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WICHITA, Kan. – The Illinois State women's and men's track and field teams each begin competition Friday at the three-day Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championship hosted by Wichita State at Cessna Stadium. Fans can follow along throughout the weekend with live results posted on MVC-Sports.com and live video via The Valley on ESPN3.
ISU's women's team was picked to finish second and the men's team was selected sixth in the pre-championship poll released by the league office Monday. Illinois State's women received 70 points and six second-place votes, while Wichita State was a unanimous favorite to win the MVC women's outdoor title. The Shockers received 81 out of 81 possible points.
On the men's side, Illinois State was one point shy of cracking the top-five. The Redbirds earned 28 points, while Wichita State was also picked to win the MVC men's outdoor title by tallying 63 points and receiving seven of eight first-place votes.
Heading into this weekend's championship, the Redbird women feature the league leader in three events. Amanda McClain tops the MVC in the 400m (54.06) and the long jump (20-04.25), and Morgan Keller ranks first in the shot put (50-02.00). McClain is the defending MVC outdoor long jump champion. She also earned the 2017 MVC Indoor Track and Field title in the 400m and the long jump. Additionally, McClain is the reigning MVC Female Field Athlete of the Week and the MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Week.
Illinois State's women's 4x400m relay team ranks second in the league (3:41.67) after winning last season's outdoor title and this year's indoor championship. Also ranked second in the MVC from ISU are: D'Jenne Egharevba (100m: 11.58), Tessa Holland (high jump: 5-07.00), Brandy Thomas (shot put: 49-01.75) and Keller (discus: 170-02.00). In total, the Redbird women account for 17 top-five league rankings heading into the MVC Outdoor Track and Field Championship.
The ISU men's team features 11 top-five rankings, including three top-two marks: Derrius Rodgers (200m: 20.89) and Anthony McRoberts (high jump: 7-00.25; triple jump: 50-01.75). Illinois State's men's 4x400m relay team is coming off of a first-place finish at the 2017 MVC Indoor Track and Field Championship.
At the MVC Indoor Track and Field Championship earlier this year, the Illinois State women were the runner-up champions with 119 points. Meanwhile, the men finished fourth with 92 points. Last season, the Redbird women earned fourth at the MVC Outdoor Track and Field Championship with 107.5 points, and the men finished fifth with 86 points.
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