Creighton University Athletics
Cross Country/Track & Field Programs Welcome 16
8/14/2026 4:00:00 PM | Men's Cross Country / Track, Women's Cross Country / Track
OMAHA, Neb. -- Interim head coach Matthew Fayers announced 10 women and six men who will be enrolling at Creighton this fall to join the Bluejay cross country and/or track & field programs.
The group of newcomers features 10 track & field-only student-athletes as well as six student-athletes who will double up in both cross country and track & field.
"This freshman class represents exactly what we want Creighton Cross Country and Track & Field to be about," said Fayers. "Across every event group, we have added talented student-athletes who have proven themselves at the state, regional, and national levels while also excelling in the classroom and embracing the values that make Creighton special. More importantly, they are high-character individuals who will have a lasting impact on our team culture. We have intentionally built a class that strengthens both our cross country and track programs, and I believe this is one of the deepest and most well-rounded recruiting classes in program history. We are thrilled to welcome them to the Bluejay family and cannot wait to see what they accomplish together over the next few years."
Creighton's 2026 cross country season gets underway on Sept. 4 with the Platte River Rumble "Gold" race in Ashland, Neb.
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Men's Signees
A.J. Abeyta - Keller, Texas (Keller HS)
• Plans to compete in cross country and track & field.
• All-State in cross country in 2025, where he finished 25th at the state meet.
• Placed third in Class 6A in the 1,600 in 2026 with a time of 4:12.73.
• Three-time All-American and one-time national champion.
Jake Bond - Kansas City, Mo. (Rockhurst HS)
• Plans to compete in track & field only.
• Two-time state champ in the 4x800 relay, including the 12th-best prep time in US history.
• Helped team to a pair of MSHSAA Class 5 state titles.
• A member of the National Honor Society and a six-time Academic All-State pick.
Tyler Dye - Lawrence, Kan. (Lawrence HS)
• Plans to compete in track & field only.
• Twice finished third at the Kansas State Track and Field Championships in the javelin.
• Won Kansas State Relays in the javelin.
• Owns a top throw of 206'8".
Jonah Frye - Lawrence, Kan. (Lawrence Free State HS)
• Plans to compete in cross country and track & field.
• Four-time All-City in cross country and a three-time AAU All-American.
• Set school-record in the 2,000 meter steeplechase and was a 2023 USA Today Northeast Kansas Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year nominee.
• Also a member of the National Honor Society and the 2026 KSPA Regional Champion in yearbook sports writing.
JJ McDermott - Bettendorf, Iowa (Bettendorf HS)
• Plans to compete in track & field only.
• Seven-time state medalist and 11-time all-conference honoree.
• Part of the fifth-fastest 4x400 and distance medley relay teams in Iowa history.
• Member of the National Honor Society and class Valedictorian.
Carson Verzal - Kearney, Neb. (Creighton Prep)
• Plans to compete in track & field only.
• Three-time medalist at the state track meet.
• Two-time Academic All-Metro selection.
Women's Signees
Morgan Hilbrich - Blue Springs, Mo. (St. Michael the Archangel Catholic HS)
• Plans to compete in track & field only.
• Finished in the top-10 at state in four events in 2026, doing so in the 4x200 (2nd), 300 hurdles (6th), long jump (8th) and 4x400 (8th), and 12 times overall as a prep.
• Ten-time All-State pick, with those honors coming in five different events.
• National Honor Society member who won 16 All-Conference accolades.
Madeline Kammerer - Peoria, Ill. (Dunlap HS)
• Plans to compete in track & field only.
• Four-time First Team All-Conference choice who owns personal bests of 25.39 in the 200 and 5'4" in the high jump.
• Qualfied for state in the 4x200 relay four times and the high jump on three occasions.
• A member of the National Honor Society, Mid-Illini Scholar Athlete, Illinois State Scholar and recipient of the President's Education Award.
Kyra McNair - Omaha, Neb. (Concordia HS)
• Plans to compete in track & field only.
• Placed 11th at Nebraska state track meet in the 400 meters and was part of the seventh place 4x100 relay team.
• Father, Ben, serves as Creighton's DIrector of Athletic Medicine and is entering his 20th year at CU.
Tatum Neilson - Bellevue, Neb. (Bellevue West HS)
• Plans to compete in cross country and track & field.
• State runner-up in 2025 in cross country and in 2026 in the 800 at the state track meet.
• Set three school records in track, plus the cross country course record.
• Two-time Academic All-State honoree.
Lizzie Neumann - Pella, Iowa (Pella Community HS)Â
• Plans to compete in track & field only.
• Qualified for state in cross country, track adn soccer a combined 20 times and finished in the top six in the 4x800 relay, distance medley relay, 4x400 relay (three times) and 200 meters.
• Part of school-record teams in the 4x400 relay and distance medley relay.
• Won E. Wayne Cooley Character and Leadership Award and a member of the National Honor Society.
Skylar Schoenbeck - Wamego, Kan. (Wamego HS)
• Plans to compete in track & field only.
• Set the school record in the javelin three times.
• Three-time Regional champion finished top-five at state as a sophomore, junior and senior.
• Served as Student Council President and National Honor Society Secretary.
Addison Scholten - Brandon, S.D. (Brandon Valley HS)
• Plans to compete in cross country and track & field.
• Owns state records in the 4x400, 4x800 and distance medley relays.
• A six-time all-state cross country runner, she also won eight state track titles.
• Set six course records and was a member of National Honor Society.
Kennedy Tobaben - Olathe, Kan. (Olathe North HS)
• Plans to compete in track & field only.
• Owns a personal-best throw of 160'5" in the javelin and is ranked as the nation's seventh-best prep in that event.
• 2026 Kansas 6A state champion and three-time All-State pick is also a member of National Honor Society.
• Sister Kaylee is also a member of the Creighton Track & Field program.
Emma Vecchio - Pueblo West, Colo. (Pueblo West HS)
• Plans to compete in cross country and track & field.
• Qualified for state four times in cross country and twice in track & field.
• First Team All-State in Track & Field in the 4x800 and Third Team All-State 5A in cross country.
• Two-time CHSAA Academic All-State and a 2026 DECA state finalist.
Veronica White - Roseville, Calif. (Christian Brothers HS)
• Plans to compete in cross country and track & field.
• Won four sectional titles and was a three-time California state qualifier.
• Owns a PR of 58.79 seconds in the 400 and 2:12.71 in the 800.
• A member of the National Honor Society and four-time Scholar-Athlete pick.
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The group of newcomers features 10 track & field-only student-athletes as well as six student-athletes who will double up in both cross country and track & field.
"This freshman class represents exactly what we want Creighton Cross Country and Track & Field to be about," said Fayers. "Across every event group, we have added talented student-athletes who have proven themselves at the state, regional, and national levels while also excelling in the classroom and embracing the values that make Creighton special. More importantly, they are high-character individuals who will have a lasting impact on our team culture. We have intentionally built a class that strengthens both our cross country and track programs, and I believe this is one of the deepest and most well-rounded recruiting classes in program history. We are thrilled to welcome them to the Bluejay family and cannot wait to see what they accomplish together over the next few years."
Creighton's 2026 cross country season gets underway on Sept. 4 with the Platte River Rumble "Gold" race in Ashland, Neb.
Â
Men's Signees
A.J. Abeyta - Keller, Texas (Keller HS)
• Plans to compete in cross country and track & field.
• All-State in cross country in 2025, where he finished 25th at the state meet.
• Placed third in Class 6A in the 1,600 in 2026 with a time of 4:12.73.
• Three-time All-American and one-time national champion.
Jake Bond - Kansas City, Mo. (Rockhurst HS)
• Plans to compete in track & field only.
• Two-time state champ in the 4x800 relay, including the 12th-best prep time in US history.
• Helped team to a pair of MSHSAA Class 5 state titles.
• A member of the National Honor Society and a six-time Academic All-State pick.
Tyler Dye - Lawrence, Kan. (Lawrence HS)
• Plans to compete in track & field only.
• Twice finished third at the Kansas State Track and Field Championships in the javelin.
• Won Kansas State Relays in the javelin.
• Owns a top throw of 206'8".
Jonah Frye - Lawrence, Kan. (Lawrence Free State HS)
• Plans to compete in cross country and track & field.
• Four-time All-City in cross country and a three-time AAU All-American.
• Set school-record in the 2,000 meter steeplechase and was a 2023 USA Today Northeast Kansas Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year nominee.
• Also a member of the National Honor Society and the 2026 KSPA Regional Champion in yearbook sports writing.
JJ McDermott - Bettendorf, Iowa (Bettendorf HS)
• Plans to compete in track & field only.
• Seven-time state medalist and 11-time all-conference honoree.
• Part of the fifth-fastest 4x400 and distance medley relay teams in Iowa history.
• Member of the National Honor Society and class Valedictorian.
Carson Verzal - Kearney, Neb. (Creighton Prep)
• Plans to compete in track & field only.
• Three-time medalist at the state track meet.
• Two-time Academic All-Metro selection.
Women's Signees
Morgan Hilbrich - Blue Springs, Mo. (St. Michael the Archangel Catholic HS)
• Plans to compete in track & field only.
• Finished in the top-10 at state in four events in 2026, doing so in the 4x200 (2nd), 300 hurdles (6th), long jump (8th) and 4x400 (8th), and 12 times overall as a prep.
• Ten-time All-State pick, with those honors coming in five different events.
• National Honor Society member who won 16 All-Conference accolades.
Madeline Kammerer - Peoria, Ill. (Dunlap HS)
• Plans to compete in track & field only.
• Four-time First Team All-Conference choice who owns personal bests of 25.39 in the 200 and 5'4" in the high jump.
• Qualfied for state in the 4x200 relay four times and the high jump on three occasions.
• A member of the National Honor Society, Mid-Illini Scholar Athlete, Illinois State Scholar and recipient of the President's Education Award.
Kyra McNair - Omaha, Neb. (Concordia HS)
• Plans to compete in track & field only.
• Placed 11th at Nebraska state track meet in the 400 meters and was part of the seventh place 4x100 relay team.
• Father, Ben, serves as Creighton's DIrector of Athletic Medicine and is entering his 20th year at CU.
Tatum Neilson - Bellevue, Neb. (Bellevue West HS)
• Plans to compete in cross country and track & field.
• State runner-up in 2025 in cross country and in 2026 in the 800 at the state track meet.
• Set three school records in track, plus the cross country course record.
• Two-time Academic All-State honoree.
Lizzie Neumann - Pella, Iowa (Pella Community HS)Â
• Plans to compete in track & field only.
• Qualified for state in cross country, track adn soccer a combined 20 times and finished in the top six in the 4x800 relay, distance medley relay, 4x400 relay (three times) and 200 meters.
• Part of school-record teams in the 4x400 relay and distance medley relay.
• Won E. Wayne Cooley Character and Leadership Award and a member of the National Honor Society.
Skylar Schoenbeck - Wamego, Kan. (Wamego HS)
• Plans to compete in track & field only.
• Set the school record in the javelin three times.
• Three-time Regional champion finished top-five at state as a sophomore, junior and senior.
• Served as Student Council President and National Honor Society Secretary.
Addison Scholten - Brandon, S.D. (Brandon Valley HS)
• Plans to compete in cross country and track & field.
• Owns state records in the 4x400, 4x800 and distance medley relays.
• A six-time all-state cross country runner, she also won eight state track titles.
• Set six course records and was a member of National Honor Society.
Kennedy Tobaben - Olathe, Kan. (Olathe North HS)
• Plans to compete in track & field only.
• Owns a personal-best throw of 160'5" in the javelin and is ranked as the nation's seventh-best prep in that event.
• 2026 Kansas 6A state champion and three-time All-State pick is also a member of National Honor Society.
• Sister Kaylee is also a member of the Creighton Track & Field program.
Emma Vecchio - Pueblo West, Colo. (Pueblo West HS)
• Plans to compete in cross country and track & field.
• Qualified for state four times in cross country and twice in track & field.
• First Team All-State in Track & Field in the 4x800 and Third Team All-State 5A in cross country.
• Two-time CHSAA Academic All-State and a 2026 DECA state finalist.
Veronica White - Roseville, Calif. (Christian Brothers HS)
• Plans to compete in cross country and track & field.
• Won four sectional titles and was a three-time California state qualifier.
• Owns a PR of 58.79 seconds in the 400 and 2:12.71 in the 800.
• A member of the National Honor Society and four-time Scholar-Athlete pick.
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Players Mentioned
/ Men's Cross Country / Track
/ Men's Cross Country / Track
/ Men's Cross Country / Track
/ Men's Cross Country / Track
/ Women's Cross Country / Track
/ Women's Cross Country / Track
/ Men's Cross Country / Track
/ Women's Cross Country / Track
/ Women's Cross Country / Track
/ Women's Cross Country / Track
/ Women's Cross Country / Track
/ Women's Cross Country / Track
/ Women's Cross Country / Track
/ Women's Cross Country / Track
/ Men's Cross Country / Track
/ Women's Cross Country / Track
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