June 9, 2012
DES MOINES, Iowa -
The Illinois State women's track & field team finished 14th at the 2012 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships, while the men's team claimed 29th, as competition closed on the final day at Drake Stadium. The women's finish was their highest at the championships in the six years that a member of the team scored, and highest since 1983 when they finished 39th.
Brittany Smith was the lone Redbird contributing to the women's team score of 16, as each of her two runner-up finishes was worth eight points apiece. As for the men, Tim Glover scored the all of the team's 10 points with his first-place finish in the javelin. Combined, this was the best championship performance for the Illinois State track & field program, as a combined 26 points was scored between both teams.
The Redbirds concluded the championships with one national title, two runner-up performances, three first-team All-American certificates and one second-team All-American certificate. As the 2012 season comes to a close, four members of the team will head to Eugene, Ore., to compete in the U.S. Olympic trials in hopes to represent the United States in London at the Summer Olympic Games. Smith will compete in both the hammer and shot put, Glover and Leigh Petranoff will throw the javelin and Aisha Praught will run in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. The trials begin June 22 and will run through July 2.
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