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Women's Cross Country, Track & Field
Buford-Bailey Adds 12 to Women's Track and Field Program
Aug. 28, 2009
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Illinois women's head track and field coach Tonja Buford-Bailey announced the addition of 12 talented student-athletes to the 2009-10 recruiting class. Four state champions highlight the class, with three newcomers owning multiple state titles. Stephanie Brown (Sheridan, Wy.) was part of the 2009 Wyoming state champion relay teams in the 4x800m and 4x400m, while Marrisa Golliday (Oak Lawn, Ill.) won the 400m at the 2009 Illinois Class 2A meet. Kayla Smith (Portland, Ore.) was a five-time Oregon state champion, including back-to-back state titles in the 100m and 200m in 2008 and 2009 and a state title in the long jump in 2009. Courtney Yaeger (Wheeling, W.V.) was the 2009 West Virginia state champion in the 1600m and 3200m and finished runner-up at the 2008 West Virginia state cross country meet. Kawanna Brooks (Chicago, Ill.), Tyler Burke (Homewood, Ill.), Kendra Kennedy (Ingleside, Ill.), Brenna Marron (New Lenox, Ill.), Ariel Robinson (Decatur, Ill.), Maria Scheet (Lisle, Ill.), Michelle Stratton (Naperville, Ill.) and Clarrisa Toomer (Fort Worth, Texas) round out the remainder of Buford-Bailey's second-ever recruiting class. "Our main goal was to fill in some gaps on the team, and we did a really good job of doing that with this class," Buford-Bailey said. "In our sprint area, we have a lot of state champions and a transfer who will be contributors right away. In our field event area, we picked up some multi-event athletes, long jumpers and triple jumpers, which will make us a stronger team overall. In the distance area, we have some athletes who will step up for us in cross country as well as on the track. It is a really well-rounded class and will make us better overall, which is always the goal." PROFILES ON THE NEWEST ILLINI Kawanna Brooks // Multi-Events // Chicago, Ill. // Kenwood Academy Stephanie Brown // Distance // Sheridan, Wy. // Sheridan HS Tyler Burke // Sprints, Jumps // Homewood, Ill. // Homewood-Flossmoor HS Marrisa Golliday // Sprints // Oak Lawn, Ill. // H.L. Richards HS
Kendra Kennedy // Distance // Ingleside, Ill. // Grant Community HS • Earned all-state honors in the 4x800m and was a state qualifier in the 800m • Holds five school records at Grant Community HS Brenna Marron // Pole Vault // New Lenox, Ill. // Lincoln-Way Central HS Ariel Robinson // Sprints // Decatur, Ill. // McArthur HS Maria Scheet // Pole Vault // Lisle, Ill. // Benet Academy Kayla Smith // Sprints, Jumps // Portland, Ore. // Benson HS Michelle Stratton // Distance // Naperville, Ill. // Naperville North Clarrisa Toomer // Sprints // Fort Worth, Texas // North Crawley HS Courtney Yaeger // Distance // Wheeling, W.V. // Wheeling Park HS |
