July 19, 2007
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Women's track and field head coach Gary Winckler announced today the addition of eight student-athletes to the Illinois program for the 2007-08 season. Incoming freshmen Analisa Austin (Brooklyn, N.Y.), Melissa Bates (Arlington, Texas), Chantelle Groenewoud (N. Vancouver, B.C.), Cheria Morgan (Pickering, Ontario), Jessica Penney (Wellington, New Zealand) and Danelle Woods (Ottawa, Ontario) signed National Letters of Intent, while Aja Evans (Chicago, Ill.) and Sequoia McKinney (Thornwood, Ill..) join the Illini as transfers.
Highlighting the 2007-08 class are Penney, who placed fifth in the long jump at the World Junior Track and Field Championships, and Woods, who took first in the steeplechase at the Canadian Track and Field Championships.
"This is a very important recruiting class," said Winckler, who guided the Illini to the 2007 Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championship. "With a lot of seniors graduating we had a lot of holes to fill, and we feel that we have a very solid class. We were able to acquire national-level athletes in the long jump, shot put, steeplechase and sprints. This should help us greatly in building the Illinois track and field program back to where we want it to be."
MEET THE NEW ILLNI:
Analisa Austin (Middle College at Medgar Evers High School, Brooklyn, N.Y.)
• Will compete for the Illini in the sprinting events
• Owns personal best times of 11.84 seconds in the 100 meters and 24.92 in the 200 meters
• Member of championship 4x100m relay at the 2007 Brooklyn Borough Championships (47.71), while also placing third in the 100 meters (12.18) and fourth in the 200 meters (25.52)
• Took second in the 100 meters at the PSAL City Championships (11.96)
Melissa Bates (Bowie High School, Arlington, Tex.)
• Expected to contribute in the 200 meters, triple jump and relays
• Anchored 4x200m relay to a first-place and record-setting performance at the Texas Class 5A Region I meet (1:37.75)
• Also champion in the 4x100m relay at the Region I meet (46.76) while placing third in the 4x400m relay (3:48.18)
• Led 4x200m team to third-place finish at the 2007 state meet
Aja Evans (UNLV/Morgan Park High School, Chicago, Ill.)
• Will compete in the shot put
• Earned All-West Region honors at UNLV after placing sixth in the shot put at the 2007 NCAA West Regional (49 feet, 7.25 inches)
• Placed sixth in the shot put at the 2007 Mountain West Championships
• Three-time high school All-American
Chantelle Groenewoud (Handsworth Secondary, N. Vancouver, B.C.)
• Expected to contribute in the mid-distance and distance events
• Member of the 4x400m relay championship team at the 2006 British Columbia Summer Games
• Contributed to the British Columbia Cross Country team that placed third at Nationals in 2006
• Athlete of the Year for Handsworth Secondary in 2005 and 2006
• In high school participated in cross country, track, soccer and snowboarding
Sequoia McKinney (Texas Tech/Thornwood High School, Thornwood, Ill.)
• Expected to contribute in the mid-distance and distance events
• Competed for one season at Texas Tech in the 800 meters
•Two-time Illinois 2A state high school champion
• Finished in 24th at the 2005 high school cross country nationals to earn All-America honors
Cheria Morgan (Notre Dame Catholic Secondary, Pickering, Ontario)
• Expected to contribute in the 100 meters, 200 meters and long jump for the Illini
• Placed first in the 100 meters and 200 meters at the 2006 LOSSA Track and Field Championships
• Took second in the 100 meters (12.20), 200 meters (25.19) and long jump (5.17 meters) at the 2007 OFSAA Central Region meet
Jessica Penney (Wellington Girls College, Wellington, New Zealand)
• Will compete in the long jump and 100 hurdles
• Placed fifth in the long jump at the World Junior Track and Field Championships in Beijing, China (20 feet, 10 ¾ inches)
• Represented New Zealand in the 2007 World Student Games
• Gold Medalist in the long jump and 4x100m relay at the 2005 Pacific School Games in Melbourne
• Named the New Balance "Outstanding Athlete" at the Secondary Schools Track & Field Championships in both 2004 and 2005
Danelle Woods (Hillcrest High School, Ottawa, Ontario)
• Will compete in the steeplechase and distance events
• Won the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the 2007 Canadian Track and Field Championships, setting a new meet record (10:17.24)
• Ran personal-best 10:13.98 in the 3,000m steeplechase in winning the event at the 2007 Pan American Junior Championships
• Won the 3,000 meters and placed second in the 1,500 meters at the 2007 OFSAA-Ontario Championships
• The 2006 Canadian Junior Cross Country Champion
• Took second in the steeplechase at the 2006 World Junior Championships in Beijing, China (10:51)
