Eastern Illinois director of track and field Keith Roberts has announced the signing of two state champions that will be joining the Panthers women's track & field roster next season. Making their way to Charleston are Devin Johnston and Abby Venhaus.
Devin Johnston (Almont, Mich. / Almont HS) is a multi-event Michigan State Champion in sprints having won gold in both the 100 meter and 200 meter events as a senior at this year's MHSAA LP Division 3 Finals. She won the 100 meter dash with a time of 12.14 while her gold medal time in the 200 meter dash clocked in at 24.98. Johnston anchored the school's 4x100 relay team that placed fourth at the state championships with a finals time of 50.92. She was also a state finals qualifier during her sophomore and junior seasons. As a junior she was second in the state in the 200 meter dash with a finals time of 25.71. Johnston placed seventh in the state in the 100 meter dash at 12.70 and anchored the state qualifying 4x100 relay team. During her sophomore year she reached the MHSAA LP Division 2 Finals in the 200 meter dash.
Abby Venhaus (Columbia, Ill. / Columbia HS) is an Illinois State Champion making a return to O'Brien Field where she won the IHSA Class 2A triple jump this spring with a winning mark of 37'11" which was just a half-inch shorter than her season best set at the Mascoutah Sectional with a first-place jump of 37'11.5". In addition Venhaus advanced to the IHSA Class 2A State Championships as a senior in the 100 meter and 200 meter dash along with the long jump. She reached the podium in the long jump placing eighth with a finals jump of 17'7.75". Her season best jump came in a sectional win with a mark of 18'4.75", one of two times she passed the 18' mark for the year. Venhaus was a multi-event state qualifer as both a sophomore and junior. She advanced to the IHSA Class 2A State Championships as a sophomore in the 100 meter and 200 meter dash as well as the long jump. As a junior she qualified for IHSA Class 2A State Championship in the 100 meter dash, long jump and triple jump. She had podium finishes in the long jump finishing fourth as a sophomore and junior. She was sixth in the state in the triple jump as a junior and placed seventh in the 200 meter dash as a sophomore. During her senior indoor season she was fourth in the long jump at the Illinois Top Times Class 2A meet.
