Ashley Tjardes Class: Senior Hometown: Gibson City, Ill. High School: Gibson City Event: Pole Vault Birthdate: 08/01/1987

Updated Nov. 7, 2008

At SIU: Ranks fifth in both the indoor (10-02.50) and outdoor (10-00) pole vault at SIU...Competed in four indoor meets and three outdoor meets during the 2007-08 season...Best indoor finish was seventh at the Friday Night Special...Finished among the top-10 three of four times...Placed sixth at the Spring Classic...Had two top-10 finishes in the outdoor season...Vaulted in three indoor and six outdoor meets in 2007...Finished ninth at the MVC Indoor Championships and tied for eighth at the MVC Outdoor Championships...Competed in one indoor meet and five outdoor meets in the high jump and pole vault in 2006...Recorded her top finish of the outdoor season at the Vanderbilt Invite, finishing seventh.

Pre-SIU: Three-sport athlete at Gibson City High School...Holds the school's high jump, triple jump and pole vault records...Four-time state qualifier in the pole vault and two-time state qualifier in both the high jump and triple jump...Also qualified for state meet in the 4x400 as a senior...All-conference selection in track, volleyball and basketball as a junior and senior...Garnered Bloomington Pantagraph first-team all-area honors in basketball and second-team accolades in volleyball.

Personal: Majors in Architectural Studies...Born August 1, 1987...Daughter of Phil and Jayne Tjardes.