Latisha Johnson and Jarod Tobler signed national letters of intent, Thursday, and will join the Illinois State track and field team for the 2000-01 season.
Johnson, a native of Jacksonville, Ill., and a graduate of Jacksonville High School, has posted marks of 44 feet, five inches in the shot put and 127 feet in the discus. She placed third at the IHSA meet in the shot and plans on majoring in math education.
Head coach John Coughlan believes that Johnson, along with fellow Redbird recruit Heidi Quast, will immediately fill the void left by graduating seniors Melissa Wheeler and Cara Winchell.
"We think that Latisha is a tremendous thrower having thrown the shot put over 44 feet during her senior season," Coughlan said. "One of the things that impresses me the most about her is that she is very athletic. Shell do real well at the collegiate level in the throws."
Tobler graduated from Aurora West High School and was a member of the IHSA Class AA basketball champions. In addition to his hardwood success, Tobler is a quality horizontal jumper. At the IHSA meet, he finished second in the triple jump and fourth in the long jump.
"Jarod is a terrific addition to our group of horizontal jumpers," Coughlan said. "In the triple jump he has jumped 49 feet and 23 feet, five inches in the long jump. He was also the highest placing senior in the state in the long and triple jumps combined. He has a lot of potential."
