SIUE adds newcomers to men’s, women’s programs
SIUE track and field head coach Scott Block announced the addition of six newcomers to the men’s and women’s track and field and cross country teams.
The women’s team has added three new additions. Kari Burmester (Red Bud), Aly Goff and Michaela Smith will join the team in the fall.
Burmester, out of Red Bud High School, will join the cross country team in the fall before beginning the indoor track season. She finished in second place at the IHSA indoor meet in the 3200 meters her senior year. She also was named to the cross country 1A All-State team in 2014 as a junior. She has a personal best of 5 minutes, 21 seconds in the 1600 meters and 11:21 in the 3200 meters.
“Kari is committed to the sport and understands what it takes to be successful,” said Block. “We are excited to have her energy on the team.”
Goff, of Springfield High School, also is a distance runner who will join the cross country team. She finished in seventh-place at the 2A state cross country meet as a senior to land a spot on the All-State team.
“She understands the balance of what it is to be a student-athlete at the Division I level,” said Block.
Smith is a thrower out of Lake Park High School in Roselle who competed in the shot put and discus in high school, finishing fourth in the 3A IHSA state competition in the discus in 2016 and fourth in the indoor state meet in the shot put.
“I am excited that Michaela chose to come to SIUE,” said Block. “She is an extremely talented thrower.”
The men’s team added three new additions as well, including Austin Lynch, Landon Skelly and Austin Woodard.
Lynch is a thrower from Lake Park High School. He earned a fifth-place finish in the discus at the 3A IHSA state meet as a senior. He also placed 12th at the IHSA indoor meet in the shot put. Lynch has thrown a personal best of 174-9 in the discus and 53-0 in the shot put.
“Austin has all the tools to be a successful thrower at the Division I level,” said Block. “I am looking forward to seeing how far he can go.”
Skelly will join the cross country team in the fall after competing for Chatham Glenwood High School. He was a 2A All-State cross country runner as a senior and placed 14th in the 1600 meters at the 3A IHSA state competition.
“Landon continued to improve throughout his high school seasons,” said Block. “We are excited to continue that improvement next season.”
Woodard, a distance runner out of Unity High School, will join the cross country team. He was a member of the 1A IHSA state championship cross country team as a senior and placed 14th in the state meet to earn a spot on the All-State team.
“Austin is going to be a good addition to the team,” said Block.
This story was originally published July 27, 2016 at 9:10 PM with the headline "SIUE adds newcomers to men’s, women’s programs."