CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – At Saturday's Illini Classic, hosted by Illinois, the Illinois State men's and women's track and field teams captured eight ISU top-10 all-time performances and numerous personal-bests. The Redbird women finished the day in third place, while the men placed fourth.
"I was very pleased with how a lot of our young athletes competed today," said Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Jeff Bovee. "We had several key performances, highlighted by Ryan Ashenbremer achieving his all-time best in the pole vault. Overall, both the men and women are making great strides, and I am extremely happy with our progress at this point in the season."
Ashenbremer won the pole vault competition with a personal-record height of 5.05m (16-06.75) and has cleared at least 16 feet in each of the last two weeks. Not only does this mark improve him to third on ISU's top-10 list, but he currently ranks second in the Valley.
Hurdlers Kentre Patterson and Duane Sleet also moved up the ladder on Illinois State's top-10 list after finishing second and fourth, respectively, in the 60-meter hurdles. Patterson broke the eight second barrier for the first time this season, recording a time of 7.99. He currently ranks third in the Valley, and is now third on ISU's top-10 list. Sleet captured a personal-best time of 8.29, a mark which is good for seventh all-time in ISU history.
Anderson Devonish got in on the action as well, making his mark in the 60-meter dash. Devonish finished second in the event in 6.81, and currently ranks third in the MVC and sixth on Illinois State's top-10 chart.
On the women's side, freshman Kameesha Smith had break-through performances in the high jump and long jump. Smith placed second and posted personal-records in both events, leaping 5.79m (19-00.00) in the long jump and clearing 1.70m (5-07.00) in the high jump.
She now holds the tenth-best long jump distance and ninth-best high jump mark in Illinois State history, as well as the top high jump mark in the Valley.
Mya Robinson and Ariana Cranston also captured ISU top-10 performances in their respective events.
Robinson, who recorded a personal-best of 8.77 in prelims of the 60-meter hurdles, re-set her personal-record for a second time in finals (8.74). She not only ranks eighth in Redbird history, but is seeded sixth in the MVC as well.
Cranston posted a new pole vault personal-record for the third time this season, this time clearing 3.75m (12-03.50). She sits fourth on the ISU top-10 list, in addition to first in the Valley.
Other Notable Performances
Men's 400-meter
4th - Brandon Gage (50.01), personal record
Men's 3,000-meter
3rd - Connor Ehnle (8:34.94), sixth in MVC, personal-record
Women's 400-meter
4th - Nicole Humenik (57.88), eighth in MVC, personal-record
Women's Mile
3rd - Lindsey Lewis (5:07.60), personal-record
Women's 3,000-meter
2nd - Kennidi Knoblock (10:19.53), personal-record
Women's 60-meter Hurdles
1st - Demetria Anderson (8.50)
Women's 4x400-meter Relay
1st - Nicole Humenik, Amanda McClain, Jaclyn Greci, Whitney Ward (3:51.33)
Women's Pole Vault
6th - Nicole Bagwell (3.55m / 11-07.75), fifth in MVC, personal-record
7th - Cassie Wilson (3.40m / 11-01.75), seventh in MVC, personal-record
The Redbird men's and women's track and field teams will be back in action Friday when they travel to Notre Dame, Indiana, to compete in the Meyo Invite on Feb. 2-3.
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