LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Illinois State men's and women's track & field teams finished out the Lenny Lyles-Clark Wood Invitational, hosted by Louisville, Saturday with five ISU all-time top-10 performances, two individual event wins, and multiple personal bests.
"We had several bright spots today, highlighted by Anderson Devonish winning his 100-meter dash debut," said Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Jeff Bovee. "Overall, we had some great things happen, but we definitely have improvements to make as a team. We will look to bounce back next week."
In his first time ever running the 100-meter dash, Devonish posted the fastest qualifying time of 10.63 to advance to finals. However, he was just getting started, as he would come back even stronger in finals, winning the event in a personal-best time of 10.46. With the mark, Devonish not only ranks seventh all-time in Redbird history, but is second on the MVC descending-order list.
The 'Birds' women's sprints squad excelled as well. In the 100-meter dash prelims, Kelsie Prear notched the eighth-fastest time in ISU history, posting a time of 11.74. She would go on to compete in the 100-meter finals, finishing fourth in 11.82. Prear currently ranks fourth in the Valley in the event.
Prear also helped the women's 4x100-meter relay team to their fastest time of the season and an ISU all-time top-10 mark of their own. Joined by Emily Cowan, Demetria Anderson, and D'Jenne Egharevba, the four clocked in at 45.29, finishing third. Their time sits third on the Redbirds' top-10 list and second in the MVC so far this season.
Anderson made her mark in the 100-meter hurdles as well. In prelims, she crossed the finish line in 13.57, nearly breaking her own ISU school-record of 13.56. She then placed second with a wind-aided time of 13.42 in finals, with the only thing standing between her and a new school-record being a wind-reading of 3.0. Regardless, Anderson set a new personal-best and further solidified her spot atop the Valley.
In the field, triple jumper Victoria Gruszka stole the show. She leaped a personal-best 12.28m (40-03.50) to finish third. With the distance, Gruszka ranks sixth all-time in Illinois State history and fifth in the MVC so far this season.
Competing in the open section of the women's high jump, freshman Kristin Higgins cleared 1.63m (5-04.25) to capture her first collegiate win.
Other Notable Performances
Men's 200-meter
5th - Ben Montgomery (21.45), MVC #6
9th - Andy Hatch (21.82), season-best
Men's 1,500-meter
5th - Jake Gillum (3:56.95), personal-record
Men's 400-meter Hurdles
3rd - Justin Agustin (54.16), season-best, MVC #6
Men's Seeded Pole Vault
3rd - Kellen Kravik (4.77m/15-07.75)
5th - Sam Peschke (4.77m/15-07.75), outdoor personal-record, MVC #6
Men's Open Discus
4th - Sam Weisz (46.07m/151-01.00), personal-record
Women's 200-meter
8th - Emily Cowan (24.75)
9th - Jaclyn Greci (24.79), personal-record
Women's 400-meter
9th - Ashleigh Wilson (56.28), MVC #6
Women's 400-meter Hurdles
6th - Jordyn Bruce (1:02.05)
Women's Seeded High Jump
3rd - Kameesha Smith (1.64m/5-04.50)
Women's Open Discus
7th - Kassie Hoyme (43.65m/143-02), season-best, MVC #8
Women's Seeded Shot Put
4th - Brandy Thomas (15.59m/51-01.75)
The Illinois State men's and women's track and field teams will return to the track next weekend for their final tune-up before the 2018 MVC Outdoor Championships. The Redbirds will travel to Madison, Wisconsin, to compete in the Wisconsin Invitational on May 4, 2018.
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