RESULTS | PHOTO GALLERY | MVC INFO
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Illinois State's first day of the 2016 Missouri Valley Outdoor Track and Field Championships started on a strong note, as Emily Clay and Ryan Rutherford captured event titles. Clay earned her second Missouri Valley Conference Title in the women's pole vault, while Rutherford posted his first 10,000-meter run Valley title.
Clay had a spectacular performance as she was one of the last two finalist competing for the title, and came out with the victory with a new school-record mark of 4.11m (13-05.75). Clay will continue her season as she competes at the NCAA West Preliminary Round on May 26-28.
"Emily faced many challenges this season," Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Jeff Bovee. "She was not vaulting particularly well starting off the outdoor season, so we had her to adjust to new poles and she faced some poor weather conditions. But I am extremely proud of her and she has really put it all together in the last couple of meets. This was a great way to kick off the women's team competition for us."
Rutherford had a tremendous race after starting off in the middle of the field, and then taking over the lead with a mile to go. Coming in a close second place was Wichita State's Brady Johnson. In the last lap, Johnson tried closing in on Rutherford, but Rutherford was not letting go of the lead. Rutherford pulled away with the victory in the last straightway as he posted a time of 30:15.82.
"I would have to do a little rewind for the Valley aficionados that follow the sport," said Bovee. "Two years ago was the most dynamic 10K in the history of the conference when Ryan and John Mascari from Indiana State slugged it out in the last two miles, with many different surges trying to drop each other. And Ryan lost a close battle two years ago. Last year, Ryan redshirted with the intent and hope to compete for a win this year," Bovee continues. "This time Ryan battled it out with a different person and did most of the work in the last four lap, but it was amazing to see him close it out this time."
The Redbirds dominated in the prelims of the men's 1,500-meter run, as Ryan Bybee (3:50.99), Aidan Askin (3:55.79) and Paul Steeno (3:52.71) all advanced to the finals on Sunday. Bybee and Steeno both captured a career-best times, respectively. For the women, Kelly McShea (4:35.56) and Kimi Sanden (4:36.06) posted a strong effort as they both will advance to the finals on Sunday.
"I can't be more proud of the 1,500-meter guys," Bovee said. "On paper we probably would have only ended up with one going in the finals, but we ended up with three. We have a lot of qualifiers on the men's side after day one, which we did not have during indoor. It was exciting to see Ryan Bybee improve and he was just on fire. Steeno competes very well in championships races, and Aidan look good during a very tactical race. I am excited to see what this crew will do during the finals."
In the women's 200-meter dash prelims, senior Sarah Mussallem had a stellar race as she posted a new personal-best time of 24.14. Mussallem's time will advance her to the finals and is ranked eighth on Illinois State's all-time best list. Another Redbird that will joining Mussallem in the 200-meter dash finals will be Emily Cowan, as she earned a time of 24.34.
"Mussallem is another senior that steps her game up, similar to Emily Clay, when its championship time," Bovee said. "She led the way in the 200s and now she is a double threat in the 200 and the 400. That is a great scoring opportunity for her. Cowan also advanced putting us in a great scoring opportunity. And I am excited to see what they can do in the finals."
For the men, Anderson Devonish and Shandall Thomas will advance to the finals as they posted times of 20.93 and 20.99, respectively. Thomas captured a personal-best time and is now ranked seventh on ISU's all-time best list. Devonish will compete in the 400-meter dash while Thomas runs the 100-meter dash, which are their signature events.
"The weather was perfect for the sprints," Bovee comments. "Definitely a sprinter's paradise, and Andy and Shandall looked fantastic. I am really looking forward to see what they do in the finals."
In the decathlon, freshman James Brandenburg started his first day strong, as he earned PRs in the 100-meter, shot put and high jump. He started off posting a personal-best time of 11.39 in the 100-meter dash. In the long jump, he leaped a mark of 5.77m (18-11.25). He posted another PR in the shot put as he tossed a mark of 10.15m (33-03.75). Brandenburg's best event of the day was in the high jump where he placed second with a new personal-best height of 2.00m (06-06.75), which did not come easy for him. Brandenburg jumped 21 times and cleared four heights on his third attempt. He then went running a time of 51.49 in the men's 400-meter dash and finished fourth overall. He will continue the decathlon tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. (CT) with the 110-meter hurdles.
Tessa Holland's first event in the heptathlon was the 100-meter hurdles and she posted a time of 15.33. In the high jump, she posted a mark of 1.58m (5-02.25). Holland earned a personal-best mark in the shot put as she tossed a mark of 9.85m (32-03.75). The final event of day one was the 200-meter, where she ran a time of 26.04. Holland will complete the heptathlon tomorrow starting at 9:30 a.m. (CT).
Competition will resume tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. (CT) with the women's heptathlon, followed by the men's decathlon at 10:30 a.m. (CT). Field events will begin at 2 p.m. with the women's shot put, while running events are set to start at 4 p.m. with the women's 100-meter hurdles. The Valley on ESPN3 will begin at 3:45 p.m. (CT).
OTHER ISU PERFORMANCES
9. Zachary Gregory // hammer throw // 49.84m (163-06)
11. Kennidi Knoblock // 1500m // 4:40.54
12. Katelyn Hill // 200m // 24.67
13. Kelsie Prear // 200m // 24.73
14. Dion Hooker // 200m // 21.56
17. Raimon Clay // 200m // 21.65
14. Ashley England // 10K // 37:58.07
16. Haley Verbeke // 10K // 38:11.16
7. Tyler Morse // 10K // 30:36.40
11. Kyle Mattes // 10K // 31:18.21
15. Jeff Bajema // 10K // 32:03.63
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