The Illinois State track and field team returns to Horton Field House this weekend for its final home meet of the season when it hosts the Redbird Open on Saturday, Feb. 3, with the field events beginning at 8 a.m. The running events commence at 9:30 a.m. with the womens 3,000 meters.
Some of our kids will compete and some wont, Illinois State head coach Jeff Pigg said. For some its a chance to get some needed rest and others its a chance to compete and continue to improve. Were looking at 22 teams coming in here this weekend and some open athletes so it will be a good meet.
Last weekend the Redbirds competed at the Wisconsin Invitational against perennial powers Wisconsin and Arizona. Junior Christian Goy took first in the mens 3,000-meter run clocking a time of 8:12.80, narrowly missing the provisional qualifying time of 8:12.00 for the NCAA Championship.
The biggest thing about last weekend was that we made a lot of progress, Pigg said. You could go into a meet like that and be intimidated, but we lined up with some tough teams and competed hard.
Freshman Casey Gantt tied for first place in the triple jump with a leap of 483 1/2, while Andrew Jury won the high jump, clearing 6-4 in Madison last weekend.
Also contributing to a strong team effort last weekend, All-American Sam Serrano won the 20-lb. womens weight throw with a heave of 57-7 and also took fourth in the shot put with a toss of 44-4 3/4.
The Redbird Open features 22 teams including Missouri Valley Conference rivals Southwest Missouri State and Bradley. Other schools competing include Chicago State, Danville Area College, Florissant Valley, Greenville College, University of Illinois-Chicago, Illinois Wesleyan, University of Indianapolis, McKendree College, Parkland Community College, Rend Lake Community College, SIU-Edwardsville, Western Illinois and Wisconsin Lutheran College.
The Redbirds have this weekends home meet and the Cyclone Invitational in Ames, Iowa next weekend before the MVC Indoor Championships, Feb. 23-24, at Carondale, Ill.
