NORMAL, Ill. – After sweeping the MVC Indoor Track & Field Championships for the first time since 1997, the Illinois State men's and women's track and field teams will look to carry their crowns into the outdoor season when they compete in the 2018 MVC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, hosted by Indiana State, in Terre Haute, Indiana, on May 11-13.
Heading into the weekend, both the Redbird men and women sit as the unanimous favorites per the MVC pre-championship polls. The men, who are seeking their first outdoor Valley title since 1999, received a perfect 81 points. The 2018 indoor runner-up, Indiana State (66 points), was selected to finish second, with Northern Iowa (65 points) falling just behind in third.
The Illinois State women, who are competing for their first outdoor championship since 2000, also received the maximum score of 100 points in the MVC pre-championship polls. Indiana State (90 points) and Southern Illinois (79 points) will be strong contenders as well, as they were picked second and third, respectively.
The 'Birds, who currently hold 64 top-eight marks (29 men and 35 women) across the Valley, will compete for their first MVC men's and women's outdoor sweep since the 1997 season. That same year, the Redbirds swept the indoor championships as well.
Athletes to Watch
Anderson Devonish – Devonish is coming off of an indoor campaign where he won the MVC 200-meter and 400-meter titles, in addition to running a leg on the Redbirds' first place 4x400-meter relay team. Following this performance, he was named the MVC's Most Valuable Athlete. Devonish enters this weekend's competition with the top Valley marks in the 100-meter (10.46) and 400-meter (46.38), also holding the second-fastest time (21.04) in the 200-meter.
Jack Anstey – After finishing second in the mile at the 2018 MVC Indoor Track & Field Championships, Anstey has soared to new heights during the outdoor season. He currently sits atop the Valley in the 1,500-meter (3:43.22) and ranks second in the 800-meter after running a personal-best 1:49.56 at last weekend's Wisconsin Twilight.
Kyle Mattes – Mattes has come back stronger than ever during the outdoor season after fighting through a few minor injuries during the indoor campaign. He holds the fastest 10,000-meter time in the Valley by over 40 seconds with a mark of 29:33.52. He also sits second in the MVC in the 5,000-meter (14:14.72).
Jaylan McConico – A 2018 NCAA Second-Team All-American in the 60-meter hurdles, McConico's indoor success has translated directly to the outdoor season. His 110-meter hurdles mark of 13.81 is the best in the Valley. McConico will look to lead the men to their first set of indoor and outdoor conference championships since 1999.
James Brandenburg – After winning the heptathlon at the 2018 MVC Indoor Track & Field Championships, Brandenburg is on the hunt for an outdoor decathlon title. His mark of 6,940 points that he captured at the Virginia Challenge on April 20, 2018, is a Valley best. Brandenburg also holds top-eight MVC marks in the 110-meter hurdles (14.58) and javelin (52.59m/172-09).
Ryan Ashenbremer – If there is one word that describes Ashenbremer over the course of the outdoor season, it is consistency. His success in the pole vault has been frequent, capturing three wins over the course of the season. Ashenbremer's latest win came last weekend at the Wisconsin Twilight when he cleared a Valley-best 5.12m (16-09.50).
D'Jenne Egharevba – Egharevba cleaned house at the 2018 Valley Indoor Track & Field Championships, claiming the 100-meter and 200-meter titles and being named the meet's Most Valuable Athlete and Most Outstanding Track Athlete. She will look to lead the Redbird women to their first set of indoor and outdoor conference crowns since 1997.
Demetria Anderson – Anderson has been a force to be reckoned with in the 100-meter hurdles all season, boasting the top mark in the Valley at 13.42. Her time currently bests the next-closest competitor by .25 seconds! Anderson also ranks fifth in the MVC in the 400-meter hurdles (1:02.36).
Brandy Thomas – Thomas comes into this weekend's meet seeking her third-straight shot put title after winning the event at the 2017 MVC Outdoor and 2018 Valley Indoor Track & Field Championships. She has thrown over 51 feet in each of the past three weeks, with her best throw of 16.00m (52-06.00) coming at the Virginia Challenge on April 20, 2018. The mark sits atop the Valley.
Ariana Cranston – Cranston holds the best pole vault mark in the Valley at 3.87m (12-08.25), currently leading the event by over four inches! The 2018 MVC Indoor Pole Vault runner-up, Cranston will look to finish on the top of the podium this weekend.
The 2018 MVC Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be broadcasted on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday on ESPN+. Fans can subscribe to ESPN+ for just $4.99 per month (or $49.99 per year) and cancel at any time.
Friday's broadcast is scheduled to start at 6:05 p.m. CT, Saturday's is slated to begin at 3:45 p.m. CT, and Sunday's is scheduled to start at 11:50 a.m. CT. Live results will also be provided.
Redbird fans can follow along with all the championship action on Twitter via @Redbird_TrackXC. Full coverage will be available on GoRedbirds.com following the conclusion of each day of the meet.
A full list of all the Redbirds currently in the top-eight of the MVC in their respective events is included below.
Men's MVC Top-Eight
100-meter
1st – Anderson Devonish (10.46)
200-meter
2nd – Anderson Devonish (21.04)
7th – Ben Montgomery (21.45)
400-meter
1st – Anderson Devonish (46.38)
3rd – Ben Montgomery (47.65)
8th – Avery Lyons (48.16)
800-meter
2nd – Jack Anstey (1:49.56)
1,500-meter
1st – Jack Anstey (3:43.22)
5,000-meter
2nd – Kyle Mattes (14:14.72)
6th – Cody Baele (14:41.07)
10,000-meter
1st – Kyle Mattes (29:33.52)
4th – Cody Baele (30:27.39)
100-meter Hurdles
1st – Jaylan McConico (13.81)
6th – James Brandenburg (14.58)
400-meter Hurdles
8th – Justin Agustin (54.16)
3,000-meter Steeplechase
2nd – Connor Ehnle (9:06.55)
4x100-meter Relay
2nd – Jaylan McConico, Ben Montgomery, DeShaun Jordan, Anderson Devonish (40.67)
4x400-meter Relay
2nd – Anderson Devonish, Brandon Gage, Avery Lyons, Ben Montgomery (3:10.96)
High Jump
2nd – LaMont Allen (2.15m/7-00.50)
4th – Francis Ehigbai (2.07m/6-09.50)
Pole Vault
1st – Ryan Ashenbremer (5.12m/16-09.50)
2nd – Luke Nelson (5.08m/16-08.00)
4th – Kellen Kravik (4.83m/15-10.00)
6th – Sam Peschke (4.77m/15-07.75)
Discus
8th – Sam Weisz (47.76m/156-08)
Hammer Throw
4th – Sam Weisz (55.57m/182-04)
Javelin
3rd – James Brandenburg (52.59m/172-06)
Decathlon
1st – James Brandenburg (6,940 points)
3rd – Jordan Wilkerson (6,428 points)
Women's MVC Top-Eight
100-meter
3rd – D'Jenne Egharevba (11.67)
4th – Kelsie Prear (11.74)
200-meter
4th – D'Jenne Egharevba (24.00)
5th – Kelsie Prear (24.34)
400-meter
6th – Ashleigh Wilson (56.23)
7th – Amanda McClain (56.40)
800-meter
3rd – Hattie Plumb (2:09.31)
10,000-meter
2nd – Ashley England (35:31.59)
4th – Erica Brown (36:07.56)
100-meter Hurdles
1st – Demetria Anderson (13.42)
7th – Mya Robinson (14.22)
400-meter Hurdles
3rd – Jordyn Bruce (1:01.78)
5th – Demetria Anderson (1:02.36)
7th – Whitney Ward (1:02.86)
3,000-meter Steeplechase
2nd – Grace Beattie (10:19.77)
4th – Lindsey Lewis (10:52.68)
4x100-meter Relay
2nd – Emily Cowan, Kelsie Prear, Demetria Anderson, D'Jenne Egharevba (45.29)
4x400-meter Relay
4th – Emily Cowan, D'Jenne Egharevba, Jaclyn Greci, Ashleigh Wilson (3:44.68)
High Jump
2nd – Kameesha Smith (1.72m/5-07.75)
4th – Kristin Higgins (1.68m/5-06.00)
7th – Tessa Holland (1.65m/5-05.00)
Pole Vault
1st – Ariana Cranston (3.87m/12-08.25)
5th – Nicole Bagwell (3.67m/12-00.50)
Long Jump
2nd – Charde Golliday (5.95m/19-06.25)
4th – Amanda McClain (5.93m/19-05.50)
Triple Jump
5th – Victoria Gruszka (12.28m/40-03.50)
6th – Charde Golliday (11.88m/38-11.75)
Shot Put
1st – Brandy Thomas (16.00m/52-06.00)
5th – Kassie Hoyme (15.18m/49-09.75)
6th – Julia Bourke (14.97m/49-01.50)
Discus
2nd – Sydney Laufenberg (52.36m/171-09)
Hammer Throw
3rd – Julia Bourke (60.26m/197-08)
Javelin
3rd – Tessa Holland (41.51m/136-02)
5th – Ashlee Stieler (39.64m/130-01)
Heptathlon
2nd – Ashlee Stieler (4,918 points)
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