NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Jeff Bovee announced the signing of 13 to National Letters of Intent, for the 2015-16 season.
The new Redbirds are: James Brandenburg (Frankfort, Indiana/Frankfort HS), Michael Cook (Kewanee, Illinois/Wethersfield HS), Francis Ehigbai (Fishers, Indiana/Hamilton Southeastern HS), Zachary Gregory (St. Louis, Missouri/Timberland HS), Andy Hatch (Union Grove, Wisconsin/Union Grove HS), Dion Hooker (Syncamore, Illinois/Sycamore HS), Wes Honaker (Crown Point, Indiana/Crown Point HS), Paul Ifianayi (Elk Grove Village, Illinois/Elk Grove HS), Adam Schaufelberger (La Grange, Illinois/Lyons Township HS), Austin Sikora (Loves Park, Illinois/Rockford Lutheran HS) and Austin White (Sleepy Hollow, Illinois/ Dundee-Crown HS).
"The 11 new additions to the Redbird recruiting class are highlighted by a talented sprinting group with several nice additions in the jumps and throws," Bovee said. "The majority of our distance running roster returns this year so we put a larger emphasis on filling holes in the sprints and hurdles and field events. Our young throwers will need some time to develop but we have some talent to work with there as well. We will be a much more balanced program this year than last year and we will be very strong in the track events all the way from the 100 meters to 10,000 meters and relays."
Multi-event student-athletes will be represented by Brandenburg. Brandenburg is ranked third in the high jump in the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA). He recorded a jump of 2.01m (6-07) at the 2015 Indoor West Lafayette Individuals. He also competes in the 110-meter hurdles and the 300-meter hurdles. At the 2015 IHSAA Boys' State Final Meet, he clocked his personal-best 110-meter hurdles with a time of 14.61. He earned his personal-best 300-meter hurdles with a time of 39.38 at the 2015 IHSAA Lafayette Jefferson Boys' Regional.
Gregory and Schaufelberger will be joining Glass as the freshmen throwing class for the 2015-16 season. Gregory is the champion of the 2015 Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) Class 5 District 4 Meet with a mark of 15.36m (50-05), while capturing his personal-best shot put throw. He is ranked in the Top-50 in the weight throw. Gregory's personal-best hammer throw is a mark of 48.69m (159-09) and his personal-best weight throw is 18.11m (59-05).
At the 2015 Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Boys' State Final Meet, Schaufelberger was the runner-up in shot put with a mark of 17.98m (59-00). His personal-best shot put throw was recorded at the Downers Grove North Boys' Triangular with a mark of 19.27m (61-03). Schaufelberger's personal-best discus throw is a mark of 45.36m (148-10).
Ehigbai will join Derek Wegman as a jumper. He is currently ranked first in the high jump in the IHSAA. Ehigbai was the champion at the 2015 IHSAA Boys' State Final Meet in the high jump with a personal-best mark of 2.11m (6-11).
Cook will join Arthur as the mid-distance 2015-16 class. He was runner-up in the 800-meter run at the 2015 IHSA Boys' Final Meet with a time of 1:57.07. His personal-best 1,600-meter run is a time of 4:23.68 and his personal-best 3,200-meter run is a time of 9:54.83.
The remaining signees will present the sprinters. Hatch competed in the 55-meter dash at the 2015 USA Track & Field (USATF) Wisconsin Indoor Championships and placed sixth overall with a time of 6.78. He earned his personal-best 200-meter dash at the 2014 WIAA Division I Lutheran Sectional with a time of 22.49.
At the 2015 IHSA Boys' State Final Meet, Hooker earned his personal-best and third-place in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.65. He captured another personal-best in the 200-meter dash with a time of 21.77 at the state final meet, and placed fourth. He also competed in the 4x100-meter relay.
Honaker earned first-place and a personal-best at the IHSAA Boys' Valpariso Regional in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.79. He clocked a personal-best 200-meter dash with a time of 22.21.
At the 2015 IHSA Boys' State Final Meet, Ifianayi was the runner-up in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 37.82. His personal-best 100-meter dash is a time of 11.19; 200-meter dash is a time of 22.33; and 400-meter dash is a clocked time of 49.26.
Sikora clocked a 100-meter dash time of 11.16 at the 2015 IHSA Boys' State Final Meet. His personal-best 200-meter dash time is 23.78.
White's personal-best 100-meter dash is a time of 10.96. His personal-best 200-meter dash is a time of 22.63.
For more information on all incoming athletes please visit GoRedbirds.com to view a list of accomplishments. Below is a complete list of the incoming student-athletes for 2015-16 season.
| Student-Athletes | Event | Hometown | High School/ Previous University |
| Demetria Anderson | Hurdles/Sprints | St. Louis, MO | McCluer North HS |
| Rachel Augius | Multiple events/High Jump | Yorkville, IL | Yorkville HS |
| Ariel Biggs | Multiple events | Aurora, IN | South Dearborn HS |
| Erica Brown | Distance | Katy, TX | Texas Tech University |
| Allison Hinson | Throws | St. Clair, MO | St. Clair HS |
| Lindsey Hoffert | Multiple events | Manlius, IL | Bureau Valley HS |
| Katie Hoffman | Distance | Naperville, IL | Naperville Central HS |
| Nikki Hoffman | Distance | Naperville, IL | Naperville Central HS |
| Rachel Hoffman | Distance | Naperville, IL | Naperville Central HS |
| Tessa Holland | Multiple events/High Jump | Minonk, IL | Fieldcrest HS |
| Kassie Hoyme | Throws | Decorah, IA | Decorah HS |
| Amanda Kereta | Sprints | Henry, IL | Henry-Senachwine HS |
| Kennidi Knoblock | Distance | Wasusa, WI | Wausau East HS |
| Megan Krolak | Distance | Peru, IL | LaSalle-Peru HS |
| Amanda McClain | Sprints/ Jumps | Findlay, IL | Roger C. Sullivan HS |
| Kaitlyn Pearson | Sprints | Hoffman Estates, IL | Elgin Academy |
| Kelsey Person | Mid-Distance | Loves Park, IL | Boylan Catholic HS |
| Kelsie Prear | Sprints | Chicago, IL | Morgan Park HS |
| Lesly Rocha | Distance | Peru, IL | LaSalle-Peru HS |
| Jorjianne Spargrove | Multiple events/ Sprints | Moweaqua, IL | Central A&M HS |
| Katie Stancykowicz | High Jump | Mundelein, IL | Mundelein HS |
| Hannah Stone | Mid-Distance | Tolono, IL | Tolono Unity HS |
| Brandy Thomas | Throws | Ludington, MI | Bay City HS |
| Sarah Voss | Distance | Des Moines, IA | Des Moines Roosevelt HS |
| Ashleigh Wilson | Mid-Distance | Shorewood, IL | Minoka Community HS |
| Skyler Arthur | Distance | Eau Claire, MI | St. Joseph HS |
| James Brandenburg | Multiple events | Frankfort, IN | Frankfort HS |
| Brett Charleton | Sprints | Eureka, IL | Eureka HS |
| Michael Cook | Distance | Kewanee, IL | Wethersfield HS |
| Francis Ehigbai | High Jump | Fishers, IN | Hamilton Southeastern HS |
| Jacob Glass | Throws | Louisville, KY | St. Xavier HS |
| Zachary Gregory | Throws | St. Louis, MO | Timberland HS |
| Andy Hatch | Sprints | Union Grove, WI | Union Grove HS |
| Dion Hooker | Sprints | Sycamore, IL | Sycamore HS |
| Wes Honaker | Sprints | Crown Point, IN | Crown Point HS |
| Paul Ifianayi | Hurdles/ Sprints | Elk Grove Village, IL | Elk Grove HS |
| Jabrille Lewis | Hurdles/ Sprints | St. Louis, MO | Rockwood Summit HS |
| Adam Schaufelberger | Throws | La Grange, IL | Lyons Township HS |
| Austin Sikora | Sprints | Loves Park, IL | Rockford Lutheran HS |
| Shandall Thomas | Sprints | Schaumburg, IL | Schaumburg HS |
| Derek Wegman | Jumps | Downs, IL | Tri-Valley HS |
| Austin White | Sprints | Sleepy Hollow, IL | Dundee-Crown HS |
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