ORLANDO - Following an impressive debut season in the Big 12, head coach Dana Boone and her staff have announced the addition of four new Knights, a pair of transfers with notable collegiate experience, and a pair of freshmen from the Sunshine State.
TWANEISE JOHNSON
- Squad: Sprints
- Previous School: Kansas State
- High School: St. Francis Catholic School
- Hometown: Gainesville, Fla.
After a two-year stint at Kansas State, the Gainesville native will remain in the Big 12, joining the Knights with plenty of collegiate experience. During her two campaigns in Manhattan, Kansas, Johnson specialized in long sprints, with the 400m serving as her premier event thus far.
At the 2024 Big 12 Outdoor Championship, she tallied a 14th-place finish with a personal best (54.15). Johnson also held positions on the 4x400m and DMR (Distance Medley Relay) squads, with a fifth-place finish in the latter, garnering the Wildcats four points at the 2024 Big 12 Indoor Championship.
In 2023, Johnson was an integral member of Kansas State’s 400m squad who placed eighth outdoors (where?) before advancing to the NCAA East Preliminary Rounds in Jacksonville, Florida.
KHRISTEL MARTINDALE
- Squad: Sprints
- Previous School: Lewis
- High School: Universal School
- Hometown: Bridgetown, Barbados
A fellow sophomore, Martindale boasts an impressive resume over two years at Division II Lewis University. In both the 60m and 100m, the Barbados native holds strong personal bests along with multiple conference honors.
Martindale placed third (11.46 PR) at the Great Lakes Valley Conference Outdoor Championships in the 100m, paired with a fifth-place finish in the 200m (24.34). The performance in the former qualified for her second consecutive NCAA DII National Championships where she finished 21st.
During the indoor season, she won the 60m (7.45) at the GLVC Championships before a 10th-overall finish at the NCAA DII National Championships.
REQUEL EDWARDS
- Squad: Distance
- High School: Dillard
- Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
A Fort Lauderdale native, Edwards has been an integral member of Dillard High School’s track and field squad. While specializing in short distance, the future Knight has competed in events from the 200m to the 3200m.
At the 3A Florida High School Athletics Association (FHSAA) Track and Field Championships in May, Edwards clocked a 2:14.08 to place fifth overall, paired with legs on the 4x400m squad who came runner up and the state champion 4x800m squad.
In 2023, Edwards won the 1600m (5:01.22) at the FHSAA 3A State Championships, along with a runner-up finish in the 800m and a pair of titles in the 4x400m and 4x800m relays.
In four seasons at Dillard, Edwards never finished below seventh place in the 800m at the State Championships.
GIANNA DEL PIZZO
- Squad: Distance
- High School: Lehigh
- Hometown: Lehigh Acres, Fla.
A four-year member of Lehigh High School’s cross country and track and field programs, Del Pizzo possesses a great resume both on the track and the course.
The future Knight holds back-to-back runner-up finishes in the 1600m at the FHSAA 4A Region 2 Championships and a personal best of 5:01.37. In the same event, Del Pizzo won the FHSAA 4A District Eight title twice over that span.
In 2023, Del Pizzo took home first in both the FHSAA District 4A(4) and Region 4A(2) 5k events during an impressive cross country season.
DEJA SHAW-HUCKABY
- Squad: Sprints
- Previous School: North Texas/Oklahoma
- High School: Chisholm Trail HS
- Hometown: Fort Worth, Texas
After starting her career at Oklahoma, Shaw-Huckaby transferred to North Texas where she flourished this past season. Specializing in the short sprints, the Texas native placed sixth in the 100m (11.61) at the American Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships.
A 23.45 in the 200m prelims qualified the future Knight for the NCAA West Preliminary in the event. In Arkansas, she placed 41st in the first round with a time of 23.57.
A member of the Eagles’ 4x100m relay squad, she finished sixth in the event at The American Championships with a time of 45.52 and garnered a total of six points combined for North Texas at the program’s inaugural AAC appearance.
JAZMEN NEWBERRY
- Squad: Sprints/Hurdles
- Previous School: Albany
- High School: Staley
- Hometown: Kansas City, Mo.
Over the past two seasons, Newberry has been a staple of Albany’s squad en route to three consecutive American East titles. In May, Newberry accumulated a staggering 26 points for the Great Danes, placing second in the 200m (24.31) and the 400m (54.19), along with being a member of the 4x100m group who claimed first.
At the indoor championships, the future Knights accumulated 17 points across the 60m (third), 200m (24.09) and 4x400m (fourth).
In March, Newberry featured at the Black and Gold Invitational, the first of two home meets in Orlando to open the outdoor campaign. The Missouri native finished eighth in the 400m and fifth in the 4x100m. Her freshman season in 2023 saw Newberry crowned the American East Outstanding Performer and Rookie following a dominating title in the 200m and 4x100m, along with a second-place finish in the 100m.