NASHVILLE, Tenn. – On the final day of the Music City Challenge, hosted by Vanderbilt, in Nashville, Tennessee, the Illinois State men's and women's track and field teams found widespread success, notching 16 personal-best performances and seven ISU all-time top-10 marks.
"The middle-distance runners were hitting on full cylinders today," said Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Jeff Bovee. "We had a slew of 800-meter runners achieve personal-bests, and to have two women under 2:10 at the same meet was a first in my coaching career. Our goal now is to find more and more contributors to compete for a Valley title in two weeks. We need to keep getting better, but I am very pleased with the progress that we made today."
ON THE TRACK
From the first to the final event of the day, the Redbirds' distance crew dominated. Kennidi Knoblock (9:54.75) and Annie Moore (10:01.10) got Illinois State off to a fast start in the 3,000-meter run, both notching personal-bests to place second and seventh, respectively, in the unseeded session.
ISU's 800-meter runners followed suit, as Hattie Plumb (2:08.19) and Rachel Hickey (2:09.37) picked up personal-records and continued to climb the Redbirds' top-10 list in the event. Plumb placed sixth overall with the second-fastest time in ISU history, while Hickey finished ninth with the fifth-best time in the Illinois State record books.
The men's 800-meter student-athletes were just as impressive, capturing two personal-bests of their own. Kimathi Johnson, who has now dropped time in three-consecutive meets, finished sixth in 1:51.82. Jake Gillum, who continues to show his versatility across a range of events, placed 10th in a personal-record 1:52.77.
Ben Montgomery and Demetria Anderson also found success Saturday in their respective events. Montgomery placed fifth in the 400-meter dash with the fourth-fastest time in ISU history (47.26). It's safe to say that he has found his groove, having recorded an indoor personal-best in four-straight races over the past two meets. Anderson captured her first win of the season in the 60-meter hurdles with a season-best time of 8.42.
Montgomery, along with Avery Lyons, Brandon Gage, and Devon Kelly, also cracked ISU's top-10 list in the 4x400-meter relay. The squad posted the second-fastest time in Redbird history, finishing fifth among 16 teams with a season-best time of 3:12.23. The women's 4x400-meter relay team of Tori Ortiz, Whitney Ward, Destiny White, and Ashleigh Wilson recorded a top-10 mark of their own, finishing fourth with the ninth-best time in Illinois State history (3:44.58).
IN THE FIELD
Familiar faces led the Redbirds in the field Saturday, as Brandy Thomas and Nicole Bagwell improved upon their ISU all-time top-10 marks. Thomas continues to excel in the shot put, placing seventh among 32 throwers with the fifth-farthest throw in Redbird track and field history (15.38m/50-05.50).
Bagwell has hit her stride in the pole vault, clearing a personal-record 3.88m (12-08.75) to finish 11th in a field of 32 vaulters. Her mark, which surpasses her previous personal-best by over four inches, ranks fifth all-time in the Illinois State record books. Freshman Maddie Wright also had a big day, posting a personal-record height of 3.58m (11-09.00).
OTHER NOTABLE MENTIONS
Women's 400m
11th – Ashleigh Wilson (56.00)
13th – Destiny White (56.31), personal-best
Women's 400m (Unseeded)
7th – Tori Ortiz (58.05), personal-best
Women's 800m (Unseeded)
6th – Mariah Brodie (2:16.94), personal-best
7th – Audrey Harrod (2:17.22), personal-best
Women's Mile (Unseeded)
12th – Maddi Exline (5:02.97), personal-best
Women's 60m Hurdles
13th – Mya Robinson (8.80), season-best
Women's Triple Jump
13th – Victoria Gruszka (11.90m/39-00.50), season-best
Men's 400-meter (Unseeded)
8th – Devon Kelly (49.52), personal-best
NEXT UP
The Illinois State men's and women's track & field teams will be back in action on Feb. 15, when they compete in the Badger Red & White Classic for their final tune-up before the 2019 MVC Indoor Championship.
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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