NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State track and field and cross country programs signed eight National Letters of Intent to the 2017 class, as announced by Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Jeff Bovee Monday. Bovee also added three mid-year signees that will compete for the Redbirds during the 2017 season.
The new Redbirds are LaMont Allen, Scott Anderson, Jack Anstey, Ryan Ashenbremer, Cody Baele, Julia Bourke, Logan Calvin, Danae Gill, Jake Gillum, Audrey Harrod and Audrey Janik.
"During the November signing period, we added more key pieces in the continued effort of building a well-balanced track and field program here at Illinois State University," Bovee said. "Our 2017 class is marked by the addition of six middle-distance and distance runners, two throwers, one sprinter, one combination jumper and one pole vaulter. Each of these signees has competed at a very high level at their respective state championship or national meet for our international athlete from Australia."
Anderson, Gillum, Harrod and Janik represent the distance crew for the 2017-18 class. Anderson's personal-best in cross country over a three mile course is 14:55. He also competed at the Nike Cross Country Midwest Regionals, where he placed 32nd with a 5K time of 15:37. On the track, his personal-best 1,600-meter run is a time of 4:22.88. Anderson placed 15th in the 3,200-meter run at the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Class 3A Boys Track & Field State Championship. His personal-best 3,200 meter is a time of 9:15.24.
Gillum finished in the top-10 at the 2016 IHSA Cross Country State Championships with a personal-best three-mile time of 14:50. On the track, Gillum placed fourth in the 1,600-meter run at the 2016 IHSA Boys Track and Field Championships with a time of 4:22.38. His personal-best best 1,600 meter time is 4:21.66. Gillum won the 800-meter run at the Mid-Illini Boys Conference Championships with a personal-best time of 1:56.38.
On the women's side, Harrod was the runner-up in the 400-meter dash (58.84) and the 800-meter run (2:14.76) at the 2016 IHSA Class 1A Girls Track & Field Championships. She also finished third in both the 400-meter dash and 800-meter run at the IL Prep Top Times indoor meet during her 2016 campaign.
Janik's earned third place in the 5K at the 2016 Wisconsin State Cross Country Championships. In cross country, she has been a top-10 finisher in four-consecutive state championships. Her personal-best on a 5K course is 18:24. Janik is the 2016 Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletics Association (WIAA) 1,600-meter run state champion. She ran her personal-best 1,600-meter time of 4:59.46 to clench the title. She also was the 2016 WIAA runner-up in the 800-meter (2:11.92) and finished third in the 3,200-meter run (10:53.18).
Ashenbremer, Allen, Bourke and Calvin make up the 2017 field event class. Bourke and Calvin will competed for Illinois State in throwing events, while Ashenbremer and Allen compete in jump events.
Bourke, a native of Melbourne, Australia, placed fifth in the shot put at the Australian Junior Championships at the Australian National Championships, Bourke finished sixth in the shot put with a toss of 13.39 (43-11.25) and 13th in the hammer with a mark of 51.28 (168-03). Her personal-best shot put is a toss of 14.23 (46-08.25), while her PB hammer is a mark of 52.17 (171-02).
Calvin was the runner-up in the discus throw at the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) Boys Track and Field Sectionals with a personal-best toss of 156-10. He finished third in shot put at IHSAA Boys Track and Field State Championships finals with a personal-best throw of 56-07.25.
Allen competed at the 2016 USATF Junior National Outdoor Track and Field Championships in high jump and placed ninth overall. He was the runner-up in high jump at the 2016 Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) Track and Field Championships. His personal-best in the event is a height of 06-10.25. He also be competing in long jump and triple jump for the Redbirds.
Ashenbremer is a two-time IHSA Class 3A State Championship qualifier and three-time Illini Prep Top Times qualifier. His personal-best vault is a height of 16-05.00. Ashenbremer is also a three-time AAU National qualifier and a two-time New Balance National qualifier.
Anstey, Baele and Gill will be joining the Redbird squad for the 2017 indoor and outdoor season.
"We have three new Redbirds joining us in January (Jack Anstey, Cody Baele and Danae Gill), Bovee said. "These athletes will be eligible to compete right away. I am very excited about these mid-year recruits and the immediate impact they will have on our program."
Anstey, a native of Toowoomba, Australia, competed at the Australian Junior Championships where he placed third in the 800-meter run with a PB time of 1:50.11 and fourth in the 1,500-meter run. His personal best in the 1,500 meter is 3:48.60.
Baele has competed the past two seasons at Iowa Central Community College. Baele won the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the NJCAA Regional Outdoor Championships and placed sixth overall at the NJCAA National Championships with a time of 9:34.34. He also competed in the 5,000-meter run and the 10,000-meter run at the NJCAA National meet. Baele placed fourth in the 10,000-meter run at the 2016 Drake Relays with a PB time of 30:13.93. He placed second in the 5,000-meter run at the Kansas Relays with a personal-best time of 14:44.28. Baele was the runner-up at the 2016 NJCAA Half Marathon Championships with a time of 1:08.44.
Gill, a native of Christ Church, Barbados will be joining the Redbird sprinters. Her personal-best 100-meter run dash is a time of 12.09, while her PB 200-meter dash is a time of 24.94.
"With the addition of the eleven new Redbirds between the spring and fall of 2017, we have most of the key pieces in place to continue moving our team in the direction of competing for Valley Championships in all three sports," Bovee said.
For more information on all incoming athletes please visit GoRedbirds.com accomplishments. Below is a list of the incoming student-athletes for 2017-18 season.
GoRedbirds.com:Â Your online source for Illinois State Athletics, tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
