Track Loads Up on Pole Vaulters, Hurdlers in Signing Class
12/6/2025 12:54:00 PM | Track & Field
January enrollee Success Oyibu from Nigeria won 200 meters at U20 African Championships
WACO, Texas – Including a mid-year enrollee from Nigeria, Baylor Track & Field has signed a recruiting class of six women and two men in a group dominated by pole vaulters and hurdlers, fifth-year head coach Michael Ford announced Saturday.
A 2026 spring addition to the women's roster, Success Oyibu from Benin, Nigeria, was the 200-meter champion and 100-meter silver medalist at the U20 African Championships and has personal bests of 11.42 in the 100 and 23.56 in the 200.
"Success is a tremendous young woman who brings some great championship experience and has huge upside," assistant coach Benjamin Dalton said.
Joining Oyibu the sprint crew as part of the 2026 signing class are Lauryn Robertson from Manassas, Va., and Angel Brefo from Midlothian (Texas) Heritage.
Robertson won the 200 and finished third in the 100 at the Virginia Class 6 State Championships and has PR times of 11.58 in the 100 and 23.89 in the 200. The two-time reigning Texas state champion in the 400 meters, Brefo also placed third at the Brooks PR Invite and fourth at Nike Nationals, holding personal bests of 23.55 in the 200 and 52.58 in the 400.
"Both these young ladies will help our strong relays tradition," Ford said. "And they both have the ability to score at the conference level and qualify for the NCAA Championships."
A Baylor hurdles crew coming off Nathaniel Ezekiel's national championship in the men's 400-meter hurdles has added Rebekah Garrett from North Canyon High School in Phoenix, Ariz., and Adebola Iyiola from Richmond (Texas) George Ranch.
Garrett is a two-time Arizona State champion and Great Southwest Classic winner in the 100-meter hurdles who defeated Kentucky freshman Kori Martin at the 2024 AIA State Championship. She has personal bests of 13.28 in the 100 hurdles outdoors and 8.44 in the 60-meter hurdles indoors.
"A phenomenal young lady with a great family and great potential in the hurdles," Dalton said of Garrett, "we are thrilled to have Rebekah as a Baylor Bear next year."
A versatile athlete for George Ranch High School and the APXP club team, Iyiola has the range to run the 100-, 300- and 400-meter hurdles outdoors and the 55- and 60-meter hurdles indoors, as well as the open 100, 200 and 400 meters and triple jump. She has personal bests of 42.66 in the 300 hurdles and 39 feet, 5 inches in the triple jump.
"Adebola has tremendous upside and great experience at UIL, Nike and Junior Olympics," Dalton said. "She is a terrific person, student and athlete from a wonderful family, and we are excited to welcome her into the Baylor family."
Rounding out the class are pole vaulters Jace Bennett from Utopia, Texas, Dylan Cross from Overland Park, Kan., and Brooklyn Nalley from Rockwall (Texas) Heath High School.
Bennett has won back-to-back UIL Class 1A state championships and is "already a consistent 17-foot vaulter," assistant coach Brandon Richards said. "Jace has a ton of talent and will be a big contributor to the team. I am excited to see what he will do as a Baylor Bear."
The reigning Class 5A Kansas state champion, Cross competes for Blue Valley Southwest High School and has PR marks of 16-5 outdoors and 16-3 indoors. "Dylan is a three-time finalist in the state championships with a perfect build for the pole vault," Richards said. "He has a ton of potential, and I am excited to see what Dylan will develop into at Baylor."
One of "Texas' elite pole vaulters," Nalley was the Class 6A runner-up in 2024 as a sophomore and finished second at last spring's Texas Relays with a PR of 13-1 ½. "Brooklyn is a perfect fit for Baylor and has so much upside potential," Richards said. "I believe she will quickly become a serious conference and national contender and will be a great addition to our women's pole vault crew."
While Baylor has a limited number of participants at Saturday's McFerrin-12 Degree Invitational in College Station, the Bears will officially open the indoor season Jan. 16-17 at Texas Tech's Corky Classic in Lubbock.
For the latest news on the Baylor track and field team all year long, follow its official Facebook, X and Instagram accounts: @BaylorTrack.
- BaylorBears.com -
A 2026 spring addition to the women's roster, Success Oyibu from Benin, Nigeria, was the 200-meter champion and 100-meter silver medalist at the U20 African Championships and has personal bests of 11.42 in the 100 and 23.56 in the 200.
"Success is a tremendous young woman who brings some great championship experience and has huge upside," assistant coach Benjamin Dalton said.
Joining Oyibu the sprint crew as part of the 2026 signing class are Lauryn Robertson from Manassas, Va., and Angel Brefo from Midlothian (Texas) Heritage.
Robertson won the 200 and finished third in the 100 at the Virginia Class 6 State Championships and has PR times of 11.58 in the 100 and 23.89 in the 200. The two-time reigning Texas state champion in the 400 meters, Brefo also placed third at the Brooks PR Invite and fourth at Nike Nationals, holding personal bests of 23.55 in the 200 and 52.58 in the 400.
"Both these young ladies will help our strong relays tradition," Ford said. "And they both have the ability to score at the conference level and qualify for the NCAA Championships."
A Baylor hurdles crew coming off Nathaniel Ezekiel's national championship in the men's 400-meter hurdles has added Rebekah Garrett from North Canyon High School in Phoenix, Ariz., and Adebola Iyiola from Richmond (Texas) George Ranch.
Garrett is a two-time Arizona State champion and Great Southwest Classic winner in the 100-meter hurdles who defeated Kentucky freshman Kori Martin at the 2024 AIA State Championship. She has personal bests of 13.28 in the 100 hurdles outdoors and 8.44 in the 60-meter hurdles indoors.
"A phenomenal young lady with a great family and great potential in the hurdles," Dalton said of Garrett, "we are thrilled to have Rebekah as a Baylor Bear next year."
A versatile athlete for George Ranch High School and the APXP club team, Iyiola has the range to run the 100-, 300- and 400-meter hurdles outdoors and the 55- and 60-meter hurdles indoors, as well as the open 100, 200 and 400 meters and triple jump. She has personal bests of 42.66 in the 300 hurdles and 39 feet, 5 inches in the triple jump.
"Adebola has tremendous upside and great experience at UIL, Nike and Junior Olympics," Dalton said. "She is a terrific person, student and athlete from a wonderful family, and we are excited to welcome her into the Baylor family."
Rounding out the class are pole vaulters Jace Bennett from Utopia, Texas, Dylan Cross from Overland Park, Kan., and Brooklyn Nalley from Rockwall (Texas) Heath High School.
Bennett has won back-to-back UIL Class 1A state championships and is "already a consistent 17-foot vaulter," assistant coach Brandon Richards said. "Jace has a ton of talent and will be a big contributor to the team. I am excited to see what he will do as a Baylor Bear."
The reigning Class 5A Kansas state champion, Cross competes for Blue Valley Southwest High School and has PR marks of 16-5 outdoors and 16-3 indoors. "Dylan is a three-time finalist in the state championships with a perfect build for the pole vault," Richards said. "He has a ton of potential, and I am excited to see what Dylan will develop into at Baylor."
One of "Texas' elite pole vaulters," Nalley was the Class 6A runner-up in 2024 as a sophomore and finished second at last spring's Texas Relays with a PR of 13-1 ½. "Brooklyn is a perfect fit for Baylor and has so much upside potential," Richards said. "I believe she will quickly become a serious conference and national contender and will be a great addition to our women's pole vault crew."
While Baylor has a limited number of participants at Saturday's McFerrin-12 Degree Invitational in College Station, the Bears will officially open the indoor season Jan. 16-17 at Texas Tech's Corky Classic in Lubbock.
For the latest news on the Baylor track and field team all year long, follow its official Facebook, X and Instagram accounts: @BaylorTrack.
- BaylorBears.com -
Players Mentioned
Sprints/Hurdles
/ Track & FieldBaylor Track and Field: Coach Clyde Hart Tribute
Thursday, November 06
Baylor Cross Country: David Barnett on the Baylor Coach's Show | August 20, 2025
Friday, August 22
Baylor Track & Field: NCAA Championship Highlights | June 11-14, 2025
Monday, June 16
Just the beginning for the Prince 📈
Monday, June 16
