Feb. 19, 2009
NORMAL, Ill. -
With one week remaining before the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships (Feb. 28-March1), the Illinois State men's and women's track and field teams will get in a final tune-up at the Friday Night Special Meet held Friday afternoon in the Lantz Indoor Fieldhouse in Charleston, Ill., and hosted by Eastern Illinois.
The Panthers will host nearly 500 student-athletes with teams from Arkansas State, Butler, Illinois, Indiana State, Southern Illinois, Evansville and other open competitors from various junior colleges and track clubs.
"For the most part, anyone that we are taking to conference and who will be competing this weekend is looking to improve a seeding position for the conference meet," said head coach Elvis Forde. "Seeding is important in regards to distance events. The top-13 or 14 distance runners get into the fast section of the men's 3K, and we have some guys that are on the bubble. In regards to the sprinters, we are taking some runners over in the short sprints in order to work on their starts and also improve their time so they are seeded in faster lanes and heats.
"The final tune-up is for the people that just want to stay sharp and think that missing a week may hamper their confidence. It is a weekend race, and we are expecting to see our athletes give their best effort and make that final push for our last tune-up this weekend."
Heading into Friday's head-to-head competition, Illinois State has 39 athletes on the MVC track and field leaderboards with the Redbirds holding the top-positions in three events. While most of the Redbirds' top-performers will get the weekend off as they prepare for conference, a few will try to improve their marks in an attempt to get in faster heats and better lane assignments at the conference meet next weekend.
Freshman Tori Ziegler holds The Valley's top-performance in the shot put with a distance of 48-0.50. Sophomore Amanda Albrecht is tied for the top-high jump, having cleared a height of 5-7.25 at the Iowa State Classic last weekend.
On the men's side, the Redbirds' distance medley relay of Mat Smoody, Dan Murphy, Nick Geyer and Steve Regan crossed the finish line in 9:52.63 at the Iowa State Classic, earning the league's top-performance in the event. Regan also holds Illinois State's only NCAA provisional qualifying performance in the 800-meter run. The Monticello, Ill., native clocked in with a time of 1:50.21 at the Rod McCravy Memorial; he holds The Valley's second top-time in the event.
The Eastern Illinois Friday Night Special will get underway with the field events. The women's weight throw will begin at 2 p.m., while the men's and women's 5,000-meter run will get the track events started at 3 p.m. Live results are available by visiting GoRedbirds.com
