Wilkinson to run, jump for Augustana College

ROCK ISLAND — After a year away from track and field, former Bureau Valley Storm standout Josh Wilkinson is itching to get running and jumping again.

The 2006 BCR Male Track and Field Athlete of the Year has signed on to run for the Augustana Vikings next spring. He spent the past school year attending Sauk Valley Community Coll-ege, trying to decide on a major to pursue, and contacted Augustana coach Paul Olsen about joining the Vikings CCIW champion track and field program.

“It’s been tough when you go and sit and watch others run. It’s pretty boring sitting at home not having a sport to do,” said the former track and football standout at Bureau Valley.

Wilkinson, who is getting a workout each day this summer baling hay, anticipates competing in the same events he did for Bureau Valley — the 200, 400, long jump and triple jump, with a focus on the triple jump. As a triple jumper, he was a three-time state qualifier and two-time sectional champion at Bureau Valley. The Storm MVP took fifth place at state in 2006 with a leap of 43-11 1/2.

The 6-foot, 155-pound Wilkinson was a four-time varsity letter winner for coach Dave Moore’s track team at Bureau Valley. He also qualified for state in 2006 in the 400 meters with a time of :51.1 and as a member of the Storm’s 4x400 relay team that ran a 3:29.2.

In 2007, Wilkinson was sectional champion and state qualifier in the long jump, going 20-4. He went 20-5 1/2 as a junior.

Wilkinson also won two letters in football for the Storm. As a junior in 2005, he averaged over seven yards a carry for the undefeated Illinois Class 3A state champs. He was an all-conference selection at running back in the Big Rivers Conference in 2005 and 2006 and all-conference as a kick returner in 2005.

At Augie, Wilkinson will be joining a Vikings program under the guidance of Olsen who has earned 15 CCIW outdoor championships and a total of 15 top-ten finishes nationally. In 2008-09 Olsen will be entering his 41st season as head coach of men’s track and field and his 43rd season as head coach of men’s cross country. The Vikings were the 2008 CCIW outdoor track and field champions.