Feb. 7, 2008
NORMAL, Ill. -
The Illinois State men's and women's track and field teams return to action this weekend, as the team will send a select group of track and field athletes to the Meyo Invitational, in Notre Dame, Ind., for a two-day event, Friday and Saturday. A second group of track and field athletes will head down the street to Illinois Wesleyan in Bloomington, Ill., Saturday for the running of the Bob Keck Invitational at the Shirk Center. The meet is slated to begin at noon.
THE LAST TIME OUT
Illinois State middle distance runners sophomore Rob Barkulis, freshman Nick Geyer and freshman Jess Husted highlighted the men's and women's track and field performances, as the trio all achieved personal-best times in the finals of the Indiana Relays, Saturday at Gladstein Field House in Bloomington, Ind. Barkulis took one second off his finish from the prelims Friday, and finished the 800-meter run with a time of 1:55.72 (7th place). Geyer also crossed the finish line in 1:56.31, good enough for a ninth-place finish. Husted shaved 16 seconds off her fastest 3,000-meter run, as the Metamora, Ill., native placed fourth with a time of 10:24.41. In the men's field events, senior Alex Straughn claimed second in the high jump with a season-best height of 6-10.75 feet. Sophomore Nick Ragusa took third in the pole vault, as he achieved a personal-best height of 16-00.75.
WITH TIME COMES IMPROVEMENT
As the indoor season has progressed, so have the performances of Redbird student-athletes. Each time the `Birds have competed, they have built on their pervious performance. So far, a combined 50 men and women track and field athletes have achieved personal-best marks in their respective events. The area that has seen the most improvement are the throws. On the women's side, Samantha Springer has thrown a personal-best in the weight throw (54-04.00), and is two inches away from a personal-best in the shot put. Freshman Sonja Zoric has achieved personal-bests in the weight throw (52-06) and shot put (44-00). On the men's side, seniors Anton Walczak (57-08.50) and Bryan Chancellor (57-05.50) lead the weight throws, and seniors Joe Painter (50-04.00) and Nick Chumbley (50-03.50) have keyed the men in the shot put.
STRONG COMPETITION BUILDS STRONG PERFORMANCES
Ten select track and field athletes were chosen by head track and field coach Elvis Forde to represent Illinois State at the 21st Annual Meyo Invitational, hosted by Notre Dame in the Loftus Sports Center. The Meyo Invitational is one of the premier collegiate track and field meets in the nation. Featured events at the meet will be the Meyo Mile, and for the first time, the Ryan Shay 3,000-meter run, in honor of former Notre Dame standout, Ryan Shay. The Redbirds will have athletes in both of the events.
MROCZYNSKI'S THE MAN IN THE MILE
Freshman Matt Mroczynski is sixth on the Missouri Valley Conference performance list in the mile, with a personal-best time of 4:16.71 (Feb. 1). Mroczynski needs to shave 12 seconds off his performance in order to gain a NCAA provisional qualifying mark (4:04.80).
KRAPF'S RECIPE
The recipe to sophomore Scott Krapf's success is no secret. The distance runner works hard on-and-off the track, to improve his performance each time he competes. The Danville, Ill., is No. 3 on The Valley's performance list with a personal-best time of 8:25.36, which he achieved at the Redbird Invitational Jan. 19. Krapf needs to cut 15.34 seconds off his time to break into the ISU best times list.
TURNER'S TURNING ON THE HEAT
Senior Suzy Turner has turned up the heat in her final track and field season. She has earned three first-place finishes in three events (mile, 3000, distance medley relay). The Palatine, Ill., native is 10 seconds away from achieving a personal-best in the 3,000-meter run. She is currently No. 7 on The Valley's leaderboard with a time of 10:19.17.
WILLIAMS LOOKING TO SHED SOME TIME
Senior Devon Williams set school records in the indoor 60- (7.43) and 200- meters (24.33) in 2007. This is no small feet to overcome, as she sprints to beat her top-performances this season. The Oswego, Ill., native is currently tied for the fastest time in The Valley in the 60-meter dash with Southern Illinois' Andrea Norris (7.62 sec.), and is fifth in the 200 with a time of 25.16 sec.
JOHNSON'S RUNNING AGAINST TIME
Senior Jeremy Johnson is fast, but the question to ask is can he get any faster? Johnson has his eye on a conference title in the 60- and 200-meters and currently holds the third-best 60-meter performance in The Valley, with a time of 6.90 sec. Johnson also shares the second-best 200-meter dash with Jared Foley of Wichita State (21.97).
WALCZAK IS READY TO ATTACK
Senior Anton Walczak is ready to attack the weight throw this season. Walczak has already achieved a personal-best at the Redbird Invitational (Jan. 19), launching a distance of 57-08.50 feet. The Cary, Ill., native needs almost four more feet on his personal-best to post a NCAA provisional qualifying mark (61-06.00).
