CHARLESTON, Ill. – Illinois State's newcomers shined in their debut at the EIU Early Bird as the Redbirds won 19 events, including six events won by student-athletes competing at their first meet in an Illinois State uniform.
Freshman Joe Boyer started the day off on a high note, winning the shot put in his first ever collegiate meet. Boyer's throw of 17.35 meters (56-11.25 ft.) is currently the fifth-best mark in the nation and is sixth on the ISU Indoor Top-10 list. He also finished second in the weight throw with a mark of 14.78 meters (48-6 ft.).
Also posting notable performances for the men's throws squad was freshman Amiri Buchanan who finished first in the weight throw with a mark of 15.68 meters (51-5.5 ft.) and fourth in the shot put with a throw of 15.70 meters (51-6.25 ft.).
Joining Boyer and Buchanan winning events as newcomers are Tate Walcott (long jump), Eddie Winner (pole vault), JT Lowder (60-meter hurdles) and Grace Daun (high jump).
Walcott, who also finished third in both the 60-meter dash and the 200-meter dash, posted a mark of 6.96 meters (22-10 ft.) to win the long jump.
Winner, a transfer from Manhattan College, cleared 5.00 meters (16-4.75 ft.) in the pole ranking him sixth on the ISU Indoor Top-10 list. He joins four other current Redbird men's pole vaulters on the list.
After finishing third in the prelims of the 60-meter hurdles, Lowder shaved his time down to 8.38 seconds in the finals to take home the victory. His time is the ninth-fastest time in the 60-meter hurdles in ISU history.
Daun was the lone newcomer to win an event for the women, clearing 1.68 meters (5-6 ft.) in her first collegiate meet.
The newcomers weren't the only ones who opened the season on a high note. The Redbirds had multiple returners record personal-best times to open the season.
Sophomore Tori Ortiz not only won all three of the events she competed in, but she also notched personal-best times in both the 60m and the 400m, clocking in at 7.65 seconds in the 60-meter prelims and 57.15 seconds in the 400-meter dash.
Ortiz was one of four student-athletes who recorded a personal-best time in a sprint event. Mya Robinson (60mH), Jordyn Bruce (60mH) and Kai Larson (200m) all saw their previous best times fall in the 2019-20 season opener.
Robinson cut .2 off of her time from the prelims to post a new personal-best time and take home the win. Bruce followed in second place with a new best time of 8.70 seconds, which she set in the prelims. Both hurdlers' performances moved them up the ranks on the ISU Indoor Top-10 list with Robinson moving up to tied for seventh and Bruce moving into sole possession of the eighth spot.
A multi-events athlete, Bruce also competed in the high jump where she cleared a personal-best 1.63 meters (5-4.25 ft.).
Larson's time of 22.61 seconds, which won the event, is his first sub-23 second 200m during an indoor season. Additionally, he posted a personal-best time in the 60m, clocking in at 7.15 seconds in the finals.
Redshirt-freshman Aanise Sajna recorded new bests in both the long jump (5.53 meters, 18-1.75 ft.) and the triple jump (10.95 meters, 35-11.25 ft.), where she finished first in the long and fourth in the triple.
REDBIRD WINS (MEN'S)
- Joe Boyer, Shot Put
- Amiri Buchanan, Weight Throw
- Tate Walcott, Long Jump
- Eddie Winner, Pole Vault
- Kai Larson, 200-meter dash
- Harris Porter, 800-meter run
- JT Lowder, 60-meter hurdles
- C. Maguire, D. Kelly, N. Swartzendruber, B. Gage, 4x400-meter relay
REDBIRD WINS (WOMEN'S)
- Julia Bourke, Shot Put
- Sydney Laufenberg, Weight Throw
- Grace Daun, High Jump
- Ariana Cranston, Pole Vault
- Aanise Sajna, Long Jump
- Mya Robinson, 60-meter hurdles
- Tori Ortiz, 60-meter dash
- Tori Ortiz, 400-meter dash
- Jordyn Bruce, 600-meter dash
- Grace Beattie, Mile-run
- T. Ortiz, D. Reid, A. Harrod, J. Greci, 4x400-meter relay
GVSU HOLIDAY OPEN
- Jack Anstey recorded a personal-best time of 8:16.89 to win the 3,000-meters and move into ninth on the ISU Indoor Top-10 list.
- Kevin Koski shaved nearly 15 seconds off of his time in the 5,000-meter run, clocking in at 14:26.62 to finish 11th.
UP NEXT
The Redbirds host the Coughlan-Malloy Cup in Horton Field House on Friday, Jan. 17.
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