Men's Track and Field

With the addition of men’s track to the University of St. Francis intercollegiate athletics programs, Saints track and field head coach Drew Ludtke just doubled his own workload for the winter and spring. Actually, since men’s cross country was put back into the Saints’ program this past fall, the third-year USF track and cross country mentor doubled his responsibilities in the fall as well.  Ludtke is still a competitive runner and in better shape than most others that work at the USF Recreation Center and it’s a good thing because coaching four programs, recruiting for each one of them and trying to keep pace with his suddenly mobile 1 ½ year-old daughter Deena will certainly keep him busier than ever this spring.

Deena Ludtke is not the only “new” runner in the Saints family as Coach Ludtke has assembled a 13-man roster to compete in the indoor and outdoor seasons of 2008.  Only one of the 13 is designated as strictly a thrower, so that gives Ludtke a group of a dozen athletes that will run the sprints, hurdles and distances. Some will also compete in the jumping events as the Saints compete in their initial season.

The men’s track and cross country programs are actually already a year ahead of schedule.

“Our initial plans were to bring the programs in one year from now (2008-09 academic year), but the success we had this past year (2006-07) in reigniting our women’s programs made us push the proposal up by a year,” stated USF Director of Athletics Dave Laketa.  “This is something Drew wanted when we first approached him about the position back in the summer of 2005 and the results that we saw with the (women’s) recruiting class that he and his staff brought in made the decision an easy one.

“We will use the quality experience the women had this past year in helping recruit for our men’s programs,” added Laketa.

The Saints have competed in women’s track and field since the 2000-01 school year and in cross country since the late 1970s.  Ludtke took over the women’s programs prior to the 2005-06 school year.  The Saints did not field a full cross country unit in 2005 and had a small squad competing in track and field last winter and spring.

The women’s track program has approximately 20 athletes this year and is shooting to reach its ultimate goal of 30 by the 2009 season. If the men follow a similar path, you can expect 20 or more athletes next year and a full team by the winter and spring of 2009.

This year’s inaugural squad is made of nine freshmen, three sophomores and one junior. It includes four young men who also play football for the Saints, as well as one member of the USF tennis program and one that also plays baseball. It even has one athlete that participated on the Saints’ soccer team this past fall.

Ludtke expects immediate contributions from nearly everyone but knows that injuries and commitments to other sports will limit the availability of some of his team members.

Distance runners

Transfer Mike McElyea, a freshman who came across town from Joliet Junior College, will lead the Saints’ distance efforts in the indoor season. Ludtke expects standout freshman Adam Yost to make big contributions in the outdoor season after redshirting the indoor campaign.

“Both Mike and Adam are exceptional talents and have the ability to challenge the national qualifying marks this spring,” says Ludtke. “Adam had a very good freshman cross country season and was one of the top prep runners in Michigan before coming to St. Francis. Mike is an experienced runner and should be one of our team leaders.”

Middle distances

Ludtke has three freshmen that he can use at just about any of the middle distances, from 400 meters up to the mile run. Tony Burbatt (Bremen H.S./Midlothian, IL), Jorge Carmona (Aurora Central Catholic H.S./Aurora, IL) and Mubashir Olaoye (T.F.South H.S./Calumet City, IL) have all been impressive in the early indoor meets and each can run well at the different middle distances.

“Jorge and Tony are especially strong in the 800 meters and the mile,” says Ludtke, “and Mubashir (the soccer-playing member of the track squad) has posted some good times at the 400, 800 and the mile. All three run well for us in the relays, too.”

Freshman Ronnie O’Neal and tennis player Pat Haaker, a junior in track eligibility, will also compete at the middle distances for the Saints. Freshman Mark Ahern’s participation in track this spring will be very limited as he also pitches for the USF baseball squad. He will run extensively in cross country in the fall of 2008.

Sprinters/Jumpers 

Freshman Jerrick Hughes and a trio of USF football players – Wes Addison, Alonzo Lee and Jesse Daniels – give the Saints a quartet of athletes in the sprints, short relays and jumping events.

Hughes and Addison will likely run the sprints and perform in the long and triple jumps. Hughes will also compete in the high jump. Lee will concentrate on the sprints. Daniels is ineligible for the spring but will continue to work out with the Saints and prepare for both football next fall and track next winter and spring.

“Lee is probably our top sprinter and should be competitive against the best sprinters from other schools with similar-sized programs,” says Ludtke. “Hughes and Addison will be very busy for us as they will run the sprints and compete in the jumps. Jerrick is out best high jumper and I am anxious to see how much he improves in all the events this spring.”

Throws

The Saints have just one thrower on the roster in their inaugural season and an injury may keep him from competing this season. Clayton Norberg, an all-conference football linebacker the past three years for USF and a candidate for all-America honors next fall, was hoping to compete in the throwing events this spring but is battling a nagging muscle pull that has prevented him from throwing in the early indoor season. Ludtke still hopes to have Norberg available for the outdoor season and could use him in any of the throwing events and possibly as a sprinter.