Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina head track & field / cross country coach Jesse Norman and staff have been busy building the roster for the upcoming cross country and track and field seasons, adding 14 signees for the 2026-27 seasons.
The 14-signee class consists of 12 true freshmen and a pair of transfer student-athletes, with half the class competing in the sprints/hurdles group. The distance and field teams added three newcomers each, with two going to the jumps and one to the throws squad. Additionally, the multi's squad will add one to a roster that returns most of its competitors from the 2025-26 season.
"These 14 men joining Catamount Nation this upcoming year are exactly what we need to make some stronger runs at the team championship come the spring. With three-quarters of this group hailing from North Carolina, we were able to add some quality homegrown pieces and fill some needed holes we had as a program this past year," said Norman, who enters his eighth season leading the Catamounts. "We were also able to add to our already strong hurdle and throw groups with some quality pieces that have the potential to further elevate these groups even more in the future."
The Catamounts open the 2026 season in early September with a full cross-country schedule set to be announced in the coming weeks. The indoor track and field season is set to begin in early December and run through late February before the outdoor season begins in March and concludes in May.
Sprint/Hurdle Group:
Cantrell Etheridge (Alexander HS – Douglasville, Ga.)
PR's: 100m – 10.91, 110m hurdles – 13.85, 300m hurdles – 38.03, 400m hurdles – 55.09
Coach Notes: An exciting hurdle addition to the men's squad. His ability to run both hurdles at a high level can be a huge addition to the hurdles group and be impactful within the Southern Conference this upcoming year.
Bryce Gatlin (Cuthbertson HS – Waxhaw, N.C.)
PR's: 100m – 22.38, 200m – 48.86
Coach Notes: A developing long sprinter who will be looked upon to develop a bit more, specifically in the shorter sprints, this upcoming year. He hails from Cuthbertson High School, which is a powerhouse within the state, and will join numerous former teammates on the squad this next year.
Brian Hope, Jr. (Enloe HS – Four Oaks, N.C.)
PR's: 110m hurdles – 14.78, 300m hurdles – 41.00, Long Jump: 23-3.5, Triple Jump: 46-4
Coach Notes: A hurdle and jumps threat, we'll be looking at Brian to contribute heavily in both areas within the Southern Conference this upcoming year. Developing further in the longer hurdles will make him a very multi-threat athlete within the conference moving forward.
Braden McGee (Langtree Charter Academy – Cornelius, N.C.)
PR's: 100m – 10.89, 200m – 21.96, 400m – 48.34
Coach Notes: A developing long sprinter, Braden will be looked at similarly to Bryce and will be further developed in the shorter sprints, which will help his 400m. He has the makings of being a solid long sprinter and relay contributor within the conference.
Justin Stevenson (Palisades HS – Charlotte, N.C.)
PR's: 100m – 10.47, 200m – 21.14
Coach Notes: An exciting pickup for our short sprints group here, Justin will be seen as the corner piece of our short sprints group. He developed nicely this past outdoor season. We will look at helping him make a bigger impact indoors and then make some runs at high finishes within the conference next year.
Jack Weigel (University of St. Thomas – Maple Grove, Minn.)
PR's: 60m – 6.92, 100m – 10.64, 200m – 21.67
Coach Notes: A transfer from the Midwest, Jack brings some collegiate-level experience to a younger group of sprinters this year. We will lean into that experience along with developing him alongside Justin and others to bring our men's sprints group back to the top of the conference.
Mason Whitehead (Alexander HS – Winston, Ga.)
PR's: 110m hurdles – 14.08, 300m hurdles – 38.17, 400m hurdles – 53.95, 400m – 48.75
Coach Notes: Another hurdle addition who can also run the long sprints. He will be looked at to bolster our relay squads along with his hurdle prowess. Mason will help to push his fellow freshmen, along with our returning hurdlers, to help us become a premier hurdles program within the conference.
Jumps Group:
Ryker Atkinson (Lake Norman Charter School – Huntersville, N.C.)
PR's: 100m – 10.53, 200m – 21.83, Long Jump: 23-5
Coach Notes: A short sprinter with the ability to also long jump, Ryker will be a valuable tool within our short sprints group and add some quality depth to our long jump squad this upcoming year. His ability to manage both event groups can be a huge advantage for the men's program in the coming years.
Marcus Thompson (University of West Georgia – Snellville, Ga.)
PR's: Long Jump: 23-6.25, Triple Jump: 48-11
Coach Notes: A transfer from West Georgia, Marcus comes to us with college experience and will be looked at as being the anchor of the horizontal jumps group moving forward. His ability to compete at a high level in both the long and triple jump can help bring along our younger jumpers and keep our jumpers at the top of the conference.
Throws Group:
Johnta Harrison (West Cabarrus HS – Concord, N.C.)
PR's: Shot Put: 47.0, Discus: 188-7
Coach Notes: An exciting addition to our throws group, Johnta brings an immediate impact in the discus event. His main development will be in refining his other events and becoming a well-rounded thrower moving forward. Under Dan's guidance, we believe he can become one of the best throwers in the conference.
Distance Group:
Price Fee (Metrolina Christian Academy – Matthews, N.C.)
PR's: 800m – 1:53.93, 1600m – 4:20, 3200m – 9:40, 5k – 15:47
Coach Notes: Price adds some quality depth to our middle-distance group here at WCU. His ability to run the middle distances during the track season and having the ability to run solidly during the fall will make him an exciting addition to our young men's distance squad.
Nick Morizio (Green Level HS – Cary, N.C.)
PR's: 1600m – 4:17, 3200m – 9:19, 5k – 15:25
Coach Notes: A longer distance specialist, Nick brings some quality to our longer distance group that can help to push our younger athletes. His ability to run events from the mile to the 10k will be a great addition to our program, helping us to place him where the team needs him the most.
Kadin Nance (Hillcrest HS – Fountain Inn, S.C.)
PR's: 800m – 1:52, 1600m – 4:17, 5k – 15:23
Coach Notes: A South Carolina product, Kadin brings some talent to the middle-distance events and, like Price, also brings a strong ability to help the program in the fall. Getting him and Price (Fee) in the same training group as current 1500m record holder, Bradley White, will bolster that group and should give us a strong scoring presence in these events come indoor and outdoor track.
Multi's Group:
Owen Fulford (Christian Academy of Knoxville – Knoxville, Tenn.)
PR's: 200m – 22.59, 400m – 50.94, 110m hurdles – 14.28, 300m hurdles – 38.77, Pole Vault: 14-0
Coach Notes: A great pickup for the Catamounts, Owen comes from a family of high-achieving decathletes. His brother competed at ETSU. His further development under coach Gill and working alongside our current multi's group will help him to become even better. He can also help out in open events like the 110m hurdles, pole vault, and relay legs, a true multi-threat athlete.
