Aug. 1, 2005
NORMAL, Ill. -
Head track and field coach Elvis Forde and his staff have been busy over the summer months, adding depth and talent to the Redbird track and field program. Forde has signed several athletes to both the men's and women's programs for the 2005-06 season.
Forde believes the new recruits will be a major asset in helping the program get back to the championship level.
"All of the kids we have signed competed very well at their respective state meets and we are expecting these recruits to help get us back into that championship program that we want to have," said Forde. "Right now we think we will see some good things in the future from this class."
Blake Gish, a native of Saunemin, Ill., attended Pontiac High School and was in the finals of the shot put and the discus at the IHSA Class AA State Meet. He took second place in the shot put at the state meet and will add quality talent to the already-strong throws squad.
"The new freshman that are coming in have done very well, but will have to prove themselves when they get here," said Forde. "Our returning athletes are not going to be soft on the freshman coming in."
Thornwood High School product Thomas Orr, a native of South Holland, Ill., is a long jumper, triple jumper and sprinter who will help the Redbirds this season.
"Thomas had a very good year in the long jump, which is an area in the program that we need help in, especially on the men's team," said Forde.
Michael Liberatore, a product of Springfield, Ill., competed for Pleasant Plains High School. Liberatore finished in the top six in the 110-meter hurdles at the IHSA Class A State meet and has the ability to help the Redbirds in the event in the conference championships.
"One of the things that attracted us to Michael is the height and size he has for a hurdler," said Forde. "That is just one of the things that we liked about him and I think he'll be able to come in and do well in the event."
Michael Richardson of Buffalo Grove, Ill., attended Buffalo Grove High School and is a middle distance and distance runner who will also help the Redbirds out this fall in cross country.
"I see Michael coming right in and making strides in cross country this fall," said Forde. "We didn't do as well as we would have liked in cross country last season and we are looking for all the help we can get this year. Michael will be someone who can step right in and help us."
The 2004-05 Redbirds did not have any athletes to compete in the heptathlon and pentathlon and will look to Joe Coleman, of Schaumburg, Ill. Forde believes that Coleman, a Conant High School product, will be able to come right in and score points in the conference championships.
"Joe is a very unique kid," said Forde. "He will compete in the heptathlon and pentathlon for us. Joe's a big, strong kid who has done well in the shot put, long jump and the short hurdles. Typically, what we are looking for from him is someone to be working as a decathlete."
Randall Robbins, from Quincy, Ill., attended Quincy Senior and will sprint and compete in the high jump for the `Birds this fall. Robbins has cleared 6-6 already in the event which should make him a contender in the conference championships.
"Randall will help us a lot in the 400, the other sprinting events and the high jump," said Forde.
Bishop Noll Institute graduate Samuel Watts, a native of Gary, Ind., is a state champion in the long jump at the Indiana State meet. Primarily he will compete in the long jump, the 100 and 20o-meters for the Redbirds.
"Sam is one of the top recruits we signed for this fall," said Forde. "He will be a tremendous asset joining the program giving us some help in the jump and sprinting events."
Olutola Sakehinde, a transfer from Texas-El Paso, has already jumped over 6-11 in the high jump and will pair up with Robbins in the event. A native of Nigeria, Sakehinde will be a top-contender in the Missouri Valley Conference in the high jump.
"Olutola and Randall will team up very well in the high jump and give us a good punch in the event," said Forde. "We have a lot of individuals that we think after the first five or six months in the program will be able to come in and score some points in the conference which will improve our stock. With the new additions to the team, we look to move up and improve in the conference race."
Forde and his staff have also added some outstanding athletes to the women's program.
"On the women's side, we are a lot more fortunate in the quality of our program," said Forde. "We have added some depth in the distance area which we are really looking forward to this fall."
Kathleen Thompson and teammate Kim Smuddle, both of Geneva, Ill., are middle-distance and distance runners. Smuddle was the runner-up in the 800-meters for Geneva High School at the IHSA AA State meet this past spring and her time of 2:09 would have won the Missouri Valley Conference 800-meter race this past year.
"Kathleen is a good middle distance runner that we are looking forward to having compete for us," said Forde. "Kim brings a lot of credentials to the program. These two individuals will definitely help us in that area."
Samantha Springer, a native of Tremont, Ill., was in the finals of the shot put and won the discus for Tremont High School at the IHSA Class AA State meet. Springer will join the throws squad adding depth and talent.
"All the kids that we have signed have established themselves in their respective state performances and we hope that they come here and transfer that into a performance where they can score points in the conference and help push the programs forward," said Forde.
