The start to the outdoor track and field season got off on the right foot during last Saturdays Vanderbilt Early Season Invite, with two regional qualifying marks and several first place finishers.
Brian Krantz (hammer) and Rhett Hillard (shot put) each qualified for the NCAA Mid-East Regional May 27-28 in Bloomington, Ind. The Redbirds will have another chance this weekend for more qualifiers as they make their third trip to Carbondale in 2005 for the SIU Spring Classic Saturday at 8 a.m.
Illinois State will be one of four Missouri Valley Conference schools competing in Carbondale this weekend, including Bradley, Southern Illinois and Northern Iowa. This weekends meet will mark the first time that the Redbirds will face someone from their conference this outdoor season.
Its our second meet of the year and everyone is trying to run as many kids as they can, Illinois State head coach Elvis Forde said. As the season progresses, well start focusing on the athletes who we will take to the conference championships. This is an opportunity to see how we stack up against other Valley schools.
Krantz and Hillard both anchor a strong throws squad on the mens side. Hillard is the defending MVC champion in the outdoor shot put, while Krantz is a favorite to win the hammer title in 2005. Forde sees no reason why the pair wont qualify for the national meet in June.
Brian and Rhett have done very well during their time here and I dont expect anything less, Forde said. We expected them to qualify for the regional meet, but I want to see them go beyond that point, and on their way, win some conference championships in the process.
On the womens side, Lauren Maul returned to the Redbirds for the first time in a year, and didnt disappoint. Maul finished second in the long jump at Vanderbilt with a leap of 19-2 1/2.
Im confident that the womens team is going to do very well outdoors, Forde said. Were happy to have Lauren (Maul) back, and Lyn (Cox), Lian (Lucas), Lindsey (Arnold) and Andrea (Mosher), along with our freshmen, they all ran well for us last weekend.
