Cyclone Men Announce Three Additions To 2017 Class

AMES, Iowa - The Iowa State men's track and field/cross country program announced the signing of a trio of additions for the 2017-18 seasons during the spring signing period. The Cyclones welcome Festus Lagat, Jackson Foutch and Ricardo Banuelos to the program.

Lagat was a four-time national champion at Gillette Junior College and inks with the Cyclones as one of the most highly sought-after track and field athletes in the country. The program also announced that Kansas City, Missouri native Jackson Foutch will join the program as a walk-on.

Lagat hails from Eldoret, a city in western Kenya that was also home to recent Cyclone greats Edward Kemboi and Betsy Saina, both of whom were national champions at Iowa State. ISU's newest signee comes to Ames with impressive junior college credentials of his own, having never lost on the track in an individual race at the NJCAA level.

While running for the Gillette Pronghorns, Lagat took home the NJCAA Indoor national titles in both the mile (4:15.12) and the 1,000-meter race (2:31.43) in March of 2016. That was only the beginning of the future Cyclone's dominance on the junior college landscape, however. Last May, Lagat clocked a blistering time of 1:51.22 at the NJCAA Outdoor National Championships to take home the 800-meter crown. Another collegiate-best time of 3:52.88 was set in the 1,500-meter finals, as Lagat captured his fourth national title.

Foutch comes to the Cyclones from Park Hill High School and will look to bolster Iowa State's multi-events. The incoming Cyclone ran a personal-best 23.14 in the 200-meter dash at the Jerry Crews Invitational to finish fifth, and also holds a PR of 20-5.5 in the long jump.

Banuelos is completing his second season at Allen County CC in Iola, Kansas. The Wichita native is a 2017 NCJAA First Team All-American after finishing fifth in the 5,000-meter run at the indoor national championships in March. Banuelos has a history of high finishes at national competition, as a freshman he finished 22nd at the NJCAA Cross Country National Championships, 16th in the 5,000 indoors and ninth in the 10,000 and 19th in the 5,000 outdoors.

2017-18 Men's Signees
Festus Lagat – Distance – Eldoret, Kenya / Gillette Junior College
Personal Best Times:
600m - 1:19.62
800m - 1:50.86 (altitude conversion)
1,000m - 2:25.71 (altitude conversion)
1,500m - 3:43.50 (altitude conversion)
5,000m - 14:28.74 (altitude conversion)

Jackson Foutch – Multi-Event – Kansas City, Missouri / Park Hill High School
Personal Best Marks:
60m – 7.63
200m – 23:14
400m – 50.70
Long Jump – 20-5.5

Ricardo Banuelos – Distance – Wichita, Kansas / Wichita North High School
Personal Best Marks:
3,000m: 8:48.56
5,000m: 14:37.99
10,000m: 30:41.81

Iowa State University Athletics

Cyclone Men Announce Three Additions To 2017 Class

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