April 26, 2009
Results
INDIANAPOLIS -
Freshman Tori Ziegler had a big day for the Illinois State track and field team, winning the shot put with a NCAA Regional qualifying mark, and hitting career-bests in the shot, hammer throw and discus at the Stan Lyons Invitational, held in Indianapolis and hosted by Butler Saturday evening.
Ziegler won the shot put with a toss of 49 feet, .25 inches, earning her second regional qualifying mark in the event. The Fox Lake, Ill., native also captured personal-best marks in the hammer throw (153-0) and discus (148-4), to finish 18th and third, respectively.
"Tori had an outstanding day in the shot put," said head coach Elvis Forde. "It was exciting to see her hit a big mark in the shot put and make it look so easy.
"Overall, all the throwers did well today. We had several get personal-best marks and had a solid day on both the men's and women's side."
Ziegler was not the only Redbird thrower to have a big day, as three throwers earned personal-best marks in their respective events. Kami Klopfenstein hit career-best marks in the discus with a toss of 152-5 to place second. Klopfentein also threw a career-best in the hammer (140-8) and a season-best distance in the shot put (41-6).
On the men's side, Alex Adams (163-0) and Chris McIntyre (143-4) both improved their discus marks to take second and 23rd, respectively. Adams also threw a season-best mark in the shot put launching a distance of 52-1 for a seventh-place finish.
The Redbird runners competed well into Saturday evening with the final event concluding at midnight eastern time. The Redbirds captured six second-place finishes as well as many season- and personal-best performances.
Sophomore John Navarro took second in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a personal-best time of 9:16.11. Senior Carl Azab (54.40) and sophomore Tyler Perna (54.61) took second and third in the 400-meter hurdles. Azab clocked in with a season-best, while Perna achieved a personal-best in the long hurdles.
In the short sprints, freshman Kayode Adegoke hit personal-best marks in the 100- and 200-meter dashes. Adegoke turned in a time of 21.73 in the 200 to capture second place and then broke the 11 minute barrier in the 100 with a 10.99 finish to take fourth.
Sophomore Nick Geyer turned in his best outdoor performance in the 800-meter run. Geyer finished third with a time of 1:53.99. Freshman Tyler Knight round out the Redbirds performance, as Knight was the runner up in the triple jump, launching a personal-best 46-8.25.
"We had some warm weather and the athletes were able to get into a groove," said Forde. "It was a long day for some of us, but they all responded well. Overall it was a very good weekend and a good meet at Butler."
The Redbirds will be back in action next weekend as they head to the Pacesetters Invitational held in Terre Haute, Ind., Saturday. The women's hammer throw is slated begin competition at 8 a.m. CDT from Marks Field at Indiana State.
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