Track & Field Adds Eight in Signing Class

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison track & field head coach Ron McCown has released the 2021-22 roster highlighted by eight incoming freshmen that signed National Letters of Intent to join the Dukes.

Six incoming student-athletes will compete for the track & field team – Ryann Bennett, Jordyn Henderson, Sofia Lavreshina, Jaiden Martellucci, Holly Mpassy and Kaia Putman, while two signees will also compete for the cross country team in Lindsey Hester and Sofia Terenziani.

"This group is very talented and will have an immediate and positive impact on this team." McCown said. "It is exciting to see the potential of this incoming group and the returning group working together. It remains our goal to be a well-rounded team and these signees fit into that plan. It is great to have these athletes as a part of our JMU family."

Ryann Bennett | Oldtown, Md. | Fort Hill HS | Throws
Before JMU:

2020 Maryland Indoor Shot Put State Medalist
2019 Maryland Outdoor Discus State Champion
2019-20 Junior Female Athlete of the Year
2019 Maryland Indoor Shot Put State Medalist
2018 Maryland Outdoor Discus and Shot Put State Finalists
2x New Balance Nationals discus competitor (2017-2019)
Competed in 2019 Penn Relays in the discus
National Honor Society
National Art Honor Society
Honor Roll

Jordyn Henderson | Chester, Va. | Thomas Dale HS | Sprints/Hurdles
Before JMU:

2021 Virginia High School League Class 6A 55mH State Champion
2021 VHSL Class 6A 55m State Champion
2021 VHSL Class 6A 55mH Regional Champion
2021 VHSL Class 6A 55m Regional Champion
2021 All-State (55mH, 55m, 100mH and 300mH)
2021 Thomas Dale Athlete of the Year
2021 60mH All-American
Thomas Dale HS 55mH record holder
2x All-Region (55mH, 2019-20)
2020 All-State (55mH)
2020 All-Metro (55mH)
55mH VHSL Class 6A State Runner-Up (2020)
2019 All-Region (100mH, 300mH)
National Honor Society
Honor Roll
BETA Club

Sofia Lavreshina | Pombal, Portugal | Escola Secundaria de Pombal | Sprints/Hurdles/Jumps
Before JMU:

2x Portuguese Club Championship Qualifier (2020-21)
2021 U20 District Championship Qualifier
2021 U23 National Indoor Championship Qualifier
3x U18 National Championship Qualifier (2018-20)
2019 Best U18 Female Athlete Nominee in Portugal
Set National U18 400m record (56.57, 2020)

Jaiden Martellucci | Easton, Pa. | Easton Area HS | Throws
Before JMU:

2x New Balance Nationals Outdoor Qualifier (2019-20, discus, hammer, javelin)
2020 New Balance Nationals Indoor Qualifier (weight throw)
2x Indoor USATF National Qualifier (2018-19, weight throw)
2x Eastern Pennsylvania Conference Discus Champion (2018-19)
2x District XI Silver Medalist (2018-19, discus)
2019 EPC Champion
2x EPC All-Star (2018-19)
2x Lehigh Valley All-Area First Team (2018-19, discus)
2018 USATF National Qualifier (discus, hammer, javelin)
First student to compete in weight throw at school
National Honor Society
High Honor Roll

Holly Mpassy | Orpington, England | Wilmington Grammar School for Girls | Sprints
Before JMU:

55.56 400m PR
24.49 200m PR
12.20 100m PR

Kaia Putman | Charlotte, N.C. | Charlotte Country Day School | Sprints
Before JMU:

2x 100m State Champion (2019 & 2021)
2x 4x200m State Champion (2018 & 2021)
2021 State Champion (55m, 4x100m)
2021 Team Co-MVP & Team Captain
2019 200m State Champion

Lindsey Hester | North Chesterfield, Va. | James River HS | Distance/XC
Before JMU:

2019 First Team All-State Cross Country
2x All-Metro Cross Country (2018-19)
2018 Cross Country MVP, Track Distance Runner of the Year
Won the MileStat.com XC Invitational as a freshman (2017)
2017 End of Season Newcomer Award
National Honor Society
Honor Roll
World Language Honor Society

Sofia Terenziani | Verona, Italy | Liceo Girolamo Fracastoro | Distance/XC
Before JMU:

2021 Italian Junior Outdoor 1500m Champion
2021 Italian Junior Indoor 1500m Champion
Competed in the Regional Junior Championship from 2017-2020
2x Best Student-Athlete of Verona (2018-2020)

For the full 2021-22 roster, visit JMUSports.com.

Calendar

Players Mentioned

Ryann Bennett

Jordyn Henderson

Lindsey Hester

Sofia Lavreshina

Jaiden Martellucci

Holly Mpassy

Kaia Putman

Sofia Terenziani

JMU Footer

Scoreboard

Calendar

Completed Event: Track & Field versus Sun Belt Conference Indoor Championship on February 24, 2026 , , 11th of 13

Completed Event: Track & Field at Bob Davidson Team Challenge on March 20, 2026 , , 4th of 12

Completed Event: Track & Field at Raleigh Relays on March 26, 2026 , , Completed

Completed Event: Track & Field at VertKlasse Meeting on April 2, 2026 , , Completed

Completed Event: Track & Field versus JMU Invitational on April 11, 2026 , , Completed

Upcoming Event: Track & Field at Virginia Challenge on April 16, 2026 at All Day

Upcoming Event: Track & Field at Penn Relays on April 23, 2026 at All Day

Upcoming Event: Track & Field at Kehoe Twilight Meet on May 1, 2026 at 10 a.m.

Upcoming Event: Track & Field at Sun Belt Conference Outdoor Championship on May 14, 2026 at All Day

Upcoming Event: Track & Field at Sun Belt Conference Outdoor Championship on May 15, 2026 at All Day

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