CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – On the final day of the 2019 Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships, hosted by Northern Iowa, the Redbird men's and women's teams left their mark in the Illinois State record books, sweeping the indoor titles for the second-straight season. The back-to-back sweep for ISU is a first in program history.
"The make-up of this year's wins on both sides was definitely different than a year ago, as we got a strong contribution from our field events, including the men's high jump, men's pole vault, women's shot put, and multis" said Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Jeff Bovee. "We also played to our previous strengths, scoring points in the middle distance and sprints. Overall, midway through the day, the pendulum had swung toward the UNI men and Indiana State women, but we kept our nose to the grindstone, and grinded out the win. I couldn't be prouder of our team."
TEAM RESULTS
The Redbirds fought relentlessly on their way to the top of the podium, with neither the men's nor women's teams leading the competition at the start of the second day of competition. This did not get the Redbirds down, but rather, added fuel to their fire to spark the ISU victory.
The Illinois State women, who found themselves in a battle with Indiana State for much of the day, placed first with 173 points. Indiana State finished as the runner-up to the 'Birds for their third-consecutive Valley championship, totaling 141 points. Southern Illinois rounded out the top-three with 95 points.
The Redbird men were in a barn burner with UNI for much of the day, but pulled away from the Panthers after a 29-point output in the pole vault competition. The 'Birds prevailed with 159 points, as UNI finished second with 144.50 points. Indiana State completed the top-three with 95.50 points.
After leading both the Illinois State men and women to victory, Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Jeff Bovee was named the MVC Men's and Women's Indoor Coach of the Year for the second-straight season.
MONTGOMERY NAMED MOST VALUABLE ATHLETE
Competing in the final meet of his collegiate career, Ben Montgomery went out with a bang, being named the MVC Men's Most Valuable Athlete after scoring the most points among all student-athletes. Montgomery scored a total of 22Â points between the 200-meter, 400-meter, 4x400-meter Relay, and triple jump, propelling the Redbird men to the top.
Montgomery experienced the greatest success in the 400-meter dash, claiming the 2019 MVC Indoor Championship with a time of 47.39. With the win, he becomes a two-time MVC Indoor champion in the event. Montgomery was far from finished, however, as he also received All-MVC honors in the 4x400-meter relay and 200-meter.
Montgomery, along with Avery Lyons, Brandon Gage, and Devon Kelly, earned the silver medal in the 4x400-meter relay, clocking in at 3:16.79. He also picked up a bronze medal in the 200-meter, placing third with the sixth-fastest time in ISU history (21.69). As if this wasn't enough, Montgomery triple jumped for the first time since his freshman season to give the 'Birds some extra cushion, placing fifth with a leap of 14.39m (47-02.50).
INDIVIDUAL TITLE WINNERS
In total, the Redbirds captured 10 individual championships over the course of the two-day meet. Several 'Birds found themselves on the top of the podium for the first time of their careers, including Francis Ehigbai (men's high jump), Kristin Higgins (women's high jump), Kimathi Johnson (men's 800-meter), and Hattie Plumb (women's 800-meter).
Other Redbirds, such as Jack Anstey (men's mile) and Ryan Ashenbremer (men's pole vault) added to their already-decorated resumes. After winning the 2018 MVC Outdoor 1,500-meter championship, Anstey became the 2019 Indoor Mile Champion today. Ashenbremer, who is only a sophomore, won his third-consecutive Valley title in the event.
Still other Redbirds, like Jordan Wilkerson, experienced break-through performances in their respective events on their way to the top. Wilkerson won the heptathlon competition for the first time of his career with a personal-best 5,073 points, a mark which ranks third all-time in ISU history.
A full listing of ISU's individual champions, with their winning marks, is as follows:
Ariana Cranston (women's pole vault), 3.86m/12-08.00
Kristin Higgins (women's high jump), 1.75m/5-08.75, personal-best, ISU All-Time #7
Hattie Plumb (women's 800-meter), 2:09.67
Jack Anstey (men's mile), 4:13.18
Ryan Ashenbremer (men's pole vault), 5.20m/17-00.75, personal-best, ISU All-Time #3
Francis Ehigbai (men's high jump), 2.09m/6-10.25
Kimathi Johnson (men's 800-meter), 1:54.46
Ben Montgomery (400-meter), 47.39
Jordan Wilkerson (Heptathlon), 5,073 points, personal-best, ISU All-Time #3
Men's DMR, 9:57.06, ISU All-Time #6
ALL-CONFERENCE AND OTHER NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
The Redbirds had a slew of All-Conference performances en route to their MVC Championships. Of special note were the men's pole vault and women's shot put squads. The men's pole vaulters swept the podium for their third-straight MVC Championship. In addition to Ashenbremer earning All-MVC honors, Kellen Kravik (5.10m/16-08.75) and Luke Nelson (5.00m/16-04.75) did as well, placing second and third, respectively. Sam Peschke added even more depth in the event, finishing fourth with a clearance of 4.75m (15-07.00).
The women's shot put group did not mess around, going 2-3-4-5. All four student-athletes that competed captured personal-bests, scored points, and made ISU's top-10 list. Brandy Thomas (16.00m/52-06.00) and Julia Bourke (15.91m/52-02.50) finished second and third, respectively, both earning All-MVC honors. Tayler Weaver (15.55m/51-00.25) and Kassie Hoyme (15.26m/50-00.75) rounded out the point scoring, placing fourth and fifth. The four marks rank third, fifth, sixth, and ninth in Redbird history.
A full listing of ISU's All-Conference performers, with their marks, is as follows:
Demetria Anderson (women's 60mH), second place, 8.30, ISU School Record
Nicole Bagwell (women's pole vault), second place, 3.81m/12-06.00
Grace Beattie (women's 3,000-meter), third place, 9:53.29
                       (women's 5,000-meter), second place, 17:03.29
Julia Bourke (women's shot put), third place, 15.91m/52-02.50, personal-best, ISU All-Time #4
Charde Golliday (women's long jump), third place, 5.91m/19-04.75, season-best
Kelsie Prear (women's 60-meter), second place, 7.49, season-best
Kameesha Smith (women's high jump), second place, 1.69m/5-06.50
Brandy Thomas (women's shot put), second place, 16.00m/52-06.00, ties personal-best, ISU All-Time #3
Ashleigh Wilson (women's 400-meter), second place, 55.81
Women's 4x400-meter Relay (Whitney Ward, Destiny White, Plumb, Wilson), second place, 3:47.02
Logan Calvin (men's shot put), third place, 18.32m/60-01.25
Kellen Kravik (men's pole vault), second place, 5.10m/16-08.75, personal-best, ISU All-Time #4
Kyle Mattes (5,000-meter), second place, 14:24.93, personal-best, ISU All-Time #10
Ben Montgomery (men's 200-meter), third place, 21.69, personal-best, ISU All-Time #6
Luke Nelson (men's pole vault), third place, 5.00m/16-04.75)
Derek Wegman (men's high jump), third place, 2.06m/6-09.00, ties personal-best
Men's 4x400-meter Relay (Avery Lyons, Brandon Gage, Devon Kelly, Montgomery), second place, 3:16.79
NEXT UP
Today's championship meet concludes the 2018-19 indoor track & field season for the Redbirds.
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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