April 19, 2006
NORMAL, Ill. -
As the only Illinois State track and field athlete to qualify in three events for the NCAA Mideast Regional, Lian Lucas has been chosen as this week's State Farm Missouri Valley Conference track athlete of the week.
Lucas, a native of St. James, Barbados, recorded two regional qualifying times in the 100 and 200-meters at the Sea Ray Relays last weekend. In the 100-meters, Lucas placed 14th with a time of 11.68, which is currently the top time in the Valley. She also recorded the fastest time in the league with another 14th-place finish in the 200-meters in 23.88. At the Missouri Relays on April 1, Lucas helped the 4x100-meter relay team sustain a spot at the regional meet, which takes place May 26-27, in Knoxville, Tenn.
With only two meets left before the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Championships on May 12-15, the Redbirds will stay close to home to compete in the Illinois Invite, slated to begin at 9 a.m. on April 22, at the University of Illinois Outdoor Track Stadium.
Head track and field coach Elvis Forde looks to this meet as being a measuring stick for those who will compete for the Redbirds at the MVC championships.
"The competition is going to be good enough this weekend at Illinois that we can really get a gauge on who we think we are going to take to the conference championships," said Forde. "That's going to be a big key this weekend, not so much where we are from a performance standpoint, although it is always important, but I think it's critical that we make a good evaluation and start to hone in on the conference team."
Although, Forde will be making evaluations for the conference meet, it is also imperative that the `Birds continue to turn in top performances to get into the Drake Relays next weekend, as it is an invitation-only meet, and to also qualify for the Mideast Regional.
Teams competing this weekend include Missouri Valley Conference foe Indiana State, Illinois, Missouri Baptist, Saint Louis, Northern and Western Illinois, Eastern Illinois, Chicago State, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville and UIC.
The weekend's events will most likely not see the Redbird squad competing in their usual events, but will try to break the monotony of the same events and will also help the coaches determine the fitness level of the athletes.
"We're going to try some athletes in different events this weekend," said Forde. "We'll be looking to fill some voids where we have injuries and also give them a break their true events."
