The most critical point of the indoor track and field season has arrived for Illinois State and head coach Elvis Forde couldnt be more confident about his teams chances heading into the Missouri Valley Conference Championships Friday and Saturday in Terre Haute, Ind.
The demeanor of the team is much different than it was last year, Forde said. I get the sense that the team is going in thinking that we can win this thing. Theres no room for error now.
When the Birds get underway at 1:45 p.m. Friday, they will be without senior Lauren Maul, who currently leads the Valley in the long and high jump. She suffered a season-ending knee injury on Feb. 6. With the injury, the Redbirds lost one of their top point-scorers. But, Forde sees it as an opportunity for someone else to step in and perform.
Were going to move forward from Laurens injury, Forde said. This is a chance to show that we have multiple athletes who are capable of scoring points. Everyone that were taking with us this weekend has the ability to perform. Thats my expectations.
One of those athletes expected to perform this weekend is freshman Abby Heinhold. For the first time all season, Heinhold will take part in the distance medley relay, as well as compete in her usual events, the pole vault and 1,600 relay.
Here is a freshman that Im putting into a very tough position this weekend, Forde said of Heinhold. But, I think she is fit for the task. We asked her to run the 800-meter leg of the distance medley and she accepted. I give her a lot of credit for taking on that extra responsibility.
Latisha Johnson will again be expected to make big contributions in the shot put and weight throw. Johnson is the current record holder in the shot for both the school and conference at 50-8. Others to watch on the womens side include Cherise Devers in the 60 and 200-meter dashes, Andrea Mosher in the 60-meter hurdles and 400-meter dash and Diana Ainsley in the 3,000 and 5,000.
On the mens side, JaRod Tobler will compete in four events this weekend, taking part in the 60-meter dash, the 200-meter dash, the long jump and triple jump. Tobler currently leads the Valley in the 60 (6.82), long jump (25-1 1/4) and triple jump (50-6). For the throws squad, Mark Jackson, Rhett Hillard and Brian Krantz are all expected to play a key role this weekend. Hillard leads the Valley in the shot put this season with a toss of 58-00 1/2, while Krantz is second at 54-9 1/4.
Mark, Rhett and Brian are a three-prong attack that needs to step up big this weekend, Forde said. If they all perform like they have all season, good things are going to come our way.
Like Tobler, distance runner Jeremy Doherty will also be taking on a heavy workload, as he is expected to run the mile, 3,000 and 5,000.
Jeremy came to us and said that he wanted to perform in all three of those events, Forde said. His desire is there and thats the kind of athletes we want.
Although competition begins at 9:00 a.m. Friday, the Redbirds do not start until 1:45 p.m. when the womens weight throw is scheduled. Competition ends at 2:55 p.m. Saturday with the mens 1,600 relay.
