TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – On the second day of the 2019 MVC Outdoor Track and Field Championships, hosted by Indiana State, the Illinois State women's high jump trio of Kameesha Smith, Kristin Higgins, and Tessa Holland swept the podium, finishing first, second, and third, respectively, and all earning All-MVC honors.
While all three student-athletes posted impressive performances in the event, it was Smith who was the big winner, clearing 1.76m (5-09.25) to win the first MVC title of her career. Higgins finished as the runner-up, posting an outdoor personal-best clearance of 1.73m (5-08.00), a mark which ranks ninth all-time in ISU history. Holland finished third after clearing an outdoor personal-best 1.70m (5-07.00). Collectively, the trio tallied 24 points for the Redbird women.
"The women had a strong day led by the women's high jumpers capturing the sweep," said Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Jeff Bovee. "Grace Beattie winning her first Valley title in rainy conditions was also very exciting. The number of qualifiers that we have sets us up well for tomorrow. The men can fight for a trophy tomorrow as well, and we will need to capitalize on all of our scoring opportunities. We have several men that can contend for individual title wins on Sunday."
BEATTIE CAPTURES FIRST MVC CROWN
On the track, junior Grace Beattie ran her way to an MVC title in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, crossing the finish line in a season-best 10:21.17 and winning by a margin of 14 seconds. Beattie led for the entirety of the race, sprinting out to the front of the pack and creating a substantial lead which she held all the way through the finish line en route to the first individual MVC Championship of her career.
WEAVER, CALVIN SHINE IN SHOT PUT
Despite the cold rain and slick throwing circle, Tayler Weaver and Logan Calvin did not let any obstacles get in their way of making the podium in their respective shot put competitions. Weaver, who came into today's competition seeded seventh, exceeded everyone's expectations, finishing second with an outdoor personal-best throw of 15.41m (50-06.75). With the throw, not only does she earn the first All-MVC honor of her career, but she improves to seventh on the Redbirds' top-10 list.
In the men's shot put, Calvin earned All-Conference honors for the second-consecutive Valley meet, placing third with a heave of 18.06m (59-03.00).
BRANDENBURG, BRUCE EXCEL IN MULTI EVENTS
James Brandenburg and Jordyn Bruce led the Redbirds in the multi-events, each earning All-MVC honors. Brandenburg, who battled through multiple injuries this season, saw his perseverance pay off on Saturday, finishing second in the decathlon with 6,767 points. A win in the 110-meter hurdles (14.75) and a huge personal-best clearance of 4.17m (13-08.25) in the pole vault guided Brandenburg to All-MVC accolades.
As a decathlon squad, ISU finished 2-4-5-8, wracking up a total of 18 points. Caleb Miedema (6,222 points) and Jordan Wilkerson (5,843 points) placed fourth and fifth, respectively, while Nick Klecki finished eighth with 5,587 points. Klecki's point total cracks the Redbirds' top-10 list, ranking ninth all-time in ISU history.
After posting two personal-bests on the first day of competition and capping off day two with a win in the 800-meter (2:24.28), Bruce finished third in the heptathlon with 4,802 points. Not only is her point total a personal-best, but it is also the 10th-highest heptathlon score in Illinois State history.
TEAM SCORES THRU DAY TWO
With one day of competition remaining, the Redbird women are right where they want to be, sitting in first with 77 points. Southern Illinois is in second with 51 points and UNI sits in third with 43 points.
The Illinois State men (72.25 points) are in third place, trailing first-place UNI (85.25 points) and second-place Indiana State (75.25 points).
PRELIMINARY ROUND RESULTS
The following Redbird student-athletes qualified for finals in their respective events:
Women's 100-meter
Kelsie Prear (12.10)
Women's 400-meter
Ashleigh Wilson (55.51), fastest qualifying time
Destiny White (57.41)
Women's 800-meter
Hattie Plumb (2:13.27)
Women's 100-meter Hurdles
Demetria Anderson (13.76), fastest qualifying time
Mya Robinson (14.34)
Women's 400-meter Hurdles
Jordyn Bruce (1:03.10)
Whitney Ward (1:04.59)
Men's 400-meter
Avery Lyons (47.90), personal-best
Men's 800-meter
Jack Anstey (1:53.52)
Kimathi Johnson (1:53.29)
Men's 400-meter Hurdles
Cole Maguire (53.73), fastest qualifying time
Brandon Gage (56.33)
UP NEXT
The final day of the 2019 MVC Outdoor Track & Field Championships will get underway tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. CT with the women's long jump, which was rescheduled from this afternoon due to weather. Running events will follow at 12 p.m. CT.
Redbird fans can follow along with all the championship action on Twitter via @Redbird_TrackXC. Full coverage will be available on GoRedbirds.com following the conclusion of each day of the meet.
For all the latest on Redbird Track and Field and Cross Country, visit GoRedbirds.com and follow the 'Birds on Twitter (@Redbird_TrackXC), Instagram (@redbird_trackxc), and Facebook (@redbirdsTF).
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