Women's Track Signs Four State Qualifiers

CHARLESTON, Ill. – On the heels of the Illinois State High School Track Championships, Eastern Illinois director of track and field Tom Akers has announced the signing of seven athletes that will compete for the Panthers women’s track and cross country programs including four state qualifiers. 

Signing national letters of intent with EIU are Brianna Bergbower, Danielle Dickman, Gaby Duenas, Mackenzie Hudnut, Jill MacEachen, Stephanie Peisker and Erika Ramos. 

Bergbower competed as a distance runner at Webber Township HS placing 61st at IHSA Class A Cross Country championships with a 3-mile time of 19:39. She placed 3rd at Olney Regional and 4th at Edwardsville Sectional to advance to state meet as an individual runner. As a junior Bergbower placed first in Robinson Regional with a time of 19:15, while finishing 4th in Edwardsville Sectional and 33rd in Class A with a time of 18:59. She also qualified for IHSA state meet as a sophomore placing 55th. 

Dickman recently placed 9th in the IHSA at IHSA Class 2A state championships in the 3200m run with a time of 11:41.19 running for Vernon Hills HS. She had sixth fastest sectional qualifying time with a mark of 11:41.39. Dickman was an individual qualifier for IHSA Class 2A Cross Country Championships finishing 22nd overall with a 3-mile time of 18:27. She placed fourth in Antioch Cross Country Sectional to advance to state championship. Her personal best was 5:24.20 in the 1,600m. She is considered VHHS top cross country and track distance runner holding several school records. She placed 11th in 3,200m as a sophomore at IHSA meet. 

Duenas ran track and cross country Hoffman Estates HS where she was a member of 4x800 relay team that holds the school record. She set the school record for indoor 3,200m run and qualified for indoor state championship in 1,600m and 3,200m. Duenas ranked No. 17 in the state in 1,600m run at 11:50. She was a IHSA Class 2A state qualifier in 4x800 relay and 1,600m run as a junior. 

Hudnut was a two event state qualifier in the high jump and triple jump competing for Freeburg HS. She placed 8th in IHSA Class 1A state championships in high jump clearing 5’2”. She cleared 5’2” to qualify for state championships in high jump while her triple jump qualifying mark was 33’2.50”. Hudnut placed first at Nashville Sectional in high jump and triple jump. She ranked 8th in the state of Illinois in indoor high jump. She also competed in USATF Junior Olympic Championships. 

MacEachen joins the Panthers after competing for the Calgary Warriors Track Club. She set the ASAA Provincial record in 80m hurdles at Medicine Hat meet with a time of 11.78. MacEachen is a multi-event athlete in both indoor and outdoor track. She earned a bronze medal in Canadian Youth Championships and placed 4th in long jump. She earned gold medals in the Alberta Provincial Championships in long jump, triple jump, 4x100 relay and 4x400 relay. As a senior she was the winner of the President’s Club Trophy. 

Peisker competed for Crystal Lake Central HS helping the 4x800 relay team place 8th in the IHSA Class 2A state championships. Also a cross country runner she helped guide Crystal Lake Central to second place finish in 2008 IHSA Class 2A Cross Country Championship finishing 43rd in the state with a championship time of 18:50 on the 3 mile course. Peisker placed 7th in Aurora Cross Country Regional with a time of 18:29 as the team won regional title. She was ranked 24th by Illinois Prep Times as a freshman distance runner. She helped CLCHS make four straight IHSA cross country appearances. 

Ramos comes to EIU as a state qualifier in the 800m run for Hoopeston Area HS. She qualified with sixth fastest time in a sectional posting a 2:23.14. Ramos won her conference championship in 800m all four years of high school. As a junior she was the 7th place finisher at IHSA meet with time of 2:18.75. A four-time state qualifier she placed 3rd at Beecher Cross Country Regional. Ramos was also honorable mention All-Vermilion Valley in basketball. 

Eastern Illinois will send several athletes to compete in the NCAA Mideast Regional this weekend in Louisville, Ky. EIU won the 2009 Ohio Valley Conference Indoor and Outdoor Women’s Track titles.