Women Picked Third, Men Fourth in Pre-MVC Championships Polls

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The Illinois State women's track and field team were picked to finish third, while the men tabbed fourth at the 2017 Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Championships this weekend, the Valley announced earlier this week in its pre-championship poll. This year's competition will be held at Northern Iowa, UNI Dome Saturday and Sunday. ESPN3 will carry coverage on both days, with Saturday's coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday's coverage at 1:15 p.m.

Wichita State, the defending men's and women's outdoor champions, were picked to sweep the indoor championship titles. For the men, Southern Illinois and Northern Iowa tabbed second and third in the polls, respectively.

On the women's side, Illinois State and Indiana State were in a tight race for second, as the Sycamores notched three more points and were picked to finish second with 66 points, while the Redbirds tabbed third with 63 points.

Last year, the Illinois State women won their first MVC Championship under the direction of head coach Jeff Bovee. The last time the men's team captured a title was in 1999. The men look to place in the top-3 for the first time since 2006.

The Redbirds have 39 student-athletes sitting in the top-8 and four event leaders on the Missouri Valley Conference leaderboard for both men and women.

Amanda McClain will be a force to be reckoned with in the long jump, 400-meter dash and the 4x400-meter relay. McClain will look to defend her MVC long jump title as she was the 2016 indoor and outdoor champion. She had lead the Valley in the long jump all season. In the 400, McClain's time of 54.70 is ranked second. She will also look to help her team defend their 4x400-meter relay title, as the Redbirds are the defending indoor and outdoor champions.

D'Jenne Egharevba who has been leading the way in the short sprints has potential to contribute on the track in the 200-meter dash and as well as the 60-meter dash. She has the best 200-meter time in the Valley at 24.51 and is ranked fourth in the 60 on the MVC leaderboard.  

Derrius Rodgers will also be a strong contender in the 60-meter and 200-meter dash. Rodgers will challenge UNI's Brandon Carnes, who is the defending 60- and 200-meter champion, as Rodgers is following in a close second in the 60 and is ranked third in the 200.

Ben Montgomery enters the meet as the third fastest 400-meter dash runner in the Valley, with a best time of 48.95. Montgomery captured all-Valley accolades in the 400 at the outdoor conference meet and will be looking to make an impact for the Redbirds this year.

McClain will not be alone in the 400-meter dash, as Ashleigh Wilson and Ally Christiani also have a chance to score points for the Redbirds. They are ranked fourth and eighth in the MVC, respectively.

Newcomer Jack Anstey also has potential to be a key contributor for Illinois State. Anstey has only competed in four meets all season, but has the third-fastest mile run (4:08.75) and the seventh-fastest 800-meter run (1:52.73) in the Valley.

Rayanne Wright and Molly Krawczykowski will look to lead the way for the ISU in the 800-meter run at the championships. Wright is sitting in eighth and Krawczykowski ninth entering the conference meet, but they will look to jump up the leaderboard during the competition.

Illinois State once again has a chance to make its presence known in the distance events. For the women, Ariel Michalek, Grace Beattie, Phoebe Clowser and Dakota Roman are looking to score points for the Redbirds.

For the men, Tyler Morse and Kyle Mattes will lead the way for the Redbirds, along with Jesse Hahne.

In field events, jack-of-all-trades Anthony McRoberts looks to be most productive in the jumps this weekend. McRoberts has the second-highest high jump mark in the Valley with a height at 2.09m (6-10.25), sixth-longest triple jump mark at 14.29m (47-06.50) and the 12th best long jump with a leap at 6.83m (22-05).

In the throws, Morgan Keller will lead the way for ISU as she currently has the fourth-best shot put mark at 15.14m (46-10.25).

Returning all-conference recipient, Tessa Holland will be competing in the pentathlon along with newcomer Jordyn Bruce. For the men, James Brandenburg has the third-best heptathlon score in the Valley. Joining Brandenburg in the heptathlon with be Jordan Wilkerson.

The 2017 Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Championships will start on Saturday beginning with the women's pentathlon at 9:30 a.m., followed by the men's heptathlon at 10 a.m. Field events will be begin at 2 p.m. with the women's weight throw, followed by track events at 3 p.m. starting with the 60-meter hurdles.

Redbird fans can follow along with the action on Twitter @Redbird_TrackXC, or live results at http://www.uni.edu/mvcindoors.

Men's Pre-Championship Poll:

1. Wichita State (8) – 64

2. Southern Illinois – 55

3. Northern Iowa – 45

4. Illinois State – 38

5. Indiana State – 37

6. Bradley – 23

7. Loyola - 15

8. Drake – 12

Women's Pre-Championship Poll:

1. Wichita State – 81

2. Indiana State – 66

3. Illinois State – 63

4. Southern Illinois – 55

5. Northern Iowa – 50

6. Missouri State – 35

7. Drake – 26

8. Loyola - 17

9. Bradley – 12

Returning Men's Indoor All-MVC:

 2016

Jalen Lewis – 4x400-meter relay, first place

Michael Jopes – Distance Medley, third place     

David Curnock – Distance Medley, third place  

2015

Tye Sutherland – Distance Medley, third place

Jeff Bajema – Distance Medley, third place

Returning Women's Indoor All-MVC:

 2016

Amanda McClain – long jump, first place   

Tessa Holland – high jump, third place  

Ally Christiani – 4x400-meter relay, first place 

Amanda McClain – 4x400-meter relay, first place 

Ashleigh Wilson – 4x400-meter relay, first place 

DeAisa Garrett – Distance Medley, third place  

Rayanne Wright – Distance Medley, third place  

Ariel Michalek – Distance Medley, third place  

2015

Ariel Michalek – 3,000-meter run, second place

Ariel Michalek – Distance Medley, second place

DeAsia Garrett  – Distance Medley, second place

Men's MVC Top-Eight:

1. 4x400-meter relay – 3:13.99

2. Derrius Rodgers – 60 meters – 6.74

2. Anthony McRoberts – high jump – 2.09m (6-10.25)

3. Derrius Rodgers – 200 meters – 21.50

3. Ben Montgomery – 400 meters – 48.95 (converted)

3. Jack Anstey – mile run – 4:08.75 (converted)

3. James Brandenburg – heptathlon – 4,954

4. Kyle Mattes – 5,000 meters – 14:29.77

4. Distance medley relay – 10:10.85

5. Jaylan McConico – 60-meter hurdles – 8.01

6. Francis Ehigbai – high jump – 2.08m (6-09.75)

6. Anthony McRoberts – triple jump – 14.49m (47-06.50)

7. Jack Anstey – 800 meters – 1:52.73 (converted)

7. Derek Wegman – high jump – 2.06m (6-09.00)

8. Tyler Morse – 3,000 meters – 8:25.06 (converted)

9. Luke Nelson – pole vault – 4.61m (15-01.50)

Women's MVC Top-Eight:

1. Amanda McClain – long jump – 5.94m (19-06.00)

1. D'Jenne Egharevba – 200 meters – 24.51 (converted)

1. 4x400-meter relay – 3:13.99

2. Amanda McClain – 400 meters – 54.70

2. 4x400 relay – 3:41.14

2. Distance medley – 11:59.84

4. D'Jenne Egharevba – 60 meters – 7.54

4. Ariel Michalek – mile run – 4:55.04

4. Demetria Anderson – 60-meter hurdles – 8.49

4. Morgan Keller – shot put – 15.14m (49-08.25)

4. Charde Golliday – long jump – 5.83m (19-01.50)

5. Tessa Holand – high jump – 1.66m (5-05.25)

6. Ariel Michalek – 3,000 meters– 9:51.72

6. Ashley England – 5,000 meters – 17:30.26

6. Brandy Thomas – shot put – 14.28m (46-10.25)

7. Ashleigh Wilson – 400 meters – 56.16 (converted)

7. Amanda McClain – 200 meters – 24.66

7. Grace Beattie – mile run – 4:55.98

8. Ally Christiani – 400 meters – 56.21

8. Rayanne Wright – 800 meters – 2:12.50

8. Dakota Roman – mile run – 4:59.77 (converted)

8. Patrice Jones – long jump – 5.67m (18-07.25)

8. Victoria Gruszka – triple jump – 11.59m (38-00.25)

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