LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Illinois State men's and women's track and field teams closed out the final day of the Lenny Lyles-Clark Wood Invite, hosted by Louisville, on Saturday with five ISU all-time top-10 performances, four individual event wins, and multiple personal-bests.
"This was easily the best meet of the season for us so far, and it couldn't have come at a better time with the Valley Championships just two weeks away," said Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Jeff Bovee. "We have been getting better week to week, and our success across the board this weekend is unquantifiable. We had outstanding performances both in the field and on the track, and I couldn't be happier with how this weekend unfolded." Â
ON THE TRACK
The Redbirds' success on the track Saturday was fueled by freshman Cole Maguire, who got straight to business in the 400-meter hurdles. In just his first outdoor season as a Redbird, Maguire has already proven that the sky's the limit, making ISU's top-10 list in the first week of the season. After finishing second with a time of 52.74 today, Maguire improved his position on the list, advancing to sixth all-time in Redbird history.
Senior Demetria Anderson also found success in the hurdles, clocking in at 13.64 to finish second in the 100-meter hurdles. The Redbirds had a strong showing in the men's and women's 400-meter dashes as well, as Avery Lyons (48.03) and Ashleigh Wilson (55.23) both finished sixth in their respective events. Lyons' mark was a personal-best, while Wilson's time was a season-best.
The women's 1,500-meter squad put on quite the show on Saturday, with all-four Redbird competitors notching personal-bests. The group was led by Hattie Plumb, who placed fourth in 4:34.54. Annie Moore (4:34.92) and Kennidi Knoblock (4:36.55) finished just behind in fifth and sixth, respectively. Maddi Exline clocked in at 4:44.07 to place 14th.
IN THE FIELD
Illinois State's field athletes were on fire on Saturday. Competing in her first meet of the 2019 outdoor season, Ashlee Stieler got the 'Birds off to a great start, winning the javelin competition with a personal-best heave of 42.42m (139-02). With the mark, Stieler ranks ninth all-time in ISU history.
Kameesha Smith (1.76m/5-09.25) and Francis Ehigbai (2.06m/6-09.00) followed suite, winning the women's and men's seeded high jump competitions. Smith's win marks her third of the outdoor campaign, while Ehigbai found himself back on the top of the podium in his first competition of the season.
Logan Calvin also excelled on Saturday, notching a pair of second-place finishes in the men's seeded shot put and seeded discus. Calvin's shot put throw of 18.21m (59-09.00) was not only an outdoor personal-best, but improves him to third all-time on the Redbirds' top-10 list. His discus toss of 50.72m (166-05) was a lifetime personal-best.
Sydney Laufenberg threw a bomb in the women's seeded discus, placing second with a throw of 56.96m (186-10), a mark which was just off her own ISU school record. Kassie Hoyme notched an impressive throw in the women's seeded shot put, finishing fifth with a personal-best heave of 15.30m (50-02.50). With the distance, Hoyme improves to sixth all-time in program history.
Charde Golliday carried her momentum from yesterday's school-record-breaking performance in the long jump over to today's triple jump competition. Golliday exuded confidence on the runway, placing fourth with a lifetime personal-best leap of 12.26m (40-02.75), a mark which ranks eighth on the Redbirds' top-10 list.
Ali Cranston's performance in the women's unseeded pole vault cannot be overlooked. The freshman won the competition with a height of 3.57m (11-08.50).
OTHER NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
Men's Seeded Pole Vault
3rd – Luke Nelson (5.08m/16-08.00), season-best
4th – Kellen Kravik (5.08m/16-08.00)
4th – Ryan Ashenbremer (5.08m/16-08.00), season-best
Men's Javelin
5th – Jordan Wilkerson (51.09m/167-07), personal-best
6th – Zach Fiser (50.01m/164-01), personal-best
UP NEXT
The Illinois State men's and women's track and field teams will be back in action on Friday, May 3 when they travel to Madison, Wisconsin, for the Wisconsin Invitational in their final tune-up before the 2019 MVC Outdoor Championships.
For all the latest on the Redbird Track and Field and Cross Country programs, visit GoRedbirds.com and follow the 'Birds on Twitter (@Redbird_TrackXC), Instagram (@redbird_trackxc), and Facebook (@redbirdsTF).
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