Illinois State Track and Field/Cross Country Programs Add 18 to 2017-18 Roster

NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State Track and Field and Cross Country programs added 18 newcomers to the 2017-18 roster during the most recent signing period, as announced by Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Jeff Bovee Wednesday. The incoming class now totals 26 student-athletes who will compete for ISU track and field and cross country.

The 26 incoming student-athletes garner numerous accolades and awards. Within this decorated group are:

• 134 High School Track & Field State Championship Event Qualifiers
• 11 High School Cross Country State Championship Qualifiers 
• 11 High School Track & Field State Champions
• 18 High School Track & Field State Championship Runner-Ups
• 16 High School Track & Field State Championship Third Place Medalists
• One Great Lakes Valley Conference Indoor Champion
• One Great Lakes Valley Conference Outdoor Runner-Up and Third Place Medalist

"Collectively, this is an extremely talented group of newcomers, despite it being our smallest recruiting class over the last three years," said Bovee. "The staff did a great job of landing top talent from around the state of Illinois, but also regionally and internationally as well. We found some key student-athletes for our team during the spring signing period that will be able to contribute immediately."

On the women's side, the newest Redbirds are:

Nicole Bagwell (Tolono, Ill./Tolono Unity High School) / Pole Vault
PRs: Pole Vault – 11-09.75 (3.60m)

• Four-time IHSA Class 2A State Championships Qualifier in pole vault
• Third place finisher in pole vault at the 2014 IHSA Class 2A State Championships
• Four-time Illinois Top Times Qualifier in pole vault
• Two-time Illinois Top Times Runner-Up in pole vault

Deambrea Brown (Peoria, Ill./Peoria Manual High School) / Throws
PRs: Shot Put – 43-09.00 (13.34m)

• Three-time IHSA Class 2A State Championships Qualifier in shot put
• Third place finisher in shot put at the 2016 IHSA Class 2A State Championships
• Two-time Illinois Top Times third place medalist in shot put

Jaclyn Greci (Lockport, Ill./Lockport High School) / Sprints, Relays
PRs: 60m – 8.05 / 100m – 12.22 / 200m – 25.29 / 400m – 56.83

• Fourth place finisher in the 400-meter dash at the 2017 IHSA Class 3A Championships
• Two-time IHSA Class 3A State Championships 100-meter Qualifier
• Three-time IHSA Class 3A State Championships 200-meter Qualifier
• Fourth place finisher in the 200-meter dash at the 2017 Illinois Top Times meet

Parker Francisco (St. Joseph, Ill./St. Joseph-Ogden High School) / Multi, Sprints
PRs: 60m hurdles – 9.11 / 100m hurdles – 14.63 / 300m hurdles – 46.45 / Triple Jump – 34-00.75 (10.38m) / Long Jump – 15-10.00 (4.83m)

• Five-time IHSA Class 1A State Championships Qualifier
• 2017 IHSA Class 1A State Championships Runner-Up in the 100-meter hurdles
• Six-time Illinois Top Times Qualifier
• 2017 Illinois Top Times 60-meter hurdles Champion

Kristin Higgins (Geneva, Ill./Geneva High School) / High Jump
PRs: High Jump – 05-07.00 (1.70m)

• Four-time IHSA Class 3A State Championships Qualifier in high jump
• Third place finisher in high jump at the 2016 IHSA Class 3A State Championships
• 2017 Illinois Top Times Qualifier in high jump

Nicole Humenik (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East High School) / Sprints, Relays
PRs: 100m – 12.83 / 200m – 26.15 / 400m – 1:00.31

• Placed 10th in the 400-meter dash at the 2017 Class 3A Downer's Grove South Sectional
• Finished sixth in long jump at the 2016 Class 3A Lockport Sectional

Samantha Myers (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East High School) / Sprints, Relays
PRs: 60m – 8.40 / 100m – 13.23 / 200m – 26.93 / 400m – 1:01.36

• 2017 IHSA Class 3A State Championships 4x400-meter relay Champion
• 2017 IHSA Class 3A State Championships Qualifier in the 4x200-meter relay
• 12th place finisher in the 200-meter run at the 2016 Class 3A Lockport Sectional

Mya Robinson (Harvey, Ill./Thornton Township High School) / Hurdles, Sprints, Relays
PRs: 60m hurdles – 8.92 / 100m hurdles – 14.24 / 300m hurdles – 44.37

• Eight-time IHSA Class 3A State Championships Qualifier
• 2017 IHSA Class 3A State Championships 100-meter hurdles Champion
• 2017 IHSA Class 3A State Championships 300-meter hurdles Runner-Up
• 2017 Illinois Top Times 60-meter hurdles Champion

Madalyn Rondeau (Waukesha, Wis./Catholic Memorial High School) / Sprints, Relays
PRs: 200m – 25.70 / 400m – 1:00.16

• Three-time WIAA D2 State Championship 200-meter Qualifier
• Seven-time WIAA D2 State Championship Relay Qualifier
• 2017 WIAA D2 State Championship 4x100-meter relay Champion
• 2017 WIAA D2 State Championship 4x200-meter relay Champion

Kameesha Smith (South Holland, Ill./Thornwood High School) / High Jump, Long Jump, Sprints
PRs: High Jump – 05-09.00 (1.75m) / Long Jump – 18-10.50 (5.75m) / 200m – 25.53 / 400m – 57.34

• Five-time IHSA Class 3A State Championships Qualifier
• 2017 IHSA Class 3A State Championships Runner-Up in high jump
• Three-time Illinois Top Times Qualifier in high jump
• 2016 Illinois Top Times High Jump Champion
• Third place finisher in high jump 2014 at the Illinois Top Times meet

Cassie Wilson (Downs, Ill./Tri-Valley High School) / Pole Vault
PRs: Pole Vault – 11-03.00 (3.43m)

• Four-time IHSA Class 1A State Championships Qualifier in pole vault
• Finished seventh in pole vault at the 2017 IHSA Class 1A State Championships

For the men, the newest Redbirds are:

Brandon Gage (Oak Park, Ill./Oak Park and River Forest High School) / Sprints, Relays
PRs: 200m – 22.77/ 400m – 48.77

• Two-time IHSA Class 3A State Championships Qualifier in the 400-meter dash
• Third place finisher in the 400-meter dash at the 2016 IHSA Class 3A State Championships

Davon Haynes (Chicago, Ill./St. Joseph's College) / Long Jump, Triple Jump
PRs: Long Jump – 23-11.00 (7.29m) / Triple Jump – 47-05.75 (14.47m)

• 2017 GLVC Indoor Champion in the long jump
• 2017 GLVC Outdoor Runner-Up in the long jump
• 2017 GLVC Outdoor third place medalist in the triple jump

Josiah Lemay (Tuscola, Ill./Tuscola High School) / Pole Vault
PRs: 14-00.00 (4.28m)

•     2017 IHSA Class 1A State Championships Qualifier in pole vault
•     2017 Illinois Top Times Qualifier in pole vault

Avery Lyons (Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington High School) / Sprints, Relays
PRs: 400m – 48.55

• Two-time IHSA Class 3A State Championships Qualifier in the 400-meter dash
• Finished fourth in the 400-meter dash at the 2017 IHSA Class 3A State Championships
• Placed fourth in the 400-meter dash at the 2016 IHSA Class 3A State Championships

Sam Peschke (Crystal Lake, Ill./Crystal Lake South High School) / Pole Vault
PRs: Pole Vault – 15-03.00 (4.65m)

• Two-time IHSA Class 3A State Championships Qualifier in pole vault
• 2017 IHSA Class 3A State Championships Runner-Up in pole vault
• Two-time Illinois Top Times Qualifier in pole vault
• 2017 Illinois Top Times Runner-Up in pole vault

Kyle Rowe (Marietta, Ga./Pope High School) / Pole Vault
PRs: 14-07.25 (4.45m)

• 2017 GHSA State Championships (5A & 6A) Runner-Up in pole vault
• 2017 GA Indoor PV State Championships Qualifier

These 18 Redbirds join the following fall signees to complete the 2017-18 recruiting class:

LaMont Allen (DeSoto, Mo./DeSoto High School) / High Jump, Triple Jump, Long Jump
PRs: High Jump – 6-10.25 (2.09m) / Triple Jump – 46-03.00 (14.10m) / Long Jump – 22-06.00 (6.86m)

• 2017 Missouri State Track and Field Championships High Jump Champion

Scott Anderson (Naperville, Ill./Neaqua Valley High School) / Distance
PRs: 1,600m – 4:20.84 / 3,200m – 9:15.24 / 3 Mile (xc) – 14:55.00 / 5K (xc) – 15:37.70

• 2017 IHSA Class 3A State Championships Qualifier in the 1,600-meter run
• Member of the 2016 IHSA Class 3A State Champion Cross Country team

Ryan Ashenbremer (Normal, Ill./Normal West High School) / Pole Vault
PRs: Pole Vault – 16-05.00 (5.00m)

• Three-time IHSA Class 3A Qualifier in pole vault
• Finished sixth in pole vault at the 2017 IHSA Class 3A State Championships

Julia Bourke (Victoria, Australia) / Throws
PRs: Shot Put – 47-07.50 (14.52m) / Hammer Throw – 194-07.00 (59.31m)

• 2017 Victorian Championships Women's Under 20 Hammer Throw Champion
• 2017 Victorian Championships Women's Open Shot Put Champion

Logan Calvin (Bloomington, Ind./Bloomington North High School) / Throws
PRs: Discus – 173-01.00 (52.76m) / Shot Put – 60-05.50 (18.42m)

• 2017 IHSAA Boys State Championships third place medalist in discus
• 2017 IHSAA Boys State Championships Runner-Up in shot put

Jake Gillum (Metamora, Ill./Metamora Township High School) / Distance
PRs: 800m – 1:53.74 / 1,600m – 4:13.52 / 3 Mile (xc) – 14:50.00 / 5K (xc) – 16:20.20

• 2017 IHSA Class 2A State Championships 800-meter Champion
• 2017 IHSA Class 2A State Championship 1,600-meter Champion
• Finished fourth in the 1,600-meter run at the 2017 Illinois Top Times meet

Audrey Harrod (Hinckley, Ill./Hinckley Big Rock High School) / Mid-Distance
PRs: 400m – 58.07 / 800m – 2:14.76

• 2017 IHSA Class 1A State Championships Qualifier in the 200-meter dash
• 2017 IHSA Class 1A State Championships third place finisher in the 400-meter dash
• 2017 IHSA Class 1A State Championships 800-meter Runner-Up
• 2017 Illinois Top Times third place medalist in the 400-meter dash
• 2017 Illinois Top Times 800-meter Runner-Up

Audrey Janik (Wauwatosa, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran High School) / Distance
PRs: 800m – 2:11.92 / 1,600m – 4:59.46 / 3,200m – 10:53.18 / 5K (xc) – 18:17.82

• Three-time Wisconsin State Cross Country Championship Top-Five Finisher
• 2016 WIAA Track & Field State Championships 1,600-meter Champion
• 2016 WIAA Track & Field State Championships 800-meter Runner-Up

"With our strong incoming class and the return of the majority of our point-scorers from the 2016-17 season, we are truly looking forward to the upcoming year," Bovee said. "The potential of what we can accomplish as a cross country and track and field program, both within the MVC and at the NCAA level, is very exciting."

For more information on all incoming athletes and the upcoming season, please visit GoRedbirds.com.

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