NORMAL, Ill. – After sweeping the 2018 Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Track & Field Championship, the Redbird men's and women's track & field teams will seek to defend their titles this weekend when they travel to Cedar Falls, Iowa, to compete in the 2019 MVC Indoor Championship, hosted by Northern Iowa.
MEET INFORMATION
The battle for a Valley title will span over two days, beginning on Saturday, Feb. 23 and concluding on Sunday, Feb. 24. Saturday's slate is scheduled to start at 9:30 a.m. with the women's pentathlon competition. Field events will get underway at approximately 2 p.m. with the women's weight throw, and track events will commence at 3 p.m. with the men's 60-meter hurdles prelims.
Action will resume Sunday at 9:30 a.m. with the second half of the men's heptathlon competition. Field events are slated for 11 a.m., beginning with the women's triple jump. The women's mile run final will mark the start of the running events at 1:25 p.m.
Select portions of the meet will be broadcast on ESPN3, with Saturday's coverage kicking off at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday's coverage going live at 1:15 p.m. Live results will also be made available, and full coverage of the meet can be found on GoRedbirds.com following each day of competition. For real-time updates, be sure to follow @Redbird_TrackXC on Twitter.
Due to the number of events that are going on at the UNI Dome this weekend, fans who are planning to make the trip to Cedar Falls are asked to park in the north half of the West Dome lot or the lots to the north of the Wellness Center.
A CHANCE TO MAKE HISTORY
After following up their 2018 MVC Indoor Championship sweep with another impressive indoor season in 2019, it comes as no surprise that the Redbird men's and women's track and field teams enter the weekend as the MVC favorites, per the Pre-Championship Coaches' Poll. If the 'Birds can go back-to-back and accomplish another championship sweep in 2019, this would be a first in Redbird track & field history.
However, the road to the top is never easy, and that won't change anytime soon. The Illinois State men, who received six of the possible nine first place votes in the Pre-Championship Coaches' Poll, enter a dog fight with 2018 MVC Outdoor Champion UNI (who received the three final first place votes). The Sycamores of Indiana State are also a team to watch after finishing as the runner-up at last year's indoor championship.
On the women's side, the Redbird women are the clear-cut favorite, having received nine of the possible ten first place votes. Indiana State, who earned the final first place vote, is hungry for a title after finishing as the MVC Indoor and Outdoor Runner-Up to the 'Birds in 2018. They will undoubtedly come ready to compete.
BY THE NUMBERS
Heading into the weekend, the Redbird attack is as follows:
EIGHT RETURNING INDOOR CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS
Demetria Anderson, 60-meter Hurdles
Ryan Ashenbremer, Pole Vault
James Brandenburg, Heptathlon
Brandon Gage, 4x400-meter Relay
Tessa Holland, Pentathlon & High Jump
J.D. LaFayette, 800-meter
Ben Montgomery, 4x400-meter Relay
Brandy Thomas, Shot Put
20 RETURNING INDOOR ALL-CONFERENCE PERFORMERS
(in addition to the student-athletes listed above)
Jack Anstey, Mile Run & DMR
Grace Beattie, Mile Run
Ariana Cranston, Pole Vault
Brandon Gage, DMR
Kennidi Knoblock, DMR
Kellen Kravik, Pole Vault
Annie Moore, DMR
Luke Nelson, Pole Vault
Hattie Plumb, 800-meter
Kameesha Smith, Long Jump
Whitney Ward, DMR
Jordan Wilkerson, Heptathlon
Ashleigh Wilson, 400-meter & 4x400-meter Relay
62 MVC TOP-EIGHT PERFORMANCES, INCLUDING 28 TOP-THREE (LISTED BELOW)
Demetria Anderson, 60-meter Hurdles (2nd)
Jack Anstey, Mile (1st)
Ryan Ashenbremer, Pole Vault (2nd)
Nicole Bagwell, Pole Vault (2nd)
Grace Beattie, Mile (2nd), 3,000-meter (3rd) & 5,000-meter (2nd)
Jordyn Bruce, Pentathlon (3rd)
Ariana Cranston, Pole Vault (1st)
Francis Ehigbai, High Jump (1st)
Charde Golliday, Triple Jump (2nd)
Rachel Hickey, 800-meter (3rd)
Kristin Higgins, High Jump (2nd)
Kellen Kravik, Pole Vault (3rd)
Ben Montgomery, 200-meter (3rd) & 400-meter (1st)
Luke Nelson, Pole Vault (1st)
Hattie Plumb, 800-meter (2nd)
Kelsie Prear, 60-meter (3rd)
Alex Saunders, Triple Jump (3rd)
Kameesha Smith, High Jump (1st)
Ashlee Stieler, Pentathlon (1st)
Brandy Thomas, Shot Put (3rd)
Jordan Wilkerson, Heptathlon (2nd)
Ashleigh Wilson, 400-meter (2nd)
Men's 4x400-meter Relay (2nd)
Men's DMR (3rd)
Women's 4x400-meter Relay (1st)
Women's DMR (1st)
For all the latest on Redbird Track & Field and Cross Country, visit GoRedbirds.com and follow the 'Birds on Twitter (@Redbird_TrackXC) and Facebook (@redbirdTF).
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