Jan. 25, 2008
NORMAL, Ill. -
The Illinois State men's and women's track and field teams will make their first road trip of the indoor season Saturday, as they head to the Carle/Health Alliance Classic in Champaign, Ill. The meet is set to begin at 9 a.m., inside the University of Illinois Armory.
Host Illinois, as well as DePaul, Eastern Illinois, Lincoln (Mo.), Valley foe Southern Illinois and women's track and field teams from Northern Illinois and Tennessee State will be in attendance.
Illinois State head track and field coach Elvis Forde feels that the meet will offer his team its first real competitive experience.
"It is a good start to getting into the competitive part of our season," said Forde. "We get to compete against some tougher competition. Illinois will offer us tough competition in itself, and getting a chance to compete against conference foe Southern Illinois will be a good experience for us. Southern Illinois men's and women's throwers are really getting off to a strong start, and it will be good to see how we stack up against them (Southern Illinois)."
Redbird throwers who are under the guidance of assistant track and field coach Jeff Chakouian, have been making a steady improvement throughout the past three indoor meets. Women's thrower Samantha Springer had a personal-best throw in the weight (53-11.25) and a season-best shot put (43-04.75) at the Redbird Invite (Jan. 19). Springer will be competing against Southern Illinois' Brittany Riley, a 2007 NCAA Indoor National Champion and world record holder in the weight throw (83-10.25).
The meet will offer events that are generally not run, the 600- and 1000-meters, in order to allow runners to attempt different distances.
The Redbird women's heptathletes, senior Frannie Epps and freshmen Katelyn Massey and Morgan Schaefer, will have their first opportunity to compete in the pentathlon. Their performances in the event will provide a good gauge in where they are at in their training.
The `Birds will also be running their first distance medley relays in preparation for the conference meet (March 1-2 in Cedar Falls, Iowa). Forde believes that the women's team will offer a special combination, as a team of Suzy Turner, Michelle Brunk, Kim Smudde and Anna Lovell will fight for a strong performance.
"We have had a good week of practice, and I believe that we are beginning to get our legs back now that we have had three weeks of training under our belt," said Forde. "I think that the student-athletes' fitness levels are improving, and we are making strides so that we can reach our goals."
