San Diego Section Finals. Her career-best in the Long Jump is 17-07.5 (5.37m).
Maggie Lear – Freshman; Seattle, Wash. (Garfield HS)
Lear is a pole vaulter from the Pacific Northwest, coming out of Garfield High School. She finished second place in the 2021 Junior Olympic State Meet and third in her high school league championships. Named the team captain for her final three years, she also finished third at the Junior Olympic Regionals in 2019 and fifth in the state championships her freshman year. Her career-best mark is 12-06 (3.81m).
Men's Commits:
Benjamin Ahenguah – Sophomore; Richmond, Calif. (Diablo Valley College)
Ahenguah transfers to the Beach after spending time at Diablo Valley College and Sacramento State. As a Hornet, competed in Long Jump at the Big Sky Championships in 2019. Set his lifetime-best last season jumping 24-08.25 at Diablo Valley College
Miguel Orozco – Freshman; Long Beach, Calif. (Long Beach Poly HS)
Orozco put together a standout career at Long Beach Poly competing in the Long Jump. The local product was a two-time CIF Southern Section Division 1 Finalist and named the Long Beach Poly Standout Field Athlete in 2019. His career best Long Jump mark sits at 23-5 (7.13m) as he begins his collegiate career.
Cyprus Rice – Freshman; Clovis, Calif. (Clovis North HS)
Rice joins Long Beach State after setting records at Clovis North High School. The 2021 grad holds the school record, freshman record, Clovis North Stadium record, and Sanger Metric Meet record in the Pole Vault. As a senior, won the CIF Central North Area Championship, CIF Central Section Masters Championship, and finished runner-up at the State Championships. His lifetime-best in Pole Vault is 16 feet, three inches.
This group joins the seven early signees announced in February and the nine new distance runners that are set to compete this cross country season.
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