March 29, 2008
Results
CARBONDALE, Ill. -
Illinois State track and field senior Alex Straughn won the triple jump with a regional qualifying mark and personal-best distance of 49 feet, 11.25 inches, while senior Devon Williams sprinted to first place in the 200-meter dash (25.25 seconds) highlighting the ISU track and field teams performances at the Southern Illinois/Gill Athletics Spring Classic held at Lew Hartzog Stadium in Carbondale, Ill. Backed by strong performances the women's team finished the meet in second place (173.50 points), while the men's squad took third with 114.50 points.
With the first chilly outdoor meet under their belt, Illinois State head track and field coach Elvis Forde and his team is looking forward to warmer weather as the season progresses.
"The elements really impacted our performances today," said Forde. "It is difficult to get your body going when the weather is cold and windy. However, despite the weather our athletes came out ready to compete. To walk away with regional qualifying performances in our first competition is encouraging; we just hope that we can continue to gain those regional marks."
In team standings on the women's side, host Southern Illinois won the meet with 274 points. Following Illinois State, Wisconsin-Milwaukee finished third (108.50), SIU-Edwardsville placed fourth (95) and Bradley placed fifth (33). In the men's team standings, Illinois took first place with 205 points and were followed by Southern Illinois who took second with 188.50 points. Following ISU, SIU-Edwardsville claimed fourth place (90), Wisconsin-Milwaukee took fifth (89) and Evansville placed sixth with three points.
The Redbird women had solid performances in all areas of competition. Williams keyed the sprinters in the 200 and also took second in the 100-meter dash (12.37). Senior Anna Lovell (57.53) and Brianna Officer (58.01) scored points for the `Birds, placing third and fourth in the 400-meter dash, respectively. While, junior Megan Thompson placed third in the 100-meter hurdles (14.62).
"Devon won the 200 easily despite the weather," said Forde. "Her performance in the 100 was a bit sluggish, but I think that it was because she competed early in the morning and we have not been able to practice much outside. We are really looking forward to some nicer weather next week so we can practice more outside."
Freshman Sarah Glowacki took second in the women's 5,000-meter run clocking in with a time of 17:50.34 minutes, while teammate sophomore Kim Ebbesen placed fourth (18:14.63).
Junior thrower Samantha Springer took home individual honors as she won the discus throw with a toss of 149-02 and also placed third in the shot put (41-06.50) behind freshman teammate Sonja Zoric who finished second (43-07.75). In other field events, sophomore Morgan Schaefer won the high jump clearing a height of 5-03.
On the men's side, Straughn scored points in both the triple jump and high jump. In the high jump the St. Philips, Barbados native cleared a height of 6-04.75 to take third place.
"Alex had a great weekend," said Forde. "He is capable of gaining regional qualifying marks in two events (triple jump and high jump) and is just an outstanding competitor."
The distance runners were backed by junior Mike Richardson's first-place finish in the steeplechase (9:22.22), while in the 5,000-meter run freshman John Navarro claimed fourth, running the event with a personal-best time of 15:12.25. Freshman Matt Mroczynski and sophomore Scott Krapf took third and fourth place in the 1,500-meter run. Mroczynski had a personal-best finish of 3:59.60, while Krapf finished the race in 4:00.78. In the 800-meter run, freshman Nick Geyer claimed third with a personal-best time of 1:55.38.
"Mike was very relaxed in the steeplechase and won the event easily," said Forde. "As the season progresses we hope that he can be another student-athlete to gain a regional qualifying performance in the event."
The Redbirds will be back in action on April 4, when they compete at the Big Blue Classic and Multi's in Charleston, Ill.
