Alumni Report: Week of February 13-19, 2012
A report of the top collegiate performances from around the country of former Illinois high school stars from February 13, 2012 - February 19, 2012.
Arkansas, Oregon Still Top Teams as Conference Indoor Championships Loom
NEW ORLEANS – The latest USTFCCCA National Computer Team Rankings for Division I show a few changes from the previous week. The top four men’s teams stayed in the same spot, spurred by No. 1 Arkansas. Oregon still is the No. 1 team on the women’s side as LSU and Clemson switched positions, now standing at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively.
5 Minutes With Chris Derrick
Chris Derrick came to Stanford University in 2008 via Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville, Ill., where he was the 2007 Foot Locker Cross Country Championships runner-up and the Nike Cross Nationals individual champion (where he led his team to victory). He had a 8:48.9 3200m best and ran a 13:55.96 for 5,000m, the fastest time ever in an all-high school race.(via Running Times)
Track And Field Needs New Heroes To Step Up
Once home to some of the biggest names in U.S. sports, track and field is struggling to produce a new generation of heroes. (via MarketWatch)
Illinois Standout to Pole Vault for Memphis

Memphis track and field announced the signing of Illinois high school track and field product Carolina Carmichael on Friday. Carmichael's accomplishments include being named Illinois All-State in 2010 and 2011 in the pole vault.
How Sibling Runners Set Themselves Apart
We haven't played one-on-one basketball against each other in a while," says Mark Derrick, a senior at Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville, Ill. "I used to lose to him all the time just because he was bigger than me, but now that I've grown, it should be a pretty even game." (via Running Times)
Ginger: Pole Vault Is Unlike Any Other Event
As a fiery eighth grader Tyler Ginger was gearing up for a new challenge. He had played the traditional sports and wanted to test his hand in something different. When he came out to the track he realized he wasn't very good at most events, except for one, the pole vault. He says that event stood out to him above any other.
Buford-Bailey Adds Five State Champions to 2012-13 Squad
Illinois women's head track and field coach Tonja Buford-Bailey announced the addition of five talented student-athletes to the 2012-13 recruiting class including the addition of the No. 1 sprinter in the country along with a state record holder in the hurdles, two state champion distance runners and a state champion in the pole vault. (via www.fightingillini.com)
Ellis On Track For Division-I Level
Lexi Ellis has made tremendous strides in a sport she started competing in as an eighth grader. The Morton High School senior’s quick development helped her land an opportunity at Loyola University Chicago, which she made official Feb. 1 by signing her National Letter of Intent.(via http://www.mortontimesnews.com)
Alumni Report: Week of February 5- February 12, 2012
A report of the top collegiate performances from around the country of former Illinois high school stars from February 06, 2012 - February 12, 2012.
Huskies Shatter School Records in 4x400 Relay and Triple Jump at Iowa State Classic - Northern Illinois Official Athletic Site
The Northern Illinois track & field team turned in a second-straight record-setting day Saturday at the Iowa State Classic. (via www.niuhuskies.com)
On Track blog: Sights set on a trip to 'Big Blue'
In his On Track blog, Galesburg High School track coach Craig Hillier says practice is under way and athletes from around the state have their sights set on a trip to "Big Blue" in Charleston. (via http://www.galesburg.com)
Redbird Track & Field and Cross Country Sign Five for 2012
The Illinois State men's and women's track & field and cross country teams signed five student-athletes to National Letters of Intent (NLI) to continue their academic and athletic careers at Illinois State, as announced by head track & field coach Elvis Forde Thursday. (via www.goredbirds.com)
Wildcats Announce 10 Newcomers for 2012 Season

Northwestern head cross country coach April Likhite announced today the 10 members of her 2012 incoming freshman class, a group that draws on six states and adds to a roster that returns many of its top performers from a successful 2011 campaign.
Forum Posts
- AAU Northern Indoor National T&F and Multi-Event Championship 2012
- N I U Cross Country Camp
- EIU John Craft Invitational 2012
- Grand Valley State High School Meets and XC Camp
- Illinois State Cross Country Championships 2011
- News from Peoria Jounal Star- Austin Pogioli
- News from Peoria Journal Star- Austin Pogioli
- MCDONALD'S INVITATIONAL 2012
- 3A Niles West Sectional 2011
- Who is most likely to win Chicago Catholic League Varsity?
Upcoming Meets
- Big Ten Indoor Conference Championship
- CCIW-Champ
- Normal West Boys Invitational
- Dual Meet Vs. Plainfield South
- USA Indoor Track & Field Championships
- Quad Cities Indoor Invitational
- NAIA Indoor Track National Championship
- NCC Last Chance Qualifier
- NJCAA Indoor Championships
- Champaign Centennial Invitational
College Commitments
- Carolina Carmichael to University of Memphis
- Garrett Sweatt to Stanford University
- Taylor Click to Columbia University
- Kristen Busch to Bradley University
- Caitlin Busch to Bradley University
- Megan Paul to University of Arkansas
- Caleb Fricke to Purdue University
- Erik Peterson to Butler University
- Mitch Wilkins to Grand Valley State University
- Dan Vitale to Northwestern University
Meet Coverage
- Dorothy Dawson Invitational
- Big East Conference Championships
- Margaret Bradley Invitational
- Missouri All-Comers Meet
- UK High School Invitational
- York Girls Invitational
- Simplot Games
- Cardinal Classic
- EIU Friday Night Special
- Illinois College Alumni Classic
- Meteors Invitational
- AAU Northern Indoor National T&F and Multi-Event Championship
- Millrose Games
- Spire D-1 Indoor T&F Inv and HS Showcase
- USA Cross Country Championships
- Midwest Collegiate Conference Championship
- Fighting Scot Indoor Invitational
- Knox Open
- Lonnell Poole Invitational
- Chicagoland Championships
- New Balance Grand Prix
- Henderson County Pole Vault Meet
- Jim Green Invitational
- Orange and Blue Open
- SIU Invitational

