CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois State women's distance medley relay team broke the school record by eight seconds at the Alex Wilson Invitational in South Bend, Indiana. The previous school record was a time of 11:36.25, which was posted in 2013. The quartet of Jackie Mink, Amanda McClain, Sarah Mussallem and Kelly McShea sets a new record of 11:28.20.
On the opening leg, Mink ran a 1,200 split of 3:28 before handing off to McClain, who ran a 400 meter split of 55.5. McClain handed the stick off to senior sprinter Mussallem, who ran a 800 split of 2:12.5 before McShea anchored to the finish line. McShea ran a 1,600 meter split of 4:51.
"The women went out and competed hard today," Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Jeff Bovee said. "Although we fell short of breaking the all-time MVC record the women crushed the existing ISU school record by 8 seconds awith four very good carries."
Anderson Devonish finished fourth in the men's 400-meter dash with a time of 47.52 at the Alex Wilson Invite.
There were many standout performances at the Orange and Blue, one coming from senior Kaley Ummel as she won first place in the women's 800-meter run with a season-best time of 2:14.21, while Rayanne Wright finished third with a time of 2:16.48.
"It is really good to see Kaley bounce back," said Bovee. "It is great to see her compete like this as we go into the Valley next weekend. Rayanne as shown great improvement this year and I see great things continue to come from her."
Ummel was not the only one who captured an event title today. The men's field events posted three event titles by Derek Wegman in the high jump, Demetri Alimissis in the long jump and Aaron Kennebrew III in the triple jump. Wegman captured a height of 2.00m (06-06.75), while Alimissis leaped 6.36m (20-10.50) and Kennebrew posted a mark of 13.39m (43-11.25), respectively.
On the women's side, Brandy Thomas continued her success in the women's shot put as she captured first place with a mark of 14.14m (46-04.75). Emily Clay and Tessa Holland both earned second place finishes in pole vault and the high jump with marks of 3.97m (13-00.25) and 1.66m (5-05.25), respectively. Although Clay finish second, she was the first collegiate finisher in her event as the first place finisher competed unattached.
On the track, the Redbirds had many student-athletes capture personal-best efforts, one coming from freshman Jabrille Lewis in the men's 60-meter hurdles. Lewis posted a new personal-best time of 8.28 while placing fourth overall.
In the mile run, Ariel Michalek made a huge comeback as she started the race near the back and worked her way up to a third-place finish with a time of 5:00.79. Kenneidi Knoblock also posted a strong effort as she captured a new personal-best in the mile run with a time of 5:02.90.
"It was important for our team to see Ariel regain her fitness and show signs of herself from the cross country season," Bovee said.
On the men's side, Connor Ehnle posted a new personal-best in the mile with a time of 4:19.70, while Michael Cook he won his heat with a time of 4:26.57 and placed ninth overall.
In the men's 400-meter dash Michael Jopes and David Curnock captured second and third place finishes with times of 51.10 and 51.30, respectively.
Tye Sutherland posted a first-place finish in the men's 600 meter with a time of 1:22.63.
Brett Charlton posted strong performances in the 60-meter dash and the 200 meter as he posted a fourth-place finish in the 60 with a time of 7.05 and third place in the 200 with a time of 22.75.
On the women's side, Demetria Anderson posted a personal-best in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.77 and placed fifth overall. LaDaisha Steen-Yates also posted a new personal-best in the women's 60-meter dash with a time of 7.68.
The Redbirds return to the track next weekend, as they travel to Northern Iowa for the 2016 Indoor Missouri Valley Conference Championships. Follow GoRedbirds.com for more information on the championship meet later this week.
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