Charlotte, N.C. - Johnson & Wales Charlotte Head Cross Country & Track Coach Dustin Stewart is excited to unveil the newest additions to the Wildcat track & field roster for the 2026-27 academic year. Included below are capsules for each of the newcomers, as well as Coach Stewart's thoughts on what they will bring to the team.

Throwers

Emily Hartsoe
Hometown: Crumpler, North Carolina
High School: Ashe County High School
Previous School: UNC Charlotte, Winthrop University
Personal Bests: Shot Put- 42'6", Hammer- 139' 9.5", Discus- 136' 8"
Top Track & Field Achievements: Team Captain, 2x All-American, 5x National Qualifier, 6x All State, 4x All Conference, Conference Field MVP 4x,
State Meet Finishes and Marks:
2024- NCHSAA Outdoors- 2nd Shot Put 41' 2.75",
2024- NCHSAA Indoors 5th Shot Put 36' 9.5"
2023- NCHSAA Outdoors- 3rd Discus 131'1", 10th Shot Put 33' 6.5",
2023- NCHSAA Indoors 2nd Shot Put 37' 0.75"
2022- NCHSAA Outdoors- 1st Discus 136'8", 1st Shot Put 37' 2.5",
2022- NCHSAA Indoors 1st Shot Put 34' 9.25"
2021- NCHSAA Outdoors- 1st Discus 123'3", 13th Shot Put 30' 9.75"
School Records: Shot Put- 42'6, Discus- 136' 8"
Link to MileSplit: https://sc.milesplit.com/athletes/10828954-emily-hartsoe
Why they chose JWU: "I chose JWU because of the tight knit culture, the team felt more like a family and no just a regular team. I also chose JWU because I know that Coach Stewart can get me where I want to be!"
Coach Stewart on Emily: "Emily is a top-tier talent who can make an immediate impact and put our program in a position to contend at the conference level. I'm excited to work with someone of her ability and help her build on what she has already accomplished. She raises the competitive standard for our group and will be an important part of what we're building."


Elyse Markgraf
Hometown: Henderson, NV
High School: Foothill High School
Personal Bests: Discus- 107' 5", Shot Put- 29' 6"
Top Track & Field Achievements: First Team All-State, 4 Year Regional Qualifier
State Meet Finishes and Marks:
2026 NIAA Outdoors- 3rd Discus 106' 10"
Link to MileSplit: https://nv.milesplit.com/athletes/14359060-elyse-markgraf
Why they chose JWU: "The amazing Coaching staff!"
Coach Stewart on Elyse: "From her time as our lone official visitor last year, Elyse has been bought into building this program and helping shape its future. That commitment means a lot to me, and I'm especially excited to have her here and get to work together. I'm looking forward to helping her develop and seeing her investment in the program translate into progress in her own events."


Mallorie Smith
Hometown: Yorktown, Virginia
High School: York High School
Personal Bests: Shot Put- 30' 9", Discus- 90' 7"
Top Track & Field Achievements: 3rd Place at 3A VHSL Outdoor Regionals Discus
State Meet Finishes and Marks:
2026 VHSL Outdoors- 15th Discus- 87' 11"
Link to MileSplit: https://va.milesplit.com/athletes/14519504-gray-smith
Why they chose JWU: "The feel of the campus and the career focused classes."
Coach Stewart on Mallorie: "What stands out about Mallorie is how much she enjoys the technical side of throwing and learning the details of her events. That enthusiasm makes her someone I'm really looking forward to coaching because we can spend time working through those details and seeing the improvements take shape. It will be fun to watch her understanding and confidence grow alongside her marks."


Jennifer Fernandez
Hometown: Seward, Alaska
High School: Seward High School
Personal Bests: Discus- 75' 9", Shot Put- 22' .75"
Top Track & Field Achievements: 2025 Most Improved, Top 10 in Regional Finals
Link to MileSplit: https://ak.milesplit.com/athletes/16464095-jennifer-fernandez/stats
Why they chose JWU: "The amazing community and kindness shown by not only my teammates but the whole school"
Coach Stewart on Jennifer: "Coming to us all the way from Alaska, Jennifer brings great energy, and I'm excited to see her embrace both our team and Charlotte. I'm also looking forward to getting her into a training environment where she isn't regularly battling 30-mile-per-hour winds at practice. Having that opportunity to focus on her technique and put consistent work together will make it exciting to see how she develops."


Joyia Adams
Hometown: Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
High School: Stroudsburg High School
Personal Bests: Discus- 83" 3"
Top Track & Field Achievements: Varsity all 4 years
Link to MileSplit: https://pa.milesplit.com/athletes/14443954-joyia-adams/progression
Why they chose JWU: "New city, a good health program, and a chance to meet new people"
Coach Stewart on Joyia: "Joyia has fully embraced JWU and Charlotte, and it's exciting to coach someone who is so invested in being here. She already brings solid marks, but I see a lot of opportunity to strengthen her foundation and help her take the next step. I'm looking forward to working with her each day and seeing how much of that potential we can turn into results."

Coni Cornelius
Hometown: New Haven, Connecticut
High School: James Hillhouse High school
Personal Bests: Hammer Throw- 111' 10", Shot Put- 32' 8", Weight Throw- 37' 6"
State Meet Finishes and Marks:
2025 CIAC Outdoors- 12th Hammer 102' 3", 13th Shot Put 29' 8"
2025 CIAC Indoors- 19th Shot Put 28' 11"
Link to MileSplit: https://ct.milesplit.com/athletes/14068499-coni-cornelius
Why you chose JWU: "To follow my dream of culinary"
Coach Stewart on Coni: "Having already competed in the hammer in high school, Coni brings valuable experience that gives us something to build on right away. I'm excited to help her continue developing in that event while also strengthening what she brings to the shot put. Her ability to contribute in both events will be important for us as we work to put more points on the board at our conference championship."

Melanie Salazar
Hometown: Annandale, Virginia
High School: Annandale High School
Personal Bests: Discus- 82' 7"
Top Track & Field Achievements: 6^th Place at Districts
Link to MileSplit: https://va.milesplit.com/athletes/14020764-melanie-salazar
Why you chose JWU: " I chose JWU because I wanted to purse a career in Baking & Pastry. I really enjoyed the teaching style here."
Coach Stewart on Melanie: "Melanie adds valuable depth to our already strong throws group and brings an excitement for the sport that I'm looking forward to having at practice each day. Her eagerness to be part of the group and grow alongside her teammates makes her a welcome addition to our program. I'm excited to work with her, build her confidence and help her turn that enthusiasm into steady progress in her events."


Sprints

Taelor Jones
Hometown: Villa Rica, Georgia
High School: Alexander High School
Personal Bests: 400m- 1:01.9, 800m- 2:25.28, 200m- 28.03
Top Track & Field Achievements: #1 800m in Region
School Records: 800m 2:25, 400m 1:01
Link to MileSplit: https://ga.milesplit.com/athletes/14096986-taelor-jones
Why they chose JWU: "I love the environment, culture, and the family behind the school."
Coach Stewart on Taelor: "With a solid foundation in the 400 meters and a lot of potential in the 800, Taelor brings an exciting combination of speed and room to develop. I'm looking forward to exploring both events with her and helping her gain confidence in what she can accomplish. The range of events she can contribute in will make her an important part of our program moving forward."

Jamiah Mims
Hometown: Clearwater, Florida
High School: Tarpon Springs High School
Personal Bests: 100m- 12.97, 200m- 27.58
Top Track & Field Achievements: First relay team in 16 years to makes states.
State Meet Finishes and Marks:
2023 FHSAA Outdoors 18th 4x100m Relay
School Records: 4x100m
Link to MileSplit: https://fl.milesplit.com/athletes/12833502-jamiah-mims/stats
Why they chose JWU: "It's not close to home and I feel like it's a part of our nature to separate from where you grew up to truly find yourself."
Coach Stewart on Jamiah: "After a disrupted senior season, I'm excited to help Jamiah build on her solid marks in the 100 and 200 meters and get back to seeing progress on the track. She has a strong starting point, and I'm looking forward to seeing how fast she can become with consistent training. She'll have an important role in building our sprint group, and I'm especially excited to see what she can bring to our 4x100 relay."

Paris Smith 
Hometown: Lithia Springs, Georgia
High School:  Alexander High School
Personal Bests: 100m- 13.67, 200m- 28.79, 400m- 1:07.01, Long Jump- 15' 2"
Link to MileSplit: https://ga.milesplit.com/athletes/12749191-paris-smith/stats
Why they chose JWU: "I picked JWU because of the track program and also for psychology."
Coach Stewart on Paris: "Paris brings versatility across the 100 through 400 meters and the long jump, giving us valuable depth as we build our sprint program. I'm excited to work with her across those events and learn where she can make the biggest strides. Having someone who can contribute in several areas gives us more options as a team and gives her several opportunities to make an impact."

Gisell Sernas
Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada
High School: Western High School
Personal Bests: 400m- 1:14.39, 200m- 33.30, 100m- 15.79
Top Track & Field Achievements: Captain of Track Team Senior and Junior years
Link to MileSplit: https://nv.milesplit.com/athletes/13057874-noemy-sernas
Why they chose JWU: "I chose JWU because I wanted to get hands on experience and learn by doing, instead of learning from the textbook. I also wanted the experience of moving somewhere new and become more independent."Coach Stewart on Gisell: "Serving as her team's captain during both her junior and senior years speaks to the leadership Gisell brings with her from Las Vegas. I'm excited about the disciplined approach she'll add to our sprint group and the example she can set through her daily work. Those habits give us a strong foundation to build on, and I'm looking forward to helping her turn that consistency into progress on the track."

 
Distance

Grace Gant
Hometown: Mentor, Ohio
High School: Mentor High School
Personal Bests: 1600m- 5:36.33, 800m- 2:35.45
Link to MileSplit: https://oh.milesplit.com/athletes/17365743-grace-gant
Why they chose JWU: "I chose JWU because of the culinary program, to live in a new environment, and make new friends/connections in the city."
Coach Stewart on Grace: "Despite only starting track as a senior, Grace joins us as a strong distance runner with a lot of development still ahead of her. Her disciplined approach to training sets the standard we want, and I'm excited to work with someone who already understands the importance of doing the daily work well. She will be a core member of our distance group as we continue to grow and become more competitive."

Lesly Perez-Temozihui
Hometown: Scranton, Pennsylvania
High School: Scranton High School
Personal Bests: 5k- 25:01.88
Top Track & Field Achievements:
Link to MileSplit: https://pa.milesplit.com/athletes/15273194-lesly-perez-temozihu
Why they chose JWU: "For the internship opportunities along with the XC and Track program."
Coach Stewart on Lesly: "The energy and passion Lesly brings to running make her someone I'm really excited to have in our distance group. That enthusiasm adds a lot to the training environment, and I'm looking forward to helping her build on it with consistent work and continued development. She will be an integral part of our cross country program and someone we expect to count on as a scorer for years to come."

 
Hurdles
Ja'Niyah Henderson
Hometown: Charleston, South Carolina
High School: Ashley Ridge High School
Personal Bests: 400m Hurdles- 1:11.33, 100m Hurdles- 16.95, 100m 13.79, 200m- 28.88, 400m- 1:09.47
Top Track & Field Achievements: Region 5A Hurdle Champion
State Meet Finishes and Marks:
2026 SCHSL Outdoors 16th 100m Hurdles
School Records: 300m Hurdles- 54.82
Link to MileSplit: https://sc.milesplit.com/athletes/12924840-janiyah-henderson
Why they chose JWU: "I chose to attend JWU to broaden my knowledge and skills in baking and pastry's so I can continue growing in the food and beverage industry. As the owner of Sweets by Sanae, my bakery in North Charleston, South Carolina, I want to use my education to elevate my business."
Coach Stewart on Ja'Niyah: "Nia brings a great personality and a team-first attitude that make her someone you enjoy having at practice every day. She's willing to do what the team needs, and I'm excited about her ability to contribute points in the 400-meter hurdles as a freshman. That's an event where I've had a lot of success as a coach, so I'm especially looking forward to working with her on the technical details and race approach that can help her see how fast she can go."

 
Shalay Richardson
Hometown: Dayton, Ohio
High School: Archbishop Alter High School
Personal Bests: 300m Hurdles- 52.28, 100m- 12.80, 200m- 26.33, 100m Hurdles- 18.06
Top Track & Field Achievements: Hall of Fame, Team Captain, Regional Champion,
School Records: 4x100m, 4x200m, Sprint Medley Relay
Link to MileSplit: https://oh.milesplit.com/athletes/14483750-shalay-richardson
Why they chose JWU: "Track opportunities and the location"
Coach Stewart on Shalay: "Strong marks in both hurdle events and the 100 and 200 meters make Shalay someone who immediately raises our level of competitiveness. Her versatility gives her the opportunity to play several important roles for us and helps put our program in a position to contend at the conference level. I'm excited to work with an athlete who brings so much ability across multiple events and help her continue developing in each of those areas."

 
Jumps

Jordyn Ranaudo
Hometown: Sterling, Virginia
High School: Potomac Falls High School
Personal Bests: Long Jump- 18' 1.5", 100m- 12.66, 200m- 26.12, 400m-1:04.4
Top Track & Field Achievements: Captain, 2x MVP, 3x Regional Champion, Regional Record Holder, Loudoun County Champions (4x400m)
State Meet Finishes and Marks:
2026 VHSL Outdoors- 3rd 4x100m Relay
School Records: 4x100m, 4x200m, 4x400m
Link to MileSplit:
Why they chose JWU: "I chose JWU because I feel it has the right environment and support that will lead me to my full potential not only as a student but as an athlete as well. When I visited, I saw myself there and really enjoyed the presence I was surrounded by. The coaches (Coach Stewart and Coach Reid and Coach Nia) as well as both teams really had a big impact on my decision. They were very welcoming and made me feel like I can succeed not only in sports but in life as well."
Coach Stewart on Jordyn: "As a dual-sport recruit with volleyball, Jordyn brings the ability to make an immediate impact as one of our top sprinters and contend for all-conference honors in the long jump. She has a strong high school foundation, and I'm excited to help her build on that through college training and more focused technical work. Having her contribute on both the track and the runway will be a big addition to our program."

Morgan Jarrett
Hometown: Lunenburg, Massachusetts
High School: Lunenburg High School
Personal Bests: Triple Jump- 34' 11", High Jump- 4' 10"
Top Track & Field Achievements: 2023 District E Division 2 Relay Champs, 2022 League Champs
Link to MileSplit: https://ma.milesplit.com/athletes/9745728-morgan-jarrett
Why they chose JWU:  "I chose JWU because I wanted to challenge myself. Being 14 hours away from what's comfortable will help me grow as an athlete, student, and person while pursuing my passion for Hospitality and Sports."
Coach Stewart on Morgan: "Morgan joins us as a dual-sport recruit with basketball and fills important needs in the triple jump and high jump. Her height and athleticism give us a lot to work with, and I'm excited to help her develop the technique and consistency to make the most of those tools. With college training and dedicated work in both events, I definitely see the potential for Morgan to score well for us in both of these events."