Florida State Building Major Sprint Roster With Signing Duo

* Pretoria, South Africa, native Tshenolo Lemao signed with Florida State recently

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The Florida State men's track and field program is quietly building a major sprint powerhouse. 

The Seminoles nabbed two blue chip recruits over the National Letter of Intent period on Thursday and Friday, gaining the signature of South African youth prospect Tshenolo Lemao, the World Youth Champion in the 100m in 2017, and former Big Ten Freshman of the Year Terrance Laird

Florida State is interesting to note considering the program is coming off a successful haul at the NCAA Championships. Seminoles then-junior Andre Ewers picked up a second-place effort in the 200m (20.29, +0.0) and a third-place outing in the 100m (10.19, -0.19). 



Better yet, the men were fifth in the finals of the 4x100m with the likes of Ewers, Darryl Harraway, Darryl Gay and Keniel Grant. Only Grant graduated. 

In recent recruiting seasons, Florida State has found success in the junior college ranks, with Ewers signing from Butler Community College before this current cycle. 

View: Florida State's 2019 Signees

Laird, a former athlete at Penn State University who moved on to Hinds Community College this year, was a Pennsylvania state champion in the 200m. He produced bests of 10.50 and 21.02 in the high school before moving on to the Nittany Lions, where he dropped those personal marks down to 10.42/20.41 and was second in the Big Ten Indoor 200m Championships with a best of 20.56. 

Lemao, who turns 19 in June, was the World Youth Champion in the 100m in 2017, producing a best of 10.57. He was also a silver medalist in the 200m with an effort of 21.12. 

Florida State's men's program finished 11th overall at the NCAA Championships. 


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