TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – On the second and final day of the Pacesetter Invitational, hosted by Indiana State, the Illinois State men's and women's track and field teams poured it on, tallying 10 individual event-wins to propel both the Redbird men and women to victory.
The Illinois State women, who received an added boost from Tessa Holland's win in the javelin on Friday, won the meet with 232.50 points, besting second-place Indiana State (221 points) by 11.5 points. The Redbird men also put on a show, winning the competition with 200 points as compared to second-place Indiana State's 189 points.
"Despite the windy conditions today, I thought our athletes really came here to compete," said Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Jeff Bovee. "The last couple weeks, we've gone through the motions a bit, but today was a great turning point for us in building some momentum. We had numerous season-bests, and we are starting to turn a corner. It will be fun to see what we can keep building from here."
IN THE FIELD
Perhaps the highlight of the field events on Saturday was Kameesha Smith's breakthrough performance in the high jump competition. Smith has excelled in the high jump this season, but she took her success to a whole new level today, clearing a personal-best 1.78m (5-10.00) to win the event. Not only does this height rank fourth all-time in ISU track and field history, but it is currently first in the MVC and ninth in the NCAA West Region.
Smith was not alone on the high jump podium, however, as the Redbirds swept the event. Holland cleared a season-best 1.69m (5-06.50) to finish second, while Kristin Higgins finished third with a clearance of 1.66m (5-05.25).
Kellen Kravik also reached new heights on Saturday, clearing an outdoor personal-best 5.10m (16-08.75) to win the men's pole vault competition. Kravik's clearance, which tied his lifetime personal-best, improved him to sixth all-time in Redbird track and field history. Kravik has now cleared the top-bar among all ISU vaulters this season and currently sits atop the Valley.
In the women's pole vault, Ariana Cranston picked up her second win of the outdoor season, finishing first with a height of 3.83m (12-06.75). Nicole Bagwell was just as impressive, clearing an outdoor personal-best 3.73m (12-02.75) to place second and improve to fifth all-time in ISU history. The pair of Cranston and Bagwell currently holds the top two spots in the Valley.
Logan Calvin also found himself in a familiar spot on Saturday, winning his third shot put competition of the season with a throw of 17.36m (56-11.50). Calvin captured a second-place finish in the discus as well, notching a personal-best toss of 49.77m (163-03).
Charde Golliday and Victoria Gruszka each picked up wins in the horizontal jumps, with Golliday winning the long jump (5.79m/19-00.00) and Gruszka placing first in the triple jump (11.46m/37-07.25).
ON THE TRACK
The running Redbirds were led by senior hurdler Demetria Anderson, who posted a convincing victory in the 100-meter hurdles. Anderson got off to a great start and quickly pulled away from the competition, clocking in at a season-best 13.47(w) to take first. Mya Robinson followed in Anderson's footsteps, placing third with a season-best time of 14.24(w).
Hattie Plumb secured her own victory in the 1,500-meter, crossing the finish line first in 4:38.44. Annie Moore finished second alongside Plumb with a personal-best time of 4:38.51. Moore continues to improve week-in and week-out, having recorded a season-best in every week of the outdoor season thus far.
ISU's 4x400-meter relay teams both emerged victorious as well. The women's squad of Whitney Ward, Destiny White, Plumb, and Ashleigh Wilson finished first in 3:47.79. The men's team of Brandon Gage, Devon Kelly, J.D. LaFayette, and Nick Swartzendruber clocked in at 3:18.47 to get the win.
OTHER NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
Men's 100-meter
2nd – Dion Hooker (10.54W), personal-best
4th – Andy Hatch (10.60W), personal-best
Men's 3,000-meter Steeplechase
2nd – Matt Blanco (9:39.89)
Men's High Jump
2nd – Cameron Getz (2.00m/6-06.75), outdoor personal-best
Men's Triple Jump
2nd – Alex Saunders (13.93m/45-08.50), outdoor personal-best
Women's 400-meter Hurdles
2nd – Whitney Ward (1:03.60), season-best
Women's Shot Put
3rd – Julia Bourke (15.07m/49-05.50), outdoor personal-best, ISU All-Time #8
4th – Kassie Hoyme (14.94m/49-00.25), season-best
NEXT UP
The Illinois State men's and women's track and field teams will compete in two separate meets next week: the Drake Relays on Thursday, April 25 and Louisville's Lenny Lyles-Clark Wood Invitational on April 26-27.
For all the latest on Redbird Track & Field and Cross Country, visit GoRedbirds.com and follow the 'Birds on Twitter (@Redbird_TrackXC), Instagram (@redbird_trackxc) and Facebook (@redbirdsTF).Â
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App:Â Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
