Jeff Pigg, head coach of the Illinois State track and field team, knows weather has contributed to his team getting a slow start to its outdoor season, but he still feels the team has the incentive and drive to win and is excited about the opportunity to compete for a conference championship at the 2002 Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Championships hosted by Northern Iowa on May 15-18 in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
We got off to a slow start, like a lot of teams this season, because of the weather, said Pigg. We have some kids that are banged up and wont compete, but this is still a very exciting time of year for us and I know that the team will work hard and get the job done.
There will be some added incentive for the Redbirds and Illinois State fans as well due to the fact that the teams place finishes in both the mens and womens standings this weekend will be extremely influential in the race for the All-Sports Trophy, which Illinois State currently leads. Southwest Missouri State and Northern Iowa are sitting in second and third place respectively.
To be able to make the difference in whether or not Illinois State gets the All-Sports Trophy is a big honor, continued Pigg. I know that it will build incentive for our kids. It is a very important honor to them.
The MVC Outdoor Championships will begin on Wednesday, May 15, at 11 a.m. with mens and womens multi-event competition. Multi-events will run through 5 p.m. Thursday and action will conclude Thursday with the finals of the womens and mens 10,000 meter run at 7 and 7:45 p.m. respectively.
Field events begin at 10 a.m. Friday, May 17, with the mens hammer throw, while the running events open with the mens 3,000 meter steeplechase at 2 p.m. On Saturday, May 18, field events continue at 9:30 a.m. with the womens hammer throw. Running events continue at 1 p.m. with the womens 4x100 meter relay.
Seniors participating in their final Valley track and field event for Illinois State include: Kevin Bailey, Robert Breit, Steve Cotman, Alfie Gordillo, Daniel Schrock, and Mark Walcott; and on the womens side Stacia Beste, Nicole Blow, Keri Davis, Monique Haan, Hillary Hyland, and Sam Serrano.
