Illinois State track and field head coach Elvis Forde has stayed busy during the summer months looking for new athletes to compliment the ones already in place.
On Monday, Forde announced the signing of nine new Redbirds to the track and field program, but does not plan to stop there.
Its a process and were still looking to sign a few more kids before next season, Forde said. Typically, were very careful about who we give money to in regards to scholarships. They have to be able to come in and score points for us at the Missouri Valley Conference meet. There are some athletes out there who we are looking to sign who we think can help us out down the road and that is very critical to us.
Added to the womens team for the 2004-05 season were Whitney Beals, Francis Epps, Suzy Turner, Devon Williams and Janine Zylinski. On the mens side, Nick Dunn, Brian Glaza and Geoff Houtman were added, along with Charles (Wade) Rippy who was signed last fall.
Beals, a product of Lane Tech High School in Chicago, will also run cross country and will primarily see time in the middle distance events.
We see Whitney primarily running the 800 (meter run) for us, Forde said. She will also add strength to our cross country program. I see a lot of potential in her. She has the ability to get even better from year to year.
Turner, a graduate of Palatine High School, will also run cross country and take part in the middle distance events.
Suzy is a great all-around kid, cross country coach Chris Bailey said. I had a great time recruiting her. She was runner-up in the 1,600 at the state meet, and she will add strength to the mile and 1,500.
Williams, a graduate of Oswego High School, was recruited by Forde primarily as a sprinter and may see time in the relay events next season. Epps, who is a graduate of Gibson City Melvin-Sibley High School, is expected to help the Redbirds out in multi-events like the heptathlon and pentathlon.
Francis can really help us out in the javelin, while Devon has the potential to help us out in the 4x100 and 4x400 relays, Forde said.
Zylinski, a product of Maple Park (Kaneland) High School, won the shot put title at the state meet in May and will look to duplicate that success on the Redbirds throws squad.
On the mens side, Bailey was hard at work strengthening the cross country program with the signings of Dunn, Glaza and Houtman, who will all see time in the middle distance and distance events. Both Dunn (Neuqua Valley) and Glaza (Sandburg) were all-state in cross country, while Houtman (Neuqua Valley) was on the 4x400 relay team that placed third at the state meet.
Nick is a hard worker who got along great with everyone when he came in on his recruiting visit, Bailey said. Brian is a long distance guy who can handle the miles and will help out the cross country program, while Geoff might be the biggest sleeper in the state. He was one of the top half-milers and I see a lot of potential in him.
Rippy, a product of Mahomet-Seymour High School, was recruited to perform in the hurdles and sprints according to Forde.
In talking with Wade, I got the sense that he knows what he has to do in order to be successful at this level, Forde said. Hes shown qualities that we like to see in a long hurdler because that is such a tough event.
