CHAMPIONSHIP INFOÂ | ESPN3 COVERAGE
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Illinois State men's and women's track and field teams set to compete in the 2016 Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships, hosted by Indiana State at Terre Haute, Indiana at the Gibson Track & Field Complex on May 13-15.
Illinois State, the defending indoor women's champions and men's were both tabbed to finish fourth in the MVC Pre-Championships Polls, while both men's and women's Wichita State teams were selected to finish first. On the women's side, Missouri State and Southern Illinois tabbed to finish second and third, respectively. For the men, Southern Illinois and Northern Iowa were selected to finish second and third, respectively.
The Redbirds had a successful season filled with personal-best and school-record breaking performances. ISU have seven student-athletes leading the Missouri Valley Conference, as they enter the championship this weekend.
The defending men's and women's 4x400-meter relay teams are currently leading the MVC and look to have the same success this weekend. In fact, the men's 4x400-meter relay squad has won the past three-consecutive championships—2015 indoor, 2015 outdoor and 2016 indoor. Meanwhile, the women's 4x400-meter relay team broke the indoor and outdoor school records, and won the 2016 indoor championship.
The men's and women's 4x100-meter relay teams are also good contenders, as they are currently ranked second in the MVC. This season, the men's 4x100m squad ran the second-fastest time in school history (40.48), while the women ran a time of 45.53 which is ranked fourth on ISU's all-time best list.
Senior Kelly McShea looks to make a splash in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase, as she is currently leading the Valley. Her time of 10:09.56 is also ranked 12th in the west region and 22nd in the nation. McShea looks to capture her fourth MVC Title, before heading to the NCAA West Preliminary Round.
Ryan Rutherford has his sights on capturing the 10,000-meter run title. Rutherford holds the school record in both the 5K and 10K. During the 2013-14 season, Rutherford broke MVC record, before Indiana State John Mascari set a new record last season (2014-15).
J.D. LaFayette and Jackie Mink will lead the way for the Redbirds in the 800-meter run, respectively. The defending 800-meter champion, LaFayette currently sits atop the MVC leaderboard with a time of 1:49.08. Meanwhile, Mink is ranked second in the Valley and third on ISU's all-time best list. Mink earned All-MVC First Team Selection in the 800 at the 2016 Indoor Championships.
Junior sprinter, Anderson Devonish looks to capture his fourth-consecutive title in the men's 400-meter dash. He is currently leading the Missouri Valley Conference and is ranked 10th in the west region. He is also a key part of the men's 4x100-and 4x400-meter relay teams.
For the women, Sarah Mussallem could end her career with a bang this weekend, as she will try to defend her title in the 400-meter dash. She will also be a contributor in the women's 4x100-and 4x400-meter relay squads.
In the field, The Redbirds enter strong favorites in the women's long jump and pole vault. The MVC Indoor long jump champion, Amanda McClain is currently leading the Missouri Valley for her performance at the Virginia Challenge (April 22). The freshman captured a mark of 20-02.50 and was just shy of breaking the school record of 20-05.75. McClain is also a contention for the NCAA West Preliminary Round, as he is ranked 21st in the west region.
The Bloomington, Illinois, native and MVC Indoor pole vault champion, Emily Clay has her sights on another MVC Title. Clay is currently leads the conference with a school-record breaking mark of 4.08m (13-04.50). She cleared the mark last weekend at the Wisconsin Twilight and looks to keep her momentum as she heads to the championship this weekend.
Competition will begin Friday morning at 10 a.m. (ET) with the beginning of multi events. All start times will be set in standard Eastern Time. Redbird fans can follow along with the action on Twitter @Redbird_TrackXC, or live coverage on ESPN3 starting at 6:50 p.m. (ET) on Friday. ESPN3 will have live coverage on day two starting at 4:45 p.m. (ET), and at 12:55 p.m. (ET) on day three.
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