Elvis Forde, head coach of the Illinois State track and field team, knows who the favorites are in this weekends 2003 Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Championships hosted by Southern Illinois in Carbondale, Ill., May 15-17. According to the coaches poll, Southwest Missouri State on the womens side and Wichita State on the mens are picked to take top-team honors but Forde believes it isnt as clear as it seems.
We know who the favorites are according to the poll but I dont think it is as clear cut and simple as that, Forde said. For the mens side, Wichita State will likely dominate because of the jumpers and sprinters but on the womens side, it could go a variety of ways. I think it will be a battle all the way and we will need to perform well to hold up in the pack.
Illinois State was picked fifth in the poll on the womens side and fourth on the mens side. Southern Illinois, Indiana State and Northern Iowa follow SMS on the womens side for the top four spots while Northern Iowa and Indiana State are second and third, respectively, for the men.
Fordes perspective on the poll is that it is a good way to get a feel for where the teams are at, but the outcome come championship time can be surprising.
You see good and bad things at all meets and once the athletes are out on the track performing it is up to them to score the points, Forde said. I can guarantee all the schools, excluding SMS and Wichita State, believe they can better their positions than what was stated in the poll. I know we can and we will have to come out strong to prove that this weekend.
The middle-distance runners that consist of Andrea Black, Lauren Ritt, Diana Ainsley and Kelli Schulte will be the deciding factor in the competition according to Forde. It is the strongest area for the Redbirds on the womens side along with thrower Latisha Johnson, who was the conference champion in the shot put last year. On the mens side, reigning conference champions Gergely Bata in the high jump and Miklos Konkoly in the 800 meters will have to bring their best performances to help fill the void left in the sprinters area where Illinois State has struggled finding a consistent runner this season.
Not having anyone in sprints will take a toll on us, Forde said. So the distance runners, jumpers and throwers will have to do really well. We are capable of anything this weekend, but we need to execute and stay healthy for a shot at taking the championship.
The MVC Outdoor Championship will begin with the decathlon and heptathlon on Thursday, May 15 while the hammer throw and 10,000 meters also takes place that day. On Friday, May 16, the multi-events continue with the running events beginning at 5:15 p.m. and concluding with the steeplechase at 8:35 p.m. On Saturday, May 17, the meet concludes with the field events beginning at 1 p.m. and the 4x400 meter relay at 9:05 p.m. followed by the awards presentation.
A complete results list will be available on the Southern Illinois website, www.siusalukis.com.
