Illinois Wesleyan senior Jill Harmon was named College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Merle Chapman Leadership Award winner for 2016. A three-time indoor All-American, she placed fourth in pentathlon, sixth in triple jump and seventh in 60 meter hurdles. She was named all-Midwest Region (long jump, triple jump, 60m hurdles, pentathlon) for U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association indoor track. She has been the CCIW outdoor track field athete of the week three times and was named CCIW indoor track field athlete of the week twice in her career. Harmon was all-CCIW indoor in the triple jump (1st), pentathlon (1st), 60 meter hurdles (2nd) and long jump (2nd).
Three times an All-American as a junior, she was fifth in the triple jump at the NCAA Division III indoor championships, fourth in the triple jump and seventh in the heptathlon at the NCAA Division III outdoor championships.
As a sophomore, she finished all-CCIW in the 100 meter hurdles (5th) and triple jump (1st) at the conference outdoor track meet and was all-CCIW in the 60 meter hurdles (4th), long jump (4th), and triple jump (3rd) at the CCIW indoor meet.
As a freshman, she was chosen as the women's team's "Best Newcomer". She finished 20th in in the triple jump at the 2013 NCAA outdoor championships after placing first in the triple jump and second in the long jump at the CCIW indoor meet.
A mathematics major at Illinois Wesleyan, Jill is the daughter of Steve and Jan Harmon.
Why you chose Illinois Wesleyan: Coach Shoe promised me a National Championship ring (*soon to come hopefully)
IWU class you’re most qualified to teach: Athletic Training room etiquette 101
The hardest challenge about being a Division III student-athlete is: Having to pay for everything. Running shoes and spikes are not cheap!
Worst grade in a class you ever got – what and when? I’d rather not think about it
I’m deathly afraid of ... : Anything that swims in the ocean especially sharks
Worst habit: Interrupting people while they are talking.
Most expensive traffic ticket: $20 parking ticket from IWU Security
Language I’d like to learn: Spanish because three semesters at IWU just wasn’t enough
The longest I could survive without my cell phone: Couple weeks
One word your mother or father would use to describe you: Passionate
Favorite sports figures: Yadier Molina, Ashton Eaton, & Brianne Theisen- Eaton
My greatest moment in sports was: Running a personal best time by 7 seconds in the 800m in order to place 7th in the heptathlon at the 2015 NCAA Outdoor National Championships
The best player I ever faced was: As a freshman in high school, I ran a hurdle race against a girl named Bethany Buell. She went on to become the 2013 NCAA D-I national champion in the pole vault.
Worst dresser on my team: Sadly, I think that person would be me
Thing that’s been in my fridge the longest: Salad dressing
Person I’m dying to have dinner with: Ashton Eaton & Brianne Theisen- Eaton
Favorite food: Bratwurst, mashed potatoes, & sauerkraut = best meal in the entire world
Vegetable I won’t eat: Brussels sprouts
Pepsi or Coke? Water
Favorite TV show: "F.R.I.E.N.D.S"
Favorite musical group: Anything that comes on my ‘90s/’00s pop radio on Pandora
Favorite movie: “Avatar”
If a movie were made of my life, I would like the following person to play me: Jennifer Lawrence
If my life were on TV as a reality show, I’d call it: “Pure Harmony”
The person in history I would most like to meet is: Jesse Owens
My dream job would be: General Manger for the St. Louis Cardinals
Place I’d most like to live: Oregon or Colorado
Two things that are tops on my “bucket list”: Going on “The Amazing Race” with my brother; seeing the Olympics in person
My possession that would fetch the most on eBay: My entire collection of St. Louis Cardinals merchandise
Who is the luckiest person in the world? Nia Joiner
What I miss most about being in the third grade: Color by number coloring books
