CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – On the first day of the 2019 Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Track & Field Championship, hosted by Northern Iowa, Ariana Cranston and the men's distance medley relay team of Jake Gillum, Nick Swartzendruber, Kimathi Johnson, and Jack Anstey found themselves on the top of the podium, each claiming individual MVC titles.
After winning the women's pole vault competition at the 2018 MVC Outdoor Championship, Cranston came out on a mission today, determined to rise to the top again. This is exactly what she did, clearing 3.86m (12-08.00) to win the event and claim the 2019 Valley indoor crown. Cranston was not on the podium alone, however, as Nicole Bagwell cleared 3.81m (12-06.00) to place second, earning the first All-MVC honor of her career.
The Redbirds' second win of the day came in the men's distance medley relay, as Gillum, Swartzendruber, Johnson, and Anstey were the first to cross the finish line in 9:57.06. Not only does this time rank sixth in ISU track & field history, but this is the first men's DMR win for the 'Birds since 2004.
"This is the first win in the men's DMR in a very long time, and I am extremely proud of those guys," said Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Jeff Bovee. "They executed everything we had talked about and stuck to the plan, and because of that, we were able to defeat a very good Bradley team."
ALL-CONFERENCE PERFORMERS
In addition to ISU's two individual championships, four Redbirds earned All-Conference honors on the first day of competition. In the women's long jump, Charde Golliday lept her way to the first All-Valley accolade of her career, finishing third with a season-best jump of 5.91m (19-04.75).
The 'Birds also received a pair of All-MVC performances in the men's and women's 5,000-meter runs from distance standouts Kyle Mattes and Grace Beattie. Mattes crossed the finish line second in a personal-best 14:24.93, a time which ranks 10th all-time in ISU history. Beattie also placed second in her race, clocking in at 17:03.29.
STANDINGS THRU DAY ONE
Thru the first day of competition, the Redbird women sit in second place with 48 points, trailing Indiana State (50 points) by two points. Southern Illinois rounds out the top-three with 38.50 points. The ISU men (28 points) are currently in third place. Bradley and Northern Iowa are in a tie for first with 31 points.
"We had a lot of ups and downs today," said Bovee. "The multis didn't go exactly as we had planned, yet we have two guys that are in really good position heading into day two. Our women also came through, with three women scoring. Outside of this, we have a lot of qualifiers heading into day two, so it's all going to come down to how we do tomorrow to see if we can win another title or two."
ADDITIONAL POINT SCORERS ON DAY ONE
The following Redbirds scored points in their respective events with a top-eight finish:
Women's DMR
4. Hattie Plumb, Whitney Ward, Maddi Exline, Rachel Hickey (12:20.52)
Women's Long Jump
6. Kameesha Smith (5.71m/18-08.75)
Women's Pentathlon
4. Jordyn Bruce (3,466 points)
7. Tessa Holland (3,299 points)
8. Olivia Rossman (3,261 points), personal-best
Men's 5,000-meter
7. Kevin Koski (14:48.46)
Men's Long Jump
7. Caleb Miedema (6.80m/22-03.75)
8. Jordan Wilkerson (6.79m/22-03.50), season-best
Men's Weight Throw
6. Logan Calvin (17.80m/58-04.00)
7. Sam Weisz (17.37m/57-07.00), personal-best
OUTLOOK HEADING INTO DAY TWO
As Day Two approaches tomorrow, Jordan Wilkerson and Caleb Miedema are sitting pretty in the men's heptathlon. After recording personal-bests in the shot put (12.22m/40-01.25) and high jump (1.98m/6-06.00), Wilkerson is in first overall with 3,004 points. Miedema captured personal-bests in all four of Saturday's heptathlon events and currently sits in third with 2,932 points.
In addition, the following Redbirds have advanced beyond their respective preliminary rounds and onto tomorrow's finals:
Women's 60-meter
Kelsie Prear (7.54), season-best
Demetria Anderson (7.63), personal-best
Tori Ortiz (7.66), personal-best
Women's 200-meter
Tori Ortiz (25.14), personal-best
Kelsie Prear (25.14), season-best
Ashleigh Wilson (25.25), season-best
Women's 400-meter
Ashleigh Wilson (56.92)
Destiny White (57.67)
Women's 800-meter
Hattie Plumb (2:13.12)
Women's Mile Run
Rachel Hickey (5:01.56)
Kennidi Knoblock (5:02.42), season-best
Women's 60-meter Hurdles
Demetria Anderson (8.34), season-best
Mya Robinson (8.71), personal-best, ISU All-Time #8
Jordyn Bruce (8.90)
Men's 60-meter
Dion Hooker (6.86), personal-best, ISU All-Time #10
Men's 200-meter
Ben Montgomery (21.83)
Men's 400-meter
Ben Montgomery (47.63)
Devon Kelly (49.21), personal-best
Brandon Gage (49.47)
Men's 800-meter
Kimathi Johnson (1:54.10)
Men's Mile Run
Jack Anstey (4:16.39)
Jake Gillum (4:16.84)
Men's 60-meter Hurdles
Duane Sleet (8.24), season-best
NEXT UP
The 2019 MVC Indoor Championships will resume tomorrow morning at 9:30 a.m. with the second half of the men's heptathlon. Field events will start at 11 a.m. with the men's triple jump, and running events will follow at 1:25 p.m. with the men's mile run final.
The meet will be broadcasted on ESPN3 starting at 1:15 p.m. CT. Live results will also be available.
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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