June 4, 2007

ST. LOUIS - Forty seven former Illinois State track and field and cross country athletes were named to the Missouri Valley Conference All-Centennial Team, which was released by the league office Monday. As the conference celebrates a century of excellence as the nation's second oldest NCAA Division I conference, the Valley is naming all-centennial teams for each of the league's sponsored sports.

Among the honorees, several Redbirds garnered multiple awards. Former all-American Chris Bailey was named to the all-centennial track team (distance) as well as the cross country team. Christian Goy, the 2002 NCAA Champion in the indoor mile, along with Darryl Frerker, Pete Palumbo, were named to both the mid-distance all-time track and cross country teams.

Goy was joined on the all-time track team by fellow former NCAA Champion Tom Smith, who won back-to-back national championships in the high jump from 1987-88.

All-American Stacia Beste, Sue Daggett (three-time all-American) and Wendy VanMierlo (two-time all-American) also were honored for their efforts in multiple sports, as the trio was named to the women's distance and cross country all-centennial teams. Sara Schumacher and Rosalind Cassidy were tabbed to the mid-distance and cross country teams as well.

Former men's and women's cross country and track and field head coach John Coughlan was one of the 11 coaches named to the all-centennial coaching staff. During his time at Illinois State, Coughlan guided the Redbirds to an unprecedented 25 MVC Championships, more Valley Championships than any other conference coach in any sport. The `Birds dominated the Valley in the 1980s, winning eight consecutive conference titles while sweeping the cross country, indoor track and outdoor track championships.

During his career at ISU, Coughlan earned 25 MVC Coach of the Year awards. He has been named to the United State Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame, as well as the Illinois State Athletics and Drake Relays Halls of Fame.

All-Centennial team composition for each sport has been determined through an on-line fan vote (www.mvc100.org) and by a centennial committee. Fans also designated all-time coaches as part of the online voting process.

MVC Men's Track and Field All-Centennial Team

Distance

o Chris Bailey - 1-time all-American, 7-time MVC Champion

o Mike Baker - 2-time all-American

o Mike Matteson - 1-time all-American

o Julius Mwangi - 2-time all-American, 3-time MVC Champion

Jumps

o Kevin Clements - 3-time all-American, 4-time MVC Champion

o Tom Smith - 1987/88 indoor & outdoor NCAA Champion, 5-time all-American, 7-time MVC Champion

o Dion Simmons - 1-time all-American, 6-time MVC Champion

Mid-Distance

o Darryl Frerker - 1-time all-American, 6-time MVC Champion

o Christian Goy - 2002 NCAA Champion, 3-time all-American, 7-time MVC Champion, 1999 DMR NCAA Champion

o Pete Palumbo - 1-time all-American, 2-time MVC Champion

o Dave Rzeszutko - 1-time all-American, 3-time MVC Champion

Sprints

o James Duncan - 3-time all-American, 11-time MVC Champion

o Julius Edwards - 1-time all-American, 3-time MVC Champion

o Nave Wilson - 6-time MVC Champion

Throws

o Tom Barrett - 3-time all-American, 14-time MVC Champion

o Bruce Ewen - 1-time all-American, 7-time MVC Champion

MVC Women's Track and Field All-Centennial Team

Distance

o Stacia Beste - 1-time all-American, 7-time MVC Champion

o Sue Daggett - 2-time all-American, 15-time MVC Champion

o Wendy VanMierlo - 2-time all-American, 7-time MVC Champion

Jumps

o Angie Taylor - 9-time MVC Champion

Mid-Distance

o Metria Bell - 5-time MVC Champion

o Rosalind Cassidy - 8-time MVC Champion

o Sara Schumacher - 4-time MVC Champion

Multi-Events

o Kathrine Nielson - 1-time all-American, 2-time MVC Champion

Sprints

o Angie Kent - 6-time MVC Champion

Throws

o Talise Branch - 1-time all-American, 1-time MVC Champion

o Sam Serrano - 1-time all-American, 2-time MVC Champion

MVC Men's Cross Country All-Centennial Team

o Chris Bailey - 2-time MVC Champion, 4-time all-MVC

o Tony Daniel - 4-time all-MVC

o Bob Dluzen - 3-time all-MVC

o Dedrick Flowers - 3-time all-MVC

o Darryl Frerker - 1-time MVC Champion, 3-time all-MVC

o Christian Goy - 1-time MVC Champion, 4-time all-MVC

o Pete Palumbo - 3-time all-MVC

o Mike Straza - 3-time all-MVC

o David Wilson - 1-time MVC Champion, 3-time all-MVC

MVC Women's Cross Country All-Centennial Team

o Stacia Beste - 1-time MVC Champion, 4-time all-MVC

o Kim Briggs - 3-time all-MVC

o Rosalind Cassidy - 4-time all-MVC

o Sue Daggett - 1-time all-American, 2-time MVC Champion, 4-time all-MVC

o Anna Dutton - 2-time all-MVC

o Brittany Johnson - 2-time all-MVC

o Laura Kennedy - 2-time all-MVC

o Heather Murphy - 2-time all-MVC

o Sara Schumacher - 1-time MVC Champ, 3-time all-MVC

o Wendy VanMierlo - 1-time all-American, 1-time all-MVC