COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Illinois State's Derrius Rodgers notched Second Team All-American with a time of 6.77 in the 60-meter dash, finishing 13th in the preliminary round at the 2017 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships, Friday, falling short of the finals on Saturday.
"Derrius (Rodgers) competed like a champion tonight," Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Jeff Bovee said. "He stepped into the blocks like he has been here before. His future is very bright and I look forward to many more national meets with this young man representing ISU."
The true freshman from Lockport, Illinois, capped the indoor season breaking a 21 year old school record in the 60-meter dash with a time of 6.64, which he ran at the 2017 Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships. Rodgers received all-MVC accolades in the 60-and 200-meter dash. He also ran a leg on the Valley Champion 4x400-meter relay. Rodgers tallied a total of 18.5 points at the championships, and was the first recipient of the MVC Male Freshman of the Year Award. Rodgers also ran the fifth-fastest 200-meter dash in school history at a time of 21.50.
"I thought Derrius (Rodgers) handled himself very well on the national stage," assistant coach Brenton Emanuel said. "I couldn't be more proud of him. Even though he came up short of the goal we set, he still has done some amazing things this season. He's even hungrier for this outdoor season and it should be very exciting."
The Illinois State men's and women's track and field teams open the outdoor season at Oxford, Mississippi, competing in the Joe Walker Invitational March 24-25. More information will be provided at GoRedbirds.com in the next few weeks. Fans can keep up-to-date with Redbird track and field by following on Twitter @Redbird_TrackXC.
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