NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Jeff Bovee announced the addition of 14 student-athletes to the Redbird squad during the fall signing period. Thirteen individuals will join the team for the 2019-20 season, while Aanise Sajna will be eligible to compete immediately in the 2018-19 season.
The 14 incoming student-athletes garner numerous accolades and awards. Collectively, the newest Redbirds have:
- Qualified for the High School Track & Field State Championship (indoor or outdoor) 78 times
- Qualified for the High School Cross Country State Championship 19 times
- Won nine High School Track & Field Individual State Championships
- Placed second at the High School Track & Field State Championship seven times
- Finished third at the High School Track & Field State Championship six times
- Won two High School Cross Country Individual State Championships
"It was important with this recruiting class to not only sign high-level performers, but to also add depth to our team since we will be graduating a very talented group of seniors this spring," said Bovee. "With several state champions and many state medalists in this group, I think our staff has done a great job filling some big holes. More importantly, these newcomers are quality students and leaders who will enable us to continue to build on our commitment to academics and personal development."
On the women's side, the newest Redbirds are:
Emma Argo (Eureka, Illinois / Eureka High School) / Distance
PRs: 1600-meter – 5:13.03 / 3-Mile (XC) – 16:59.73
- Back-to-back IHSA Class 1A Cross Country State Champion in 2017 and 2018
- Four-time IHSA Class 1A State Cross Country Championship qualifier
- Two-time IHSA Class 2A State Track & Field qualifier in the 1600-meter
Paige Arseneau (Pekin, Illinois / Pekin High School) / Distance
PRs: 1600-meter – 5:16.40 / 3200-meter – 11:25.51 / 3-Mile (XC) – 17:48.32
- Four-time IHSA 3A State Cross Country Championships qualifier (placed 63rd in 2018)
- Qualified for the 2018 IHSA 3A State Track & Field Championships in the 3200-meter
- Finished second in the 3200-meter at the 2018 IHSA 3A Danville Sectional
Mackenzie Brownrigg (Mokena, Illinois / Lincoln-Way Central High School) / Distance
PRs: 1600-meter – 5:07:66 / 3200-meter – 11:15.80 / 3-Mile (XC) – 17:45.75
- 2018 IHSA 3A State T&F Championships qualifier in the 1,600-meter run
- 2018 Illinois Top Times Class 3A Qualifier in the 1600-meter run (finished eighth)
- Two-time IHSA 3A State XC Championships qualifier
- 2017 IHSA 3A XC Tinley Park Regional Champion
Grace Daun (Wauconda, Illinois / Wauconda High School) / High Jump
PRs: High Jump – 1.72m (5-08.00)
- 2018 IHSA Class 3A State Champion in the high jump
- Three-time IHSA Class 3A State Track & Field Championships qualifier in the high jump
- Won the high jump competition at the 2018 USATF Illinois Association State meet
- Competed in the high jump at the 2017 USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships
Zofia LeHew (Brimfield, Illinois / Elmwood High School) / High Jump
PRs: High Jump – 1.65m (5-05.00)
- Two-time IHSA Class 1A State Track & Field Championships qualifier in the high jump
- Finished seventh in the high jump at the 2018 IHSA Class 1A State Track & Field Championships
- Placed seventh in the high jump at the 2018 Illinois Top Times Meet (Class 1A)
Aanise Sajna (Peoria, Illinois / Dunlap High School) / Jumps
PRs: Long Jump – 5.91m (19-04.75) / Triple Jump – 11.95m (39-02.50)
- Four-time IHSA 2A State Track & Field Championships qualifier in the long jump (placed fifth in 2018)
- Two-time IHSA 2A State Track & Field Championships qualifier in the triple jump (placed sixth in 2018)
- Four-time Illinois Top Times Class 2A Long Jump qualifier
- Placed fifth in both the long and triple jump at the 2018 Illinois Top Times Meet
- Illinois Top Times Class 2A Long Jump runner-up in 2016 and third-place finisher in 2015
Emma Smith (Carlinville, Illinois / Carlinville High School) / Pole Vault
PRs: Pole Vault – 3.65m (12-00.00)
- 2018 Illinois Top Times Class 1A Pole Vault runner-up
- Placed third in pole vault at the 2017 and 2018 IHSA 1A State Track & Field Championships
- Three-time IHSA 1A State Track & Field Championships qualifier
- Three-time Illinois Top Times qualifier
Danielle Taets (Orion, Illinois / Orion High School) / Jumps and Hurdles
PRs: 100m Hurdles – 14.72 / 300m Hurdles – 46.00 / Triple Jump – 11.76m (38-07.00)
- 2018 IHSA Class 1A Track & Field State Champion in the 100-meter hurdles and triple jump
- Finished third in the 300-meter hurdles at the 2018 IHSA Class 1A State Track & Field Championships
- 2018 Illinois Top Times Class 1A triple jump champion
- 2017 IHSA Class 1A State Track & Field triple jump runner-up
- 2017 Illinois Top Times Class 1A triple jump runner-up
For the men, the newest Redbirds are:
Joe Boyer (Arlington Heights, Illinois / Rolling Meadows High School) / Throws
PRs: Shot Put – 16.47m (54-00.50) / Discus – 40.76m (133-09.00)
- Placed third in both the discus and shot put at the 2018 MSL East Boys Division Meet
- Finished sixth in the shot put and posted a personal-best at the 2018 Mid Suburban League Championship
- Finished second in the shot put at the 2017 Mid-Suburban League Boys East Div. Championships
Collin Grady (Dixon, Illinois / Dixon High School) / Distance
PRs: 1600-meter – 4:35.91 / 3-Mile (XC) – 15:03.40
- Placed 13th at the 2018 IHSA Class 2A State Cross Country Championship
- Won the 2018 IHSA Class 2A Cross Country Woodstock North Sectional and Belvidere North Regional
- Two-time IHSA Class 2A Cross Country State Championship qualifier
Tyler Klouda (Mantua, Ohio / Garfield High School) / Distance
PRs: 1600-meter – 4:20.47 / 3200-meter – 9:30.30 / 5K (XC) – 15:57.60
- Three-time OHSAA Ohio D2 State Cross Country Championship qualifier (finished fifth in 2016 and 10th in 2018)
- Three-time OHSAA D2 State T&F Championship qualifier in the 1600-meter run (placed fourth in 2018)
- Four-time OATCCC Indoor State Championships qualifier
- Placed third in the 1600-meter and sixth in the 3200-meter at the 2018 OATCCC Indoor State Championships
Brandon Ratcliff (Wyoming, Michigan / Wyoming High School) / Hurdles
PRs: 60-meter Hurdles – 8.32 / 110-meter Hurdles – 14.67
- Placed sixth at the 2018 MHSAA LP-1 State Championships in the 110-meter Hurdles
- 2018 OK Gold Conference champion in the 110-meter hurdles and 300-meter hurdles
- Competed at the 2018 Indoor New Balance Nationals in the 55-meter hurdles and 60-meter hurdles
Tate Walcott (Lexington, Illinois / Ridgeview-Lexington High School) / Jumps and Sprints
PRs: 100-meter – 11.07 / 200-meter – 22.76 / Long Jump – 7.32m (24-00.25)
- 2018 IHSA Class 1A State Champion in the long jump
- Finished third in the 200-meter at the 2018 IHSA Class 1A State Track & Field Championships
- Seven-time IHSA Class 1A State Track & Field Championships qualifier and six-time Illinois Top Times Qualifier
- Two-time Illinois Top Times Class 1A 200-meter runner-up (2017 and 2018)
- 2018 Illinois Top Times Class 1A long jump runner-up
Riley Wells (Rockford, Illinois / Rockford Christian High School) / Mid-Distance
PRs: 800-meter – 1:52.84 / 1600-meter – 4:21.87 / 3-Mile (XC) – 15:05.00
- Back-to-Back IHSA Class 1A 800-meter State Champion in 2017 and 2018
- Back-to-Back Illinois Top Times Class 1A 800-meter Champion in 2017 and 2018
- Three-time IHSA State Cross Country Championship qualifier (finished eighth in 1A in 2016 and fifth in 1A in 2017)
"Considering that our current seniors have won several Valley titles over the course of their careers, it was imperative that we find the same caliber of student-athletes with this group, and we have accomplished that goal" said Bovee. "We have more recruiting yet to do in a few areas, but this is one of the most talented early signings that we have had to date."
The Illinois State men's and women's track & field teams will open the 2018-19 indoor season on Dec. 8 when they travel to Iowa City, Iowa, to compete in the Jimmy Grant Open, hosted by Iowa.
For more information on all incoming athletes and the upcoming season, please visit GoRedbirds.com.
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