CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois State track and field teams were able to capture personal-best performances and event titles in inclement weather at the Illinois Twilight and Virginia Challenge.
Brandy Thomas had a spectacular day at the Illinois Twilight, as she captured two personal-best performances. She started off the day with a PR in the hammer throw as she heaved a mark at 53.46m (175-05), placing second overall. In the shot put, Thomas earned a PR with a mark at 14.82m (48-07.50) also placing second overall. Tayler Weaver also earned a personal-best mark in the hammer throw as heaved 36.67m (120-04).
Zachary Gregory  also had a strong performance in the hammer throw as he captured a personal-best mark at 51.90m (170-03).
Amanda McClain won the women's long jump with a mark of 6.13m (20-01.50).
On the track, Connor Ehnle started the day off with a phenomenal performance in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase, as he placed third with a personal-best time of 9:19.08, which is the tenth fastest-time in ISU school history. His time is also ranked second in the Missouri Valley Conference, and this was Ehnle's second time running the steeplechase in his career.
Sarah Voss also captured a personal-best performance in the steeplechase, as she ran a time of 12:03.52.
Justin Agustin won the men's 400-meter hurdles with a time at 54.22. In the women's 400-meter hurdles, Tara Schumacher captured a personal-best performance with a time of 1:08.23.
Hattie Plumb also captured a PR in the women's 800-meter run with a time at 2:14.62.
The Redbirds had tremendous performances in the 5,000-meter run. Dakota Roman led the way as she won the event with 38 second PR as she ran a time at 17:15.49. Her time is eighth in the Missouri Valley Conference. Erica Brown also ran a personal-best performance as she crossed the finish line at a time of 17:27.01, which is a 10 second PR.
On the men's side, Cody Baele won the 5,000-meter with a personal-best of 14:22.71. Jesse Hahne followed in fifth place with a time at 14:48.24.
In the last event of the night, Jack Anstey and Sydney Billingsley both captured personal-best performance in the 1,500-meter run. Anstey won his heat and placed second overall with a personal-best time of 3:46.85, which is ranked fourth in the Valley. Anstey had a spectacular kick in the last 400 meters passing four runners in front of him.
Billingsley ran a similar race, as she finished fourth overall with a personal-best time of 4:35.68.
OTHER NOTABLE PERFORMANCE
Women's 400-meter dash
2. Rayanne Wright – 57.53
Men's 800-meter run
3. Kyle Hatton – 1:53.33
5. Tye Sutherland – 1:54.10
Women's Discus
3. Sydney Laufenberg – 47.31m (155-02)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Illinois State's Jalen Lewis led the way for the Redbirds on day two of the Virginia Challenge, as he captured a personal-best performance in the men's 400-meter hurdles. Lewis ran a time at 53.49, which is ranked seventh in the Missouri Valley Conference.
D'Jenne Egharevba also had a strong effort in the women's 200-meter dash, placing third with a wind-aided (+2.3) time at 23.97.
Jordyn Bruce also earned a personal-best score in the heptathlon with a total of 4,439 points, placing 13th overall. Â On day two, Bruce captured a huge PR in the long jump as she leaped a mark of 5.13m (16-10). She also earned a personal-best in the javelin with a mark at 24.24 (79-06.50).
The Redbirds are back in action next weekend, April 28-29, as they travel to Louisville, Kentucky, to compete in the Lenny Lyles-Clark Wood Invitational. For updates on Illinois State track and field, follow the Redbirds on Twitter @Redbird_TrackXC.
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