Eastern Illinois director of track & field James Gildon continues to add to the Panthers roster for next season with the announcement of five sprinters to the EIU men's roster.
Set to join the Panthers next season are Josh Berry, Israel Jackson, Parker Wolf, Mason Evens and David Tuala. Â
EIU will continue to release members of its incoming track & field class over the next couple of weeks.
Josh Berry (Dyer, Ind.) competed in track & field at Lake Central High School. Berry was a multiple time Indiana Track & Field State Championship qualifier including in two events during his junior season. Berry placed ninth in the state in the 400 meter run with a finals time of 48.61 which also stands as his personal best. He would run the anchor leg on the 4x400 relay team that placed 11th in the state with a finals time of 3:23.34. As a sophomore Berry reached the state meet in three events making individual state appearances in the 400 meter run and long jump while running the opening leg on the 4x400 relay team. He placed 18th in the state in the 400 meter run while landing in 21st in the state in the long jump with a finals mark of 21'1.50". As a freshman Berry ran the third leg on the 4x400 relay as the team placed fourth in the state with a finals time of 3:20.47.
Israel Jackson (Indianapolis, Ind.) competed in track & field at Lawrence North High School. Jackson advanced to the Indiana Track & Field State Championships in both the 100 meter and 200 meter sprints as a junior.  He finished 18th in the state in the 200 meters with a time of 22.28 while placing 24th in the 100 meter with a finals time of 11.11. Jackson's top 200 meter time that season was 21.88 at the Lawrence Central Regional. His top 100 meter time that season was 10.69, also at the Lawrence Central Regional. He made one additional state championship appearance placing 23rd in the state in the 100 meters as a sophomore. Jackson also competed in the long jump and high jump in his prep career. His top long jump mark was 23'0.50" as a senior at the MIC Championship meet.
Parker Wolf (Newton, Ill.) competed in track & field at Newton High School. Wolf ended his prep career as the IHSA Class 1A Track & Field State Champion winning the event with a championship time of 49.79. He also anchored the 4x400 relay team that advanced to state his senior season. Wolf made trips to the IHSA State Championships all four years of high school. He was a multiple event podium finisher as a junior placing second in the state in the 400 meters (49.88), fourth in the 200 meters (22.20) and sixth in the 100 meters (11.19) while running the anchor leg on the 4x100 relay team that competed at state. As a sophomore he ran the opening leg on the state champion 4x400 relay team that won with a finals time of 3:23.24. He landed on the podium at the state meet in the 4x100 relay and 100 meter dash while advancing to state in the 400 meter run. Wolf was a state qualifier as a freshman in the 400 meter and 4x100 relay events.
Mason Evens (Martinsville, Ill.) competed in track & field at Casey-Westfield High School. Evens advanced to the IHSA Class 1A Track & Field State Championships all four years of high school including advancing in three events as a senior. He placed fourth in the state in the 400 meter run with a finals time of 50.57. His season best time came in the state championship prelims with a time of 50.34. He ran the anchor leg on the silver medal 4x400 relay team that posted a championship finals time of 3:21.93. Evens also reached the state meet in the 4x100 relay.  As a junior he placed seventh in the state championships in the 400 meters while advancing to state in the 800 meter, 4x100 relay and 4x400 relay. He made additional trips to the state championships in the 800 meter run as a sophomore and as a member of the 4x400 relay team.
David Tuala (Champaign, Ill.) competed in track & field at St. Thomas More High School. As a senior he advanced to the IHSA Class 1A Track & Field State Championships competing in the 100 meter and 200 meter sprints. Tuala placed seventh in the state in the 200 meters with a finals time of 23.13. He posted a season best 200 meter time 22.32 in the state championship prelims. Tuala finished 15th at the state meet in the 100 meter dash with a time of 11.01. He ran the 200 meter and 400 meter events at the Illinois Top Times meet during the indoor season as a senior.Â
