April 15, 2007
Results
MACOMB, Ill. -
Sophomore Samantha Springer recorded her first regional qualifying mark of the season, hitting a distance of 160-06 feet in the discus throw to lead the Illinois State track and field team at the 18th Annual Lee Calhoun Memorial Sunday in Macomb, Ill. Springer, who also placed first in two events, highlighted the Redbirds' performance along with the men's throwers, who all hit personal-bests in the hammer throw.
Assistant coach Jeff Chakouian was excited for Springer, believing that she will be able to add five more feet before the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Championships next month.
"I couldn't ask for anything more from our throwers today," said Chakouian. "I was really excited for Samantha, because she could be heading to nationals later in the season. She had some great throws in the discus, with three of them breaking the mark and setting a personal-best. She was also really excited about her performance, but I think she can add even more distance before the conference championships."
Springer's discus throw also gave her a first place finish, out throwing the nearest competitor by over 20 feet. The Tremont, Ill., native also finished first in the hammer throw, launching a throw of 162-06 ft. In the women's shot put, Springer placed fourth with a throw of 41-03.00 ft.
The men's throwers had their biggest success in the hammer throw, with junior Anton Walczak leading the way with a throw of 174-04 feet and finishing in third place. Sophomore Blake Gish's throw of 164-11 ft. was good enough for fifth place, while junior Bryan Chancellor's personal-best throw of 161-08 ft. placed eighth.
In the discus throw, Gish was the highest finisher (sixth) with a throw of 145-00 ft. Junior Nick Chumbley (139-06) finished 10th, while Walczak placed 20th with a throw of 119-03 ft. Junior Joe Painter threw of distance of 48-05.25 ft in the shot put, leading the team with an eighth place finish.
Gish finished one spot behind Painter in the shot put, throwing a distance of 47-05.75 ft. Chumbley finished in 10th with a throw of 45-02.25 ft.
Freshmen Colin Fane and Ben Bishop also made the trip, competing as unattached entries. Bishop posted his highest finish in the discus throw, placing eighth with a distance of 140-02. He also placed ninth (158-00 ft.) in the hammer throw, while finishing with a throw of 43-02.25 ft and in 14th in the shot put.
Fane's highest finish was in the shot put (12th), throwing a distance of 43-10.00 ft. Fane also placed 15th in the hammer throw (116-06 ft.) and 22nd in the discus throw (116-08 ft.).
Junior Darren Price competed in the javelin throw, finishing in fifth place (166-04 ft.).
The Redbirds were originally scheduled to compete at the Illinois Invitational on Sunday, but made the trip to Macomb instead. Eastern Illinois won the men's and women's sides, scoring 190 and 185 points, respectively. Springer scored 25 points, turning in an eighth place finish for the women's team, while the men's throwers recorded 19 points and placed ninth.
The Redbirds will be back in action next weekend, sending team members to both the Vanderbilt Invitational (Nashville, Tenn.) and John McDonnell Invitational (Fayetteville, Ark.) Both meets are scheduled for Saturday April, 21 with starting times yet to be determined.
