Vanderbilt Invitational Results 
April 18, 2008
WALNUT, Calif./NASHVILLE, Tenn. -
It was a busy day for the Illinois State men's and women's track and field team as the team split and sent a select group to the Mt. SAC Relays hosted by Mt. San Antonio College and held at Hilmer Lodge Stadium in Walnut, Calif., while the rest of the team traveled to the Vanderbilt Invitational held in Nashville, Tenn.
Competing at the Mt. SAC Relays, junior Samantha Springer, competed in three throwing events at the Mt. SAC Relays. In the hammer throw she tied her career-best launching a distance of 179-07 to place fifth. In the discus the Tremont, Ill., native threw 144-06 (eighth place) and then went on to place 10th in the shot put (40-06.25). Teammate Anton Walczak also competed in the throwing events and reached a distance of 180-feet in the hammer throw.
Illinois State assistant track and field/throws coach Jeff Chakouian felt that Springer had a great day throwing the hammer and feels that the athletes that got to compete at Mt. SAC gave their best efforts.
"Sam threw the hammer really well today," said Chakouian. "She had four consistent throws around her personal-best and when a thrower can do that you know there is a really big throw coming in the near future. So we are looking forward to that. The other events didn't go as well as we wanted, but this meet was all about getting out there and getting a different experience.
"The whole reason we wanted to come out here was to give our student-athletes the opportunity to run against kids from across the nation. Overall it has been a great experience and our student-athletes have given us their best efforts. This is one of the elite meets in the nation and for Illinois State to be out here rubbing elbows with some of the best track and field athletes in the nation is a great experience."
Senior Anna Lovell placed eighth in her heat of the 200-meter dash clocking in with a time of 25.31 seconds.
Weather was a factor for those that traveled to the Vanderbilt Invitational as the Redbirds competed in dreary conditions at the beginning of the day and later the weather worsened to rain. Despite the weather conditions the freshmen men's and women's 3,000-meter steeplechase duo brightened the Redbirds' performances. Kirsten Lang ran a personal-best 11:20.39 to place sixth, while John Navarro also placed sixth with a career-best time of 9:37.64.
Illinois State head track and field coach Elvis Forde was with his team in Nashville and felt Lang and Navarro showed great improvement, but still need to work on getting over the water barriers in the steeplechase.
"Kirsten kept moving up with every lap," said Forde. "Her biggest challenge tonight was her water jumps, she was losing stride getting over the barriers. I think that once she learns how to handle the water barrier she is going to cut her time down much more. Navarro again gave us a good effort; he was also having difficulty getting over the water and had to work very hard to keep the race going."
Senior Frannie Epps, who has been struggling with an ankle injury, was a top finisher as she placed third in the javelin throw launching a distance of 127-04.
"Everything that Frannie does keeps getting better and better," said Forde. "Right now her ankle is holding her back so these next few weeks are going to be tough on her. It is great to see her improving though and I hope that it eases some of the pain of not being able to compete in all the events that she really wants to be in."
In the men's field events seniors Joe Painter (50-11.50) and Nick Chumbley (50-03.25) continued to show improvement and consistency throwing the shot put over the 50-foot mark as the two placed eighth and ninth, respectively.
Junior Nick Ragusa and senior Jason Field, both cleared a height of 15-07 in the pole vault to place seventh and eighth, respectively.
Illinois State will be back in action tomorrow at the Vanderbilt Invitational, events will get underway at 9:30 a.m. Walczak and Devon Williams will also be competing Saturday at the Long Beach Invitational, held at Cerritos College in Norwalk, Calif.
