May 20, 2011
NORMAL, Ill. - The Illinois State track and field team signed three more student-athletes for the 2011-12 season, as Jianna Williams (Douglasville, Ga.) Wade Reeves (Evansville, Ill.) and Nate Schreiber (New Baden, Ill.) signed National Letters of Intent (NLI) to continue their athletic and academic pursuits at Illinois State.
Head track and field coach Elvis Forde is looking forward to watching the student-athletes continue to grow and improve throughout their careers at Illinois State.
"When you look at this group, our expectation is that they will grow, and as each year passes they will continue to get better," said Forde. "We are excited to work with this group over the next few years and watch them develop into stronger competitors. We want them to become point scorers for our teams and play an important role."
Jianna Williams | Douglasville, Ga. | South Paulding High School | Throws W
illiams is one of the top throwers in the nation in the weight throw, hammer throw and shot put. During her 2011 high school season, Williams recorded four season-best throws. In the weight throw, Williams recorded a throw of 61-01. Williams threw the hammer 170-00 at the Armed Forces Day Invitational (May 15) and recorded a throw of 46-08 in the shot put at the Georgia Open (Jan. 30). She also has a season-best throw of 141-00 in the discus. Williams capped a stellar senior season, winning the Georgia 4A shot put and discus state titles, but her most recognizable accomplishment came when she won the prestigious 2011 high school division of the weight throw.
Forde on Williams... "
Jianna brings her own credentials to go along with Brittany (Smith) and Tori (Ziegler). She will come to a conference where she can showcase her talents very early. We expect her to continue to get better and be a point scorer for us early in her career."
Wade Reeves | Evansville, Ill. | Sparta High School | Middle Distance
Reeves ran the 800-meter run in a personal-best time of 2:03 for first place at a Nashville High School track meet. He later finished first in the mile with a personal-best time of 4:29 at a Benton High School track meet. Reeves finished second at the indoor state meet in the two mile with a time of 9:36 and was 12th in the three mile at the state meet, crossing the finishline in 15:13. Williams is a member of the honor roll, student council and math team.
Forde on Reeves...
"Wade is going to bring an aggressive style of running. He is very determined, which is important when trying to be successful in the middle and long distances. I think Wade will bring a good presence and drive to our team."
Nathan Schrieber | New Baden, Ill. | Wesclin High School | Sprints
Schrieber competed in the 100- and 200-meter dashes at the 2010 state track meet. In the 100-meter dash, he finished fifth at the state meet in 10.9 and was second in the 200-meter dash, finishing the race in 22.0. Schrieber also ran the 55-meter dash in a personal-best time of 6.62. Schrieber earned all-conference honors as a running back after the 2010 football season.
Forde on Schrieber...
"Nathan is a short sprinter, and I think he will add depth to our male sprinters. He is a fine young sprinter, but he still has a few things to learn. However, by the time he comes to ISU, he will have matured and have all of his techniques down."
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