With the indoor regular season complete, the Illinois State track and field team will use the upcoming week for final preparation before the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Championships Friday and Saturday in Carbondale.
Head coach Elvis Forde took a small group to Charleston on Friday for the Friday Night Special hosted by Eastern Illinois. From there, the Redbirds were able to get a final tune-up before the big meet next weekend.
There was nothing really impressive about any of our performances this past weekend, Forde said. Im confident though, and I remain upbeat and positive about our chances next weekend.
Almost the entire throws squad took part in the Friday Night Special and look to have a rhythm going for competition in a week. Mark Jackson won the shot put with a throw of 57-4 3/4, while teammate Rhett Hillard was second with a toss of 56-8. Jackson was fourth in the 35-pound weight throw with a distance of 59-7 1/2, while Brian Krantz was fifth (59-0 1/4).
On the womens side, the sprinting events had the most Redbirds as Lyn Cox placed third in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.58. Anna Lovell was seventh with a time of 7.66, while in the 200-meter dash, she finished seventh with a time of 25.61.
In other events, Diana Ainsley was fourth in the mile (5:15.26), while Frannie Epps was third in the 600 (2:13.76). Marcia Johnson won the pole vault with a height of 10-0 3/4, while Whitney Beals on was fifth in the 800 (2:25.10).
On the mens side, Greg Baker was sixth in the mile at 4:27.25, while Jorge Prez was ninth in the 60-meter hurdles (8.47).
The Redbirds head for Carbondale on Thursday, Feb. 24 for the two-day event and return Saturday, Feb. 26.
