EIU Men's Track/Cross Country Sign Six
Tuesday, May 29 2012
CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois director of track and field Tom Akers has announced the signing of six athletes that will compete for the Panther men's track and field/cross country programs next season. EIU is coming off its fourth straight season in which the Panthers swept both the Ohio Valley Conference Indoor and Outdoor Track Championships.
The six athletes signing with the Panthers are Tyler Anderson, Mark Balmes, Eric Gordon, Christian Ilunga-Matthiesen, Neal Omar and Juan Pablo Ramirez.
Anderson is a cross country and track distance runner competing for Schaumburg High School. As a junior he earned a trip to the IHSA Class 3A state championships in cross country placing 101st with a time of 15:24. He was third in the Hoffman Estates Regional with a time of 15:25. As a senior in track he was 11th at the St. Charles North Sectional in the 3200m with a time of 10:08.75.
Balmes was a two event qualifier at this year IHSA Class 3A state championships competing in the shot put and discus for Hersey High School. Balmes earned a bronze medal in the shot put with a throw of 58'0.50”. He was sixth in the discus with a mark of 165'10”. Balmes won the Palatine Sectional in both events with a distance of 59'1.50” in the shot put and 171' in the discus.
Gordon competed at Normal Community West High School where he earned a trip to the IHSA Class 3A championships in the pole vault. Gordon entered the state meet seeded third with a height of 15'3”. He finished the championship weekend second in the state clearing 16'0”. Gordon placed third in the IHSA Class 3A championships as a junior and 12th as a sophomore.
Ilunga-Matthiesen is from Hamburg, Germany where he competed for the Hamburger SV team. He ran as a member of the 4x100 relay team along with the low and high hurdles.
Omar was a three event IHSA Class 3A state qualifier this year running for Skokie Niles West High School. Omar earned a trip to the IHSA championships in the 4x800 relay, 800m run and 4x400 relay. The 4x800 relay team placed seventh at the state meet with a time of 7:52.78 as Omar ran the anchor leg. Omar placed seventh in the 800m with a time of 1:55.57. During his senior season he set the school record in the 400m (51.1) and 600m (1:26.6).
Ramirez competed the past two years at Harper Junior College earning NJCAA Division III All-American honors this past season in cross country. Ramirez placed fourth in the NJCAA National Championships with a time of 26:02.53 as the school won the National Championship. He competed at Conant High School in cross country and track distance running. As a senior in 2009 he was part of the 4x800 relay team that advanced to the IHSA Class 3A state championships. He helped his team place ninth at the IHSA Class 3A state championships in cross country in 2008 as he was 95th with a time of 15:36.
The six athletes signing with the Panthers are Tyler Anderson, Mark Balmes, Eric Gordon, Christian Ilunga-Matthiesen, Neal Omar and Juan Pablo Ramirez.
Anderson is a cross country and track distance runner competing for Schaumburg High School. As a junior he earned a trip to the IHSA Class 3A state championships in cross country placing 101st with a time of 15:24. He was third in the Hoffman Estates Regional with a time of 15:25. As a senior in track he was 11th at the St. Charles North Sectional in the 3200m with a time of 10:08.75.
Balmes was a two event qualifier at this year IHSA Class 3A state championships competing in the shot put and discus for Hersey High School. Balmes earned a bronze medal in the shot put with a throw of 58'0.50”. He was sixth in the discus with a mark of 165'10”. Balmes won the Palatine Sectional in both events with a distance of 59'1.50” in the shot put and 171' in the discus.
Gordon competed at Normal Community West High School where he earned a trip to the IHSA Class 3A championships in the pole vault. Gordon entered the state meet seeded third with a height of 15'3”. He finished the championship weekend second in the state clearing 16'0”. Gordon placed third in the IHSA Class 3A championships as a junior and 12th as a sophomore.
Ilunga-Matthiesen is from Hamburg, Germany where he competed for the Hamburger SV team. He ran as a member of the 4x100 relay team along with the low and high hurdles.
Omar was a three event IHSA Class 3A state qualifier this year running for Skokie Niles West High School. Omar earned a trip to the IHSA championships in the 4x800 relay, 800m run and 4x400 relay. The 4x800 relay team placed seventh at the state meet with a time of 7:52.78 as Omar ran the anchor leg. Omar placed seventh in the 800m with a time of 1:55.57. During his senior season he set the school record in the 400m (51.1) and 600m (1:26.6).
Ramirez competed the past two years at Harper Junior College earning NJCAA Division III All-American honors this past season in cross country. Ramirez placed fourth in the NJCAA National Championships with a time of 26:02.53 as the school won the National Championship. He competed at Conant High School in cross country and track distance running. As a senior in 2009 he was part of the 4x800 relay team that advanced to the IHSA Class 3A state championships. He helped his team place ninth at the IHSA Class 3A state championships in cross country in 2008 as he was 95th with a time of 15:36.