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Buford-Bailey Adds 12 to Women's Track and Field Program
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Head coach Tonja Buford-Bailey announced the addition of 12 student-athletes to the Illinois track and field program.
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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 Marissa 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
• Was runner-up at the 2009 Illinois Class 2A state meet in the long jump and triple jump
• Took third at the 2009 Illinois Class 2A state meet in the 100m hurdles
• Finished second at the National Junior Olympic Championships in the heptathlon
• Owns personal bests of 19-3 in the long jump, 39-4 in the triple jump, 14.61 in the 100m hurdles and 4489 points in the heptathlon
Stephanie Brown // Distance // Sheridan, Wy. // Sheridan HS
• 2009 Wyoming outdoor state champion in the 4x800m and 4x400m relays
• Placed second in the 800m at the 2009 Wyoming state meet
• 2009 indoor state champion in the 4x800m relay
• Holds two school records at Sheridan High School
Tyler Burke // Sprints, Jumps // Homewood, Ill. // Homewood-Flossmoor HS
• Was a state finalist in the 100m and high jump at the 2009 Illinois Class 3A state meet
Marissa Golliday // Sprints // Oak Lawn, Ill. // H.L. Richards HS
• 2009 state champion in the 400m at the Illinois Class 2A meet
• State meet record-holder in the 400m with a personal-best time of 54.85
• Runner-up in the 200m at the 2009 Illinois Class 2A state meet with a personal-best time of 24.88
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
• Placed 10th at the 2009 Illinois Class 3A state meet in the pole vault
• Personal best in the pole vault is 11-6
Ariel Robinson // Sprints // Decatur, Ill. // McArthur HS
• State finalist in the 100m and 200m
• Owns personal bests of 12.05 in the 100m and 24.90 in the 200m
Maria Scheet // Pole Vault // Lisle, Ill. // Benet Academy
• Took sixth at the 2009 Illinois Class 3A state meet in the pole vault
• Boasts a personal best of 11-9 in the pole vault
Kayla Smith // Sprints, Jumps // Portland, Ore. // Benson HS
• Five-time Oregon state champion in the 100m, 200m and long jump
• Owns a personal-best time of 11.77 in the 100m and 19-0 ½ in the long jump
• Reset her own state meet record in the 200m with a personal-best 24.01 in 2009
Michelle Stratton // Distance // Naperville, Ill. // Naperville North
• Qualified for Nike Nationals in 2009
• Named to the 2009 all-state team for cross country and track
Clarrisa Toomer // Sprints // Fort Worth, Texas // North Crawley HS
• Transferring from University of Texas-Arlington
• Boasts personal-best times of 11.77 in the 100m, 24.46 in the 200m and 54.97 in the 400m
Courtney Yaeger // Distance // Wheeling, W.V. // Wheeling Park HS
• 2009 West Virginia state champion in the 1600m and 3200m
• Won the West Virginia state meet High-Point Award with 25 points
• Finished runner-up at the 2008 West Virginia state cross country meet
