Western Texas College had three student-athletes from the track team sign to major programs in the fall of 2019. Emmanuel Yeboah signed with Texas A&M in November while Ned Azemia and Khamal Stewart-Baynes will be teammates at the University of Miami in Florida, both signing in December.
Emmanuel Yeboah, from Kumasi, Ghana, joins the Aggies program after achieving various accomplishments as a Westerner. Yeboah finished as a second-team All-American in the 60 meter run at the 2018 Indoor Track & Field Championship. At the 2018 Track & Field Outdoor Championship, Yeboah was a first-team All-American, winning the 100 meter race, and was an honorable mention as part of the 4 x 100 meter relay team. Yeboah holds school records for the outdoor 100 meter race at 10.07 seconds and the indoor 60 meter run at 6.58 seconds. Yeboah was named to the WJCAC All-Academic Team in the fall of 2019.
Ned Azemia joins the Miami Hurricanes after spending his time as a Westerner. Azemia, from Seychelles Islands, was a part of the 4 x 400 meter relay team that finished as first-team All-Americans for the 2018 Indoor Championship and 2018 Outdoor Championship, winning the event both times. He was also a second-team All-American for the 400 meter hurdles. These accomplishments were repeated again in the 2019 Outdoor Championships, finishing first team again in the 4 x 400 meter relays and second team in the 400 meter hurdles. Azemia holds school records for the outdoor 400 meter hurdles at 49.82 seconds and as a part of the indoor 4 x 400 meter relay team. Azemia was named to the WJCAC All-Academic Team in the fall of 2019.
Khamal Stewart-Baynes, originally from Ontario, Canada, joins the Hurricanes track team after an accomplished time as a Westerner. Stewart-Baynes was a part of the first-team All-American 4 x 400 meter relay that finished in first place in the 2018 Indoor Track & Field Championship. The accomplishment was repeated just a few months later in the 2018 Outdoor Track & Field Championship and a third time in the 2019 Outdoor Track & Field Championship, finishing again as a first-team All-American 4 x 400 meter relay team. Stewart-Baynes was also an honorable mention All-American in the 2019 Outdoor Championship for the 400 meter race. Stewart-Baynes is a school record holder as part of the indoor 4 x 400 meter relay team that finished with a combined time of 3:08.57.
“Emmanuel, Khamal, and Ned were leaders for us both in the classroom, on and off the track,” says Head Track & Cross Country Coach James Williams.
“All three are the epitome of a true student-athlete, and saying they will be hard to replace is an understatement. They are true champions, willing to make the sacrifices needed to better themselves and their team.”