NORMAL, Ill. – Taking their home track for the only time this season, the Illinois State men's and women's track and field teams persevered through the weather to sweep Saturday's Redbird Invitational in Normal, Ill. En route to victory, the 'Birds captured 20 individual-event wins out of a possible 38 events!
"It is always great to compete at home," said Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Jeff Bovee. "We've had a long, cold spring and today was an opportunity to learn how to compete in challenging elements. We had some student-athletes embrace the weather and, overall, we gave a very good team effort. Being here in the Midwest, you have to be able perform no matter what the conditions are, and we did that today."
In addition to numerous event-wins, the 'Birds re-wrote their top-10 list, recording nine ISU all-time top-10 performances over the course of the day. Four of these efforts came in the men's and women's pole vault competitions.
On the men's side, the Redbirds claimed the top-four spots, with the competition for first place coming down to a jump-off between Ryan Ashenbremer and Luke Nelson. While Ashenbremer ultimately won the event, both student-athletes cleared 5.08m (16-08.00). With the mark, Ashenbremer and Nelson sit atop the Valley and are tied for fifth all-time in ISU history.
The women's vault squad was just as impressive, as Ariana Cranston posted a huge personal-best of 3.87m (12-08.25) to finish first. She currently ranks first in the MVC and sits fourth on ISU's top-10 list. Freshman Nicole Bagwell also cracked the Redbird's top-10 list in the event, clearing a personal-record 3.67m (12-00.50) to rank sixth in ISU track and field history.
In the men's high jump, LaMont Allen had a career day, clearing a personal-best 2.15m (7-00.50) to win the event and move to sixth all-time in Redbird history. Allen's mark seeds him second in the Valley and 10th in the NCAA West region.
Anthony McRoberts also had a strong day in the men's high jump, finishing third with a season-best height of 2.12m (6-11.50). His jump is not only third in the MVC, but is 16th in the NCAA West region so far this season. McRoberts shined in the long jump as well, winning the event with a season-best leap of 7.01m (23-00.00).
In the women's discus, Sydney Laufenberg won the event with a personal-best throw of 52.36m (171-9). With the mark, she climbs to fourth on ISU's top-10 list, in addition to second in the Valley and 22nd in the NCAA West region.
The men's and women's 4x100-meter relay teams also made the Redbirds' top-10 list. The men's squad composed of Jaylan McConico, DeShaun Jordan, Anderson Devonish, and Derrius Rodgers won the event in 40.69, clocking the fifth-fastest time in ISU history.
The women's team of Emily Cowan, Kelsie Prear, Demetria Anderson, and D'Jenne Egharevba posted the ninth-fastest time in Redbird history, winning the event in 45.69.
Other Notable Performances
Men's 200m
1st – Anderson Devonish (21.04), season-best, MVC #1
Men's 400-meter
1st – Ben Montgomery (47.80), season-best, MVC #4
2nd – Avery Lyons (48.16), personal-best, MVC #7
3rd – Brandon Gage (48.44), personal-best
Men's 800-meter
1st – Jack Anstey (1:52.49)
2nd – Tye Sutherland (1:53.50)
3rd – Kyle Hatton (1:53.82)
4th – Jake Gillum (1:54.49), personal-best
Men's 1500-meter
1st – Cody Baele (3:57.05)
2nd – Connor Ehnle (3:58.11)
Men's 110-meter Hurdles
1st – Jaylan McConico (13.89)
2nd – James Brandenburg (14.65)
3rd – Duane Sleet (15.05)
Women's 100-meter
1st – D'Jenne Egharevba (11.68), MVC #3
3rd – Kelsie Prear (11.81), personal-best, MVC #4, ISU all-time #8
Women's 1500-meter
1st – Grace Beattie (4:32.85)
2nd – Hattie Plumb (4:36.64), personal-best
Women's 3000-meter
1st – Ashley England (10:24.08)
Women's 100-meter Hurdles
1st – Demetria Anderson (13.80), season-best, MVC #3
2nd – Mya Robinson (14.27), personal-best, MVC #6
3rd – Jordyn Bruce (14.31), personal-best, MVC #8
4th – Ashlee Stieler (14.76), personal-best
Women's High Jump
1st – Kameesha Smith (1.66m/5-05.25), previous mark of 1.71m (5-07.25) is MVC #1
3rd – Kristin Higgins (1.66m/5-05.25), MVC #3
Women's Shot Put
1st – Brandy Thomas (14.88m/48-10.00)
The Illinois State men's and women's track and field teams will be back in action next weekend when they travel to Charlottesville, Virginia, to compete in the Virginia Challenge on April 20-21, 2018.
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