Helen Lehman-Winters Head Cross Country Coach | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
Helen Lehman-Winters Head Cross Country Coach | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
Illinois Director of Track, Field, and Cross Country Petros Kyprianou announced nine additions to the roster on Friday for the 2024-25 season. Five women and four men will join the team next season.
Among the women's recruits is Kristine Blazevica from Riga, Latvia, who transfers from the University of Texas. Blazevica recently became an All-American in the heptathlon at the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Championships with a third-place finish (6,126 points). She has earned seven All-America honors and seven Big 12 Championships in combined events.
JaiCieonna Gero-Holt from South Hill, Washington is another top recruit. Gero-Holt is ranked as the top women's heptathlete and high jump recruit in the United States. She became a U20 Pan American champion in the heptathlon last year with a score of 5,463 points.
Eliza Kraule also joins from Riga, Latvia, transferring from Rice University. Kraule achieved All-American status in the pentathlon at this year's NCAA Indoor Championships with a personal-best 4,353 points.
Jane Roosimagi from Tallinn, Estonia adds her talents to Illinois' roster after recently throwing 53.05m in javelin at the Estonian CUP. Jaycee Williams from Berthoud High School in Colorado completes the women's recruits after finishing her senior year with strong performances in middle-distance events.
On the men's side, Rafael Raap transfers from the University of Oregon. Raap earned his first All-America honors at this year's NCAA Outdoor Championships by placing sixth in decathlon with 7,842 points. He was also crowned Pac-12 Champion in decathlon for 2024.
Jip De Greef from Amersfoort, Utrecht transfers after his freshman year at Central Arkansas without competing in decathlon or heptathlon but holding a personal-best decathlon score of 7,621 points.
Reece Ihenacho joins as a discus thrower after becoming IHSA Boys T&F State Champion with a personal-best toss of 62.61m. Trey Sato rounds out men's recruits; Sato recorded Illinois' fastest 1500m time for this outdoor season and was runner-up at IHSA Boys T&F State Championships in both 800m and 1600m events.
The incoming recruits for Illinois track and field are:
Women:
- Kristine Blazevica (Transfer – Texas)
- JaiCieonna Gero-Holt
- Eliza Kraule (Transfer – Rice)
- Jane Roosimagi
- Jaycee Williams
Men:
- Jip De Greef (Transfer – Central Arkansas)
- Reece Ihenacho
- Rafael Raap (Transfer – Oregon)
- Trey Sato
Alerts Sign-up