In the days leading up to the Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships, Illinois State head coach Elvis Forde talked about the importance of the athletes stepping up their effort for the weekend.
Forde received that effort Friday during the first day of competition, as the men currently sit in first place with 45 points, while the women are in fifth place with 14 points.
On the mens side Jeremy Doherty placed second in the 5,000-meter run with a time of 14:26.23. Doherty will also be competing in the mile and 3,000 on Saturday.
"During the conference meet, you do what you can to try and help the team," Doherty said of running in three events.
The distance medley team of Bronco Meeks, Gabe Cruz, Pierre Woods and Dan Tripp took home the conference title with a first place time of 9:58.33, while JaRod Tobler was champion in the long jump with a distance of 24-11 1/4. Tobler also placed first in the preliminaries of the 60-meter dash with a time of 6.86.
In throws competition, Brian Krantz set a new personal best in the weight throw with a second place mark of 62-10 3/4, while teammate Mark Jackson finished third with a throw of 59-4 3/4.
"Brian Krantz has been improving all year long," Forde said. "For Brian and Mark to finish second and third in those events, that was huge for us."
On the womens side, Latisha Johnson was a second place finisher in the weight throw with a toss of 56-4, while the distance medley team of Leah Smith, Abby Heinhold, Lindsey Arnold and Betsy McDonald finished third with a time of 12:07.41. Andrea Mosher advanced to the finals of the 400-meter dash with a time of 56.22, while Cherise Devers qualified in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.69. Mosher also qualified in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.90.
Overall, Forde is pleased with the direction his team is going heading into the final day of competition.
"Weve got a pretty good day ahead of us tomorrow," Forde said. "Were going to prepare ourselves and be ready."
Competition for the final day of the Valley Championships begins tomorrow at 9 a.m. and is expected to conclude around 2:45 p.m.
