Thirteen members of the Illinois State track and field teams are ready to take their athletic expertise to the next level as they prepare for the first-annual running of the 2003 NCAA Regional Track and Field Championships at Ohio States Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium, May 30 and 31, in Columbus, Ohio.
The top five finishers in each event from all four regional meets will automatically qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships June 11-14 in Sacramento, Calif. The NCAA Championship Committee will then choose individuals from the national seasons best list to fill out the remainder of the fields in each event. Currently, Illinois States Joe Drevlow is ranked eighth in the nation in the hammer toss while Andrea Mosher is seventh in the 400-meter hurdles.
Everybody is in very good health right now and the although the task will be more individual than team oriented at the regional, this time of year is all about these two days, Illinois State head coach Elvis Forde said. The experience will be good for all the athletes involved but the competition will be strong. Our region, the Mid-East, is comprised of top athletes from schools like Florida, Arkansas and Tennessee.
We are in a difficult region and the athletes will have their hands full, Forde said. But this is an event that can only prepare these athletes for the future and help the team for next year.
In addition to the 400-meter hurdles, Mosher will be competing in the 4x400 relay with teammates Brittney Hourd, Andrea Black and Cherise Devers. Also competing for the women is Latisha Johnson in the shot put.
For the men, Gergely Bata and Pierre Woods will compete in the high jump while Drevlow will tackle the hammer and Rhett Hillard will throw the shot put. Miklos Konkoly will run in the 800 meters, Jeremy Doherty with run 1500 meters and JaRod Tobler and Chivas Hemphill will compete in the high jump. Of all the Redbirds competing, only Tobler has national championship experience. He competed in the long jump last season, finishing 21st.
The opportunity to compete at the NCAA meet is great for this program and for these athletes, Forde said. It gives our athletes the chance to see others compete from around the country. It also elevates individual performances which in turn can only help the teams performances.
Competition begins in throw events both Friday and Saturday at noon, while the running events will commence with trials Friday at 4 p.m. with the womens 4x400-meter relay. Running will begin Saturday at 6 p.m. with the finals of the womens 4x400m.
