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Illinois State University Athletics

Kimi Sanden

Track & Field Marissa Olberding

Ryan Rutherford Boasts Second-Consecutive ISU Record

Rutherford takes second to graduate assistant Lex Williams.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Illinois State junior Ryan Rutherford captures his second-consecutive ISU record with a time of 13:49.99 in the men's 5,000-meter showcase race to finish second at the Jesse Owens Classic Friday evening.

Rutherford bested the former Redbird record set by Dave Irion in 1980 by seven seconds, finishing second to ISU track and field and cross country graduate assistant Lex Williams who ran unattached. Williams finished with a 5K time of 13:45.11, breaking the meet record of 14:01.62 he previously set while running at Michigan. The next collegiate runner to finish was Eastern Michigan's Harry Dixon who ran 14:12.65 to place seventh. Dave Eckhart finished with a personal-best time of 14:36.50, earning a nine-second PR.

"Ryan ran a phenomenal race," associate head coach Jeff Bovee said. "He has made a major breakthrough the last couple meets, breaking the Valley record in the 10K at Stanford and breaking the school record in the 5K tonight. Without Lex's help, that would not have been nearly as possible. So a lot of credit to Lex to do some of the pace work. Ryan is definitely on a roll, and I am just excited to see what the future holds for him."          

Sean Senf finished third in the men's 5,000-meter section I race with a personal-best time of 14:46.65.

In the men's 1,500-meter race, Jeff Bajema cruised past four runners in the final straightway to claim first-place in his heat. Bajema clocked a five-second personal-best time, running 3:53.48. Aidan Askin finished behind Bajema in third with a personal-best time of 3:54.03, and Paul Steeno captured a sixth-place finish in their 1,500-meter heat with a personal-best time of 3:55.48.

On the women's side, Jackie Mink ran a time of 4:38.14 in her first-ever 1,500-meter race to capture a first-place finish in her heat. Kimi Sanden continued to improve on the track running a 1,500-meter personal-best time of 4:42.35.

Curt Jensen finished fourth in the men's discus with a mark of 51.39 meters (168-07), while Morgan Keller notched a sixth-place finish in the women's discus with a mark of 47.35 meters (155-04).

The Redbirds are back in action tomorrow, as the men's pole vault is slated for a 10 a.m., start time, and track events will follow.

Fans can follow the action concluding the end of the meet on www.GoRedbirds.com or on Twitter @ISU_Track_XC.

GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.

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Players Mentioned

Aidan Askin

Aidan Askin

Junior
Distance
Dave Eckhart

Dave Eckhart

Junior
Distance
Ryan Rutherford

Ryan Rutherford

Senior
Distance
Sean Senf

Sean Senf

Senior
Distance
Jackie Mink

Jackie Mink

Junior
Middle Distance
Kimi Sanden

Kimi Sanden

Junior
Distance
Jeff Bajema

Jeff Bajema

Senior
Distance
Morgan Keller

Morgan Keller

Senior
Throws
Paul Steeno

Paul Steeno

Senior
Distance

Players Mentioned

Aidan Askin

Aidan Askin

Junior
Distance
Dave Eckhart

Dave Eckhart

Junior
Distance
Ryan Rutherford

Ryan Rutherford

Senior
Distance
Sean Senf

Sean Senf

Senior
Distance
Jackie Mink

Jackie Mink

Junior
Middle Distance
Kimi Sanden

Kimi Sanden

Junior
Distance
Jeff Bajema

Jeff Bajema

Senior
Distance
Morgan Keller

Morgan Keller

Senior
Throws
Paul Steeno

Paul Steeno

Senior
Distance