NASHVILLE, Tenn. – After recording four ISU all-time top-10 performances and five individual event wins yesterday, the Redbird men's and women's track and field teams concluded the Black & Gold Invitational, hosted by Vanderbilt, just as strong as they started it. Saturday saw the 'Birds post five ISU all-time top-10 performances and five individual event wins.
"Day one went extremely well for us, with our women's throwers starting us off on a high note and Jack Anstey capturing a tremendous early-season mark in the 1,500-meter," said Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Jeff Bovee. "Day two was a little more up-and-down, and we will look to improve our consistency next week. I am excited to see how everyone will progress over the outdoor season."
For the second day in a row, the women's field athletes shined. Making her 2018 discus debut, Sydney Laufenberg did not disappoint, winning the event with a throw of 49.77m (163-03.75). Kassie Hoyme also performed well, recording a distance of 41.15m (135-00.25) to finish third.
In the long jump, Charde Golliday and Amanda McClain finished third and fourth, respectively. Golliday had a career day in the event, recording a personal-best of 5.95m (19-06.25). With the jump, she ranks eighth all-time in ISU history. McClain recorded a distance of 5.93m (19-05.50).
Kameesha Smith opened the outdoor slate with a victory in the high jump. Her winning-height of 1.71m (5-07.25) is not only a personal-record, but is 10th all-time in Redbird track and field history.
The Illinois State men received solid performances from James Brandenburg and Duane Sleet in the 110-meter hurdles. The duo finished fifth and seventh, respectively, with both student-athletes cracking ISU's top-10 list. Brandenburg's time of 14.67 improves him to eighth all-time, while Sleet's mark of 15.00 ranks 10th all-time.
In their first 4x100-meter relay of the season, the team of Dion Hooker, Andy Hatch, DeShaun Jordan, and Anderson Devonish clocked in at 40.75 to take first. Their time sits fifth on ISU's top-10 list.
The final two Redbird wins came in the women's 100-meter hurdles and women's 4x400-meter relay. Demetria Anderson won the 100-meter hurdles convincingly with a time of 13.93, besting the runner-up by 0.25 seconds. The women's 4x400 squad of Ashleigh Wilson, McClain, Jaclyn Greci, and Whitney Ward were the first to cross the finish line in 3:50.02.
Other Notable Performances
Women's 100-meter
2nd - D'Jenne Egharevba (11.67)
Women's 800-meter
2nd - Hattie Plumb (2:14.99)
Women's 400-meter Hurdles
3rd - Jordyn Bruce (1:02.60)
Women's High Jump
3rd - Kristin Higgins (1.66m / 5-05.25), ties personal-record
Men's 100-meter
3rd - DeShaun Jordan (10.80)
Men's 400-meter
3rd - Ben Montgomery (48.29)
Men's 800-meter
2nd - Jack Anstey (1:51.98)
3rd - Kyle Hatton (1:53.16)
Men's Discus
3rd - Sam Weisz (44.24m / 145-02.00)
The Illinois State men's and women's track and field teams will be back in action on March 30-31 when they travel to Charleston, Illinois, to compete in the Big Blue Classic, hosted by Eastern Illinois.
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