NASHVILLE, Tenn. – On the first day of the Music City Challenge, hosted by Vanderbilt, in Nashville, Tennessee, Illinois State track & field standouts Grace Beattie and Ben Montgomery solidified their spots in Redbird history, each posting ISU all-time top-10 marks in their respective events.
ON THE TRACK
Competing in the 5,000-meter run for the first time of the 2018-19 season, Beattie made her presence known, clocking in at a personal-best 16:35.07 to place fifth overall. The improvement Beattie has made in the past year is astronomical, for her mark not only ranks third all-time in Redbird history, but is over a minute faster than the 5,000-meter time she notched at the 2018 MVC Outdoor Track & Field Championships (17:37.89). In addition, Beattie currently leads the Valley by a margin of 48 seconds.
Montgomery knows how to use his experience to his advantage, continually dropping time week in and week out. Racing in the 200-meter dash, Montgomery recorded an indoor personal-best for the second-straight week, finishing sixth in 21.80. With the time, he improves to sixth all-time in the ISU record books.
IN THE FIELD
Luke Nelson's third-place finish in the pole vault headlined a number of strong Redbird performances in the field. The Illinois State school-record holder in the event, Nelson continues to put up impressive marks, clearing 5.10m (16-08.75) Friday. Ryan Ashenbremer and Kellen Kravik finished in the top-10 as well, each clearing 4.95m (16-02.75) to place fifth and seventh, respectively.
In the women's long jump, Charde Golliday (5.84m/19-02.00) and Kameesha Smith (5.77m/18-11.25) both notched season-bests. Golliday's mark was good for 11th place, while Smith finished 13th, in a field of over 20 jumpers.
OTHER NOTABLE MENTIONS
Men's 5,000-meter
10th – Kevin Koski (14:42.08), personal-best
Men's Weight Throw
20th – Sam Weisz (16.99m/55-09.00), personal-best
Women's 200m
11th – Kelsie Prear (24.96)
Women's Weight Throw
13th – Tayler Weaver (18.14m/59-06.00)
19th – Sydney Laufenberg (17.72m/58-01.00)
Women's High Jump
4th – Kameesha Smith (1.71m/5-07.25)
7th – Kristin Higgins (1.66m/5-05.25)
NEXT UP
The Music City Challenge will resume tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. with the women's unseeded 3,000-meter. Field events will follow with the women's unseeded pole vault at 10:30 a.m. Jack Anstey will race in Heat 6 of the mile run at the Iowa State Classic at 1:20 p.m.
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