March 26, 2012

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Morolake Akinosun and Lindsay Rakosnik, two of the Illinois women's track and field signees for next season, took home two victories each at the Illinois Prep Top Times Classic last weekend and shared Athlete of the Meet honors.

A senior at Waubonsie Valley, Akinosun won the 55m in a time of 6.76, an all-time Illinois record and No. 10 all-time in the United States. She also won the 200m with a meet record time of 23.91. Rakosnik, a senior at Glenbard East, won the 800m and 1,600m at the meet with times of 2:12.38 and 4:56.86, respectively.

Akinosun is a two-time AAU Junior Olympic National Champion through her junior year of high school. She also has the No. 1 ranking in the 2012 recruiting class in both the 100m and 200m with times of 11.42 and 23.49 respectively. Akinosun's 200m time is the current national 17-18 age group record. Along with her individual successes, Akinosun was part of the 4x100 team that set the national record at the AAU National Championships.

Rakosnik was the 2011 USTAF National Junior Olympic 1500m Champion as well as being the 2011 Illinois 800m state champion. Rakosnik improved her track career each year as she placed sixth in the 400m as a freshman and became the 2010 Illinois state runner-up her sophomore year. Along with the previous accomplishments, Rakosnik placed seventh at the 2011 Cross Country State Championships and holds conference, sectional and school records in multiple events.