On Wednesday night, Jyles Etienne officially closed his college recruitment by signing a National Letter of Intent to high jump at Indiana University.

Indiana boasts one of the finest track and field programs in the country. The Hoosiers have earned four team National Championships, 47 individual National Championships (five in the high jump), 50 Big 10 Conference team championships, 546 Big 10 individual event titles, 14 Olympics medals (seven Gold), and 464 All-American recognitions in their storied history.

When asked why he chose Indiana, here is what Jyles had to say:

I chose Indiana because of the mix of good academics, athletics, and campus life. I want to follow in the footsteps Derek Drouin and have a great impact there as a high jumper. I feel that Coach [Mike] Erb really displayed characteristics as a coach that would help me get to the next level. Lastly, the reputation of the school spoke for itself through friends that go there, and in the Big 10. I'm excited to continue my athletic and academic career as a Hoosier.

Jyles will make an immediate impact when he arrives in Bloomington. With his senior year of outdoor track still ahead of him, his personal record of 6′ 11″ would have placed him second on last year’s Hoosier team, just a shade behind Paul Galas’ 6′ 11.75″. Galas finished 6th at the Big 10 Outdoor Championships last year with a height of 6′ 9.5″, behind a winning height of 7′ 1.75″. Indiana finished 10th out of 12 teams in the Big 10 Outdoor Championships last spring.

Indiana’s Assistant Track & Field coach Mike Erb had this to say about Jyles’ decision to join the Hoosiers:

We couldn't be more excited for Jyles to join the Hoosier Track and Field family. From the first time we saw Jyles compete, there was no doubt that he had the tools to become an elite high jumper. His size was immediately impressive, and we were even more intrigued when we learned just how new he was to the event. Jyles is a welcome addition and will surely add to the storied history of high level jumpers at Indiana.

The Bahamian had a sensational outdoor season last year as he won the CARIFTA Games (6′ 9.5″), New York Relays (6′ 11″ – meet record), Loucks Games (6′ 6″), Suffolk Division Championship (6′ 10″ – meet record), Suffolk County Championship (6′ 9″ – tied meet record), New York State Federation Championship (6′ 10″), and the Bahamas Junior Nationals (6′ 10.75″). He also finished runner-up at the Penn Relays (6′ 9″ – Top American) and the New Balance Outdoor Nationals (6′ 10.25″).

He finished the season as the 6th best junior in America with a season’s best leap of 6′ 11″. That height would have placed him 13th at the NCAA Division I Championships and already leaves him just outside of Indiana’s all-time Top 10 jumps.

This spring Jyles will attempt to defend his numerous state and county crowns and reset the 1979 Suffolk County record of 7′ 1″.

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