NORMAL, Ill. - The Illinois State track and field and cross country program added nine new athletes to their roster for the 2014-15 season, head coach Elvis Forde announced Wednesday. The new Redbirds are Sydney Billingsley (Lexington, Ill./ University), Rachel Devereux (Decatur, Ill./ Saint Teresa), Patrice Jones (Roscoe, Ill../Hononegah), Molly Krawczykowski (Villa Park, Ill./Willowbrook), Jalynn Roberts-Lewis (Des Moines, Iowa./ Roosevelt), J.D. LaFayette (Normal, Ill./University), Connor Ehnle (Tremont, Ill./ Tremont), A.J. Marmion (Geneseo, Ill./Geneseo) and Joseph Singleton (Wheaton, Ill./ Glenbard South) signed their National Letters of Intent to continue their athletic and academic careers at Illinois State University.
Sydney Billingsley | Lexington, Ill. | University HS | Distance
Top Times:
1,600-meter: 4:59
3,200-meter: 11:11
800-meter: 2:17
Three-mile: 17:21
Honors: 2011 and 2012 Most Outstanding Track Athlete, 2013 Track Outstanding Leadership Award, 2011 and 2012 Cross Country MVP, 2013 Cross Country Captain, eight-time all-state honoree (three cross country, five track), sixth at 2012 IHSA AA State cross country meet with a 17:21 three-mile, third at 2012 IHSA Class 2A state track meet in the 1,600-meter race.
Forde on Billingsley: "We have been fortunate to watch her progress over the years in regards to her career at University High School. She is going to add some quality to our track program right away. I know she is a competitive person, and I know she is going to be fighting for a cross country traveling spot right off the bat. She is a very talented runner, and we are hoping she stays as healthy as she possibly can. We think she is going to be a great runner in the future."
Rachel Devereux | Decatur, Ill. | Saint Teresa HS | Distance
Top Times:
1,600-meter: 5:21.63
Three-mile: 17:31
3,200-meter: 11:23.24
Honors: Helped lead her team to four state championships, four-time all-state honoree, placing 10th, 11th, third and fourth, respectively, awarded team MVP in 2013, newcomer of the Year in 2010 and spirit award in 2012 & 2013, Illinois Prep Harrier cross country girls 1A Runner of the Year in 2012, 4x800-meter relay state champion in 2013, sixth at state in the 3,200-meter race in 2012. Named a 2013 All-American National Champion and was chosen to run on Team Illinois in 2013. Finalist for the Decatur ESPN ESPYS 2013
Forde on Devereux: "Obviously, we have some pedigree in the Devereux family already here in Ellen. The two are very competitive with each other, and that might add a little fire for the both of them. With Rachel on board, it is great for the program. She is very bubbly, but I think she wants to be recognized as her own individual. She has a great personality, and I know she will bring a lot of fun to the program as well."
Patrice Jones | Roscoe, Ill. | Hononegah HS | Sprints, Jumps
Top Times:
55-meter: 7.2
100-meter: 12.43
200-meter: 25.96
400-meter: 56.40
Long Jump:Â 5.66m // 18-07.00
Honors: Holds school records in the long jump (indoor and outdoor), 55-meter dash (indoor) and the 4x400-meter relay (indoor and outdoor) ... 2012 USATF Youth National Indoor Champion in the 55-meter dash ... AAU and USATF National Junior Olympic qualifier and medalist in 400-meter and long jump ... 2013 conference champion in the 100-meter ... 2011 conference MVP in the 100-, 200-, 400-meter and long jump ... 2011 conference and sectional champion and state qualifier in the 400-meter and 4x400-meter relay... 2011 Female Athlete of the Year runner-up ... two-time state qualifier in multiple events.
Forde on Jones: "The key about Patrice is that she is a long jumper, and that is an area we have been short-handed in. It is an area that she will bring some depth to. She will also serve some responsibilities in the sprints as well. She is a very good person, but she will grow really fast here. I am excited for her to work here to bring skill to the long jump area and be a point-scorer for us next year."
Molly Krawczykowski | Villa Park, Ill. | Willowbrook HS | Distance
Top Times:
400-meter: 1:01.66
800-meter: 2:15.63
1,600-meter: 5:09.62
Three-Mile: 17:43
Forde on Krawczykowski: "Probably one of the best finds. She was a hidden gem because she was primarily a basketball player, but with her athletic ability, she is going to be an outstanding track athlete in the future. She will definitely help us right off the bat. I know on the track she will make a difference right away here at Illinois State University. We are very glad she has chosen us, and we are looking forward to seeing what she does in her final year of high school and join our program come August."
Jalynn Roberts-Lewis | Des Moines, Iowa | Roosevelt HS | Sprints, Jumps
Top Times:
100-meter: 12.0
200-meter: 24.40
Long Jump: 5.76m // 18-10.75
Honors: State record holder in the 4x100-meter relay ... 4x100- and 4x200-meter relay school record holder ... two-time Drake Relays long jump champion ... three-time Drake Relays champion in the 4x100-and 4x200-meter relays ... two-time state champion4x100-meter relay ... three-time state champion 4x200-meter relay ... 2013 state runner-up in the 100-meter dash... three-time top-four finisher in the 100-meter dash at the Drake Relays
Forde on Roberts-Lewis: "I know she has been working hard this fall and early on in this season. She will be one of the top jumpers in Iowa this year and could be potentially the state champion in that event this year too. She will also be a solid sprinter, and with the long jump added to that, it will make it special to have her on our roster. She had a lot of schools that she chose Illinois State over, and that made us feel very good. We are getting a high-quality athlete. The thing about her is she is so athletic, and that is the key for us. We can't wait for her to join us come August."
J.D. LaFayette | Normal, Ill. | University HS | Middle Distance
Top Times:
400-meter: 49.75
800-meter: 1:55.80
1,600-meter: 4:18.66
Three-Mile: 15:00
Honors: 2013 Track MVP ... 2013 4x800-meter relay state runner-up ... 2013 Bloomington-Normal Intercity cross country champion.
Forde on LaFayette: "The thing that attracted us about J.D. was his 800-meter prowess. He performed very well at the state meet last year. He has some incredible range in the 400- through 800-meter races, and that is one of the things that Coach Bovee saw about him. I think his track prowess will show right off the bat. He reminds me a lot of CJ Hamilton, and CJ is doing some very special things right now. We are looking forward to J.D. doing the same things as well. We are excited he is in our program. He is a local product, and it is always exciting to have the local athletes run here at Illinois State."
Connor Ehnle | Tremont, Ill. | Tremont HS | Distance
Top Times:
1,600-meter: 4:26.26
3,200-meter: 9:31
Three-Mile: 14:52
Honors: Four-time All-State honoree in track ... sixth-place finish at the state cross country meet in 2013.
Forde on Ehnle: "I think one of the reasons Coach Bovee was attracted to him was he is a local kid as well, and a kid that is young to distance runner. He has a nice frame that is built for distance races, and in time, he will be a very good runner. Connor will be a kid that wants to come in and make an impact right away. He has that ability. We know that Coach Bovee will take some time with him and get him to perform at an exceptional level. I know that he is determined enough to make an impact."
A.J. Marmion | Geneseo, Ill. | Geneseo HS | Throws
Top Marks:
Discus: 52.99m // 173-10.00
Shot Put: 15.71m // 51-06.50
Honors: 2012 All-State, finishing ninth ... 2013 state qualifier in shot put and discus, as well as qualifying for the Top Times in shot put ... 2012 and 2013 All-Conference and All-Metro honoree ... Currently holds school record in the discus, breaking Curt Jenson's school record in 2013 ... member of the wrestling team that finished second in state in 2013 and a member of the football team that finished second in state this past year ... named to the Honorable Mention football team in 2013.
Forde on Marmion: "Our throwers are obviously moving on after this year, and we found a young man in A.J. Marmion. He has some size, and we think he can come in and make an impact. He loves the sport and is very passionate about it. I think the thing about him is when you have that love and passion, it develops into success. Coach Bennett has done a great job with Tim (Glover), Brittany (Smith) and Curt (Jensen), and I figured this is another guy he can develop into a high quality athlete. He is a hard worker, and Coach Bennett raves about him."
Joseph Singleton | Wheaton, Ill. | Glenbard South HS | Distance
Top Times:
1,600-meter: 4:24
3,200-meter: 9:28
Three-Mile: 14:43
5K: 15:44
Honors: Honor roll member ... Academic All-Conference member
Forde on Singleton: "I think Joe is going to turn out to be a solid distance runner, starting from his freshman year here. He is a good student of the sport. He pays good attention to detail. Coach Bovee tried hard to get him here, and any time you put that much emphasis in a student-athlete, you have to believe he is going to be an outstanding athlete. He is an outstanding person as well. He will help keep our cross country program growing, and we think he will be very competitive for a top-seven spot next year."
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