Women's Track Signs Five Athletes
Tuesday, May 21 2013
CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois women's track and cross country programs added five new athletes for the 2013-14 school year including a pair that recently competed at the IHSA State Championships at O'Brien Field. Four athletes that signed with EIU earlier in the spring also competed at the IHSA State Championships.
Ashley Fouch (Gilberts, Ill.) competed at Hampshire High School advancing to the IHSA Class 2A State Championships in five events as a senior. Fouch placed second in the state in the 400m with a time of 55.93 in the state finals. Fouch ran the anchor leg on the 4x400 relay team that placed third in the state finals with a championship time of 3:58.05. Fouch also competed at the state meet as a member of the 4x800, 4x100 and 4x200 relay squads.
Ebony Smith competed at Waukegan High School battling injuries during her senior season. As a junior Smith advanced to the IHSA Class 3A State Championships in four events. Smith was the Grayslake North Sectional Champion in the long jump, triple jump, 100m dash and as a member of the 4x200m relay team. Smith placed sixth in the triple jump at the state meet with a distance of 38'.
Anita Saffa competed at Aurora West High School competing in three events at the IHSA Class 3A State Championships. Saffa placed sixth in the 100m dash with a time of 12.18 after placing ninth as a junior with a time of 12.28. She also competed at the state meet as a member of the 4x100 and 4x400 relay squads.
Rachel and Ruth Garippo are twin sisters that competed at Lake Park High School in Roselle, Ill. Both sisters advanced to the IHSA Class 3A State Cross Country Championships as seniors helping the school place second in the state. Rachel placed 50th at the state meet with a championship time of 17:37. Ruth placed 80th with a championship time of 17:58. In track Ruth ended her track season placing eighth at the York 3A Sectional in the 3,200m run.
Those five athletes join Emily Brelsfoard (Normal Community West HS), Bryn Buckwalter (Freeport HS), Ivy Handley (Decatur St. Teresa HS) and Julie James (El Paso-Gridley HS) who all signed with the Panthers earlier this spring. Brelsfoard placed eighth in the IHSA Class 3A State Championships in the 3,200m run. Buckwalter placed sixth in the IHSA Class 2A discus. Handley placed second in the IHSA Class 1A 3,200m run while finishing fourth in the 1,600m run. James was the IHSA Class 1A State Champion in the 1,600m run while placing second in the 800m.
EIU will compete at the NCAA West Regional in Austin, Texas this weekend.
Ashley Fouch (Gilberts, Ill.) competed at Hampshire High School advancing to the IHSA Class 2A State Championships in five events as a senior. Fouch placed second in the state in the 400m with a time of 55.93 in the state finals. Fouch ran the anchor leg on the 4x400 relay team that placed third in the state finals with a championship time of 3:58.05. Fouch also competed at the state meet as a member of the 4x800, 4x100 and 4x200 relay squads.
Ebony Smith competed at Waukegan High School battling injuries during her senior season. As a junior Smith advanced to the IHSA Class 3A State Championships in four events. Smith was the Grayslake North Sectional Champion in the long jump, triple jump, 100m dash and as a member of the 4x200m relay team. Smith placed sixth in the triple jump at the state meet with a distance of 38'.
Anita Saffa competed at Aurora West High School competing in three events at the IHSA Class 3A State Championships. Saffa placed sixth in the 100m dash with a time of 12.18 after placing ninth as a junior with a time of 12.28. She also competed at the state meet as a member of the 4x100 and 4x400 relay squads.
Rachel and Ruth Garippo are twin sisters that competed at Lake Park High School in Roselle, Ill. Both sisters advanced to the IHSA Class 3A State Cross Country Championships as seniors helping the school place second in the state. Rachel placed 50th at the state meet with a championship time of 17:37. Ruth placed 80th with a championship time of 17:58. In track Ruth ended her track season placing eighth at the York 3A Sectional in the 3,200m run.
Those five athletes join Emily Brelsfoard (Normal Community West HS), Bryn Buckwalter (Freeport HS), Ivy Handley (Decatur St. Teresa HS) and Julie James (El Paso-Gridley HS) who all signed with the Panthers earlier this spring. Brelsfoard placed eighth in the IHSA Class 3A State Championships in the 3,200m run. Buckwalter placed sixth in the IHSA Class 2A discus. Handley placed second in the IHSA Class 1A 3,200m run while finishing fourth in the 1,600m run. James was the IHSA Class 1A State Champion in the 1,600m run while placing second in the 800m.
EIU will compete at the NCAA West Regional in Austin, Texas this weekend.