April 14, 2007
Results
DES MOINES -
Over 10 members of the Illinois State track and field team recorded season or personal-best times during competition, highlighting the Redbirds' performance at the Jim Duncan Invitational Saturday at Drake Stadium in Des Moines.
Though the weather still caused problems for competitors, head coach Elvis Forde was encouraged by the performances submitted by the Redbirds on Saturday.
"Overall, I think we had a good performance today," said Forde. "The weather wasn't perfect, but we were able to deal with it and perform well. We are starting to look better each time we compete, which is encouraging as we continue to train and prepare for the conference championships."
The women's team was led by the sprinting core, especially juniors Anna Lovell, Kyndra Curtin and Melissa Clarke. All three were able to record multiple season-best times, with Lovell leading the way by clocking in at 11.99 in the 100-meters and 24.33 in the 200-meters. Finishing in first place in both races, Lovell's time in the 200-meters also shattered her previous personal-best.
Curtin posted a season best in the 100-meters (12.27), while recording a personal best in the 200-meters with a time of 25.13. Clarke continued the trend, running a season best in the 100-meters with a time of 12.26 and posting a personal best in the 200-meters (24.69).
Senior Lyn Cox also ran in the 100-meters, finishing with a time of 12.22 and in second. The women's 4x100-meter relay team of Lovell, Curtin, Clarke and Cox recorded another season-best time, finishing in first and clocking in at 46.19.
Freshman Tiffany Harris fared well in the 100-meter hurdles, finishing with a season-best time of 14.81. Junior Frannie Epps recorded a personal-best time in the same race, finishing in15.28. In the 3,000-meter steeplechase, sophomore Stacey Turilli finished with a time of 12:01.09, which was also a personal best.
Junior Suzy Turner competed in the 1,500-meters, finishing in 10th place with a time of 4:52.09. Sophomore Kristin Brinkman finished in second in the women's pole vault, clearing a height of 10-11.75 feet. In the 3,000-meter run, sophomore Kathleen Thompson and freshman Kim Ebbesen posted personal bests and finished in seventh and 15th place, respectively.
The men's team had season-best and personal-best times as well, with the sprinters pacing the team with four. Luke Heinrichs (11.14) recorded a season-best in the 100-meter dash, while Maxwell Mkwezalamba and Diondre Williams each posted personal-bests in the 200-meters. Mkwezalamba finished in fourth with a time of 21.87 and Williams placed 14th in a time of 22.28. Heinrichs also ran in the 200-meters, running a personal-best time of 22.38.
Sophomore Mike Richardson had another outstanding performance in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, finishing the race in a time of 9:20.25 and in second place. In the men's pole vault, Nick Ragusa and Jason Field both cleared 15-01.00 feet and finished tied for second.
Geoff Houtman (1:54.40) finished in fifth place in the 800-meters, while senior Jeremy Doherty placed second in the 1,500-meter run with a time of 3:55.90. Senior TJ Fakehinde finished the high jump in third, clearing a height of 6-06.75 feet.
The men's and women's throwers will be in action tomorrow, competing at the Illinois Invitational. The meet will begin with the women's hammer throw and the men's shot put at 10 a.m. in Champaign, Ill.
