Three Illinois State throwers took part in the Billy Hayes Invite on the campus of Indiana University Friday in preparation for next weeks State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
Brian Krantz, Rhett Hillard and Mark Jackson traveled with assistant coach for throws Brent Chumbley across the boarder for some fine-tuning in the hammer and shot put.
Krantz finished fifth in the hammer with a throw of 194-7, while Jackson was 10th at 166-1. Hillard placed 13th with a toss of 162-4.
In the shot put, Hillard continued his strong pace by finishing third with a throw of 58-7 . Jackson was eighth with a throw of 50-6.
Hillard is the reigning conference champion in the outdoor shot put and will look to repeat his title next weekend. Jackson will look to improve on his second place finish in the hammer against teammate Krantz who is considered a favorite to win the event.
Meanwhile, during Saturday's Wisconsin Twilight in Madison, Wis., senior Tori Gaumer broke her own school record in the pole vault for the second week in a row, this time leaping a height of 11-11 , which was good enough for third place on the day.
The Redbirds will travel to Cedar Falls, Iowa for next weeks championships, which will be held from May 13-15.
