Former Redbird Tyler Morse Signs Professionally With ASICS

NORMAL, Ill. – Recently graduated Illinois State track and field standout Tyler Morse has signed with ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE as a member of its post-collegiate, Olympic development program.

"I am excited for Tyler to earn this opportunity with ASICS," ISU head coach Jeff Bovee said. "He has demonstrated a steady improvement as a runner over the course of his Redbird career. Tyler is as dedicated as they come and has committed himself to this sport for many years, so it is satisfying to see him be rewarded with the opportunity to join this professional training group. The coaches at ASICS-GTC-Elite seemed very eager to sign him and to get started this fall."

Morse graduated with a degree in business administration from Illinois State in May, following the end of his collegiate running career with the Redbirds. The Mapleton, Illinois, native boasts personal bests of 14:15.8 in the 5,000 meters and 30:13.4 at 10,000 meters. He also has a best of 8:20.5 at 3,000 meters indoors. He finished his collegiate career at ISU with a third-place finish in the 3,000 meter steeplechase to earn All-MVC honors at the 2017 Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships and also added a seventh-place finish in the 5,000 meter race to earn points for the Redbirds.

"We are excited to have Tyler join our group and relocate to Greenville," stated director/coach Mike Caldwell. "He really enjoyed his visit to our beautiful city and seems like a great fit with our current group of athletes. We think he has potential in the 5,000, 10,000 and the 3000 meter steeplechase. He just ventured into the steeple event this year and should benefit from training with Austin Steagall." Steagall was the NCAA DII runner-up in the steeplechase in 2016. 

GTC-ELITE produced four qualifiers for the 2016 USA Olympic Trials Marathon in Los Angeles and is sponsored by ASICS, the 45-year-old Greenville Track Club, Greenville Health System, ScanSource, Joy Real Estate, the Bare Minimum Track Club,  generous individual contributors and partnerships with Performance Therapy, Carolina Spine and Rehab, Soleus Running Watches, Boston Bill Sunglasses, Roll Recovery, FinalSurge, The ATI Running Academy, ElliptiGO, NormaTec Recovery Boots and Cocoa Elite recovery products.

GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.