TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – For the first time since 1983-84, the Illinois State women's track and field team has won back-to-back Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Track & Field titles, as the Redbirds claimed the 2019 MVC Women's Outdoor Championship on Sunday afternoon.
After winning the 2018 MVC Outdoor Championship, the Redbird women defended what was theirs on Sunday, winning their seventh outdoor title in school history with a total of 191 points. Southern Illinois put up a strong fight and finished second with 176 points, while Indiana State placed third with 132.50 points. The Redbird women have now won four-consecutive team titles in the past two years between the indoor and outdoor seasons.
The Illinois State men battled hard on Sunday, fighting for every point in a race for second place that was decided by just two points. UNI ran away with the title, totaling 183.25 points, but second through fourth place was decided by a combined six points! The Redbirds ultimately finished second with 131.25 points, and Indiana State placed third with 129.25 points. Southern Illinois finished fourth with 125.50 points.
"You tend to just focus on the here and now, but you can't help but celebrate all that we've accomplished this season and over the past two years," said Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Jeff Bovee. "We lost a little bit of our focus after the indoor season, and we've had to really rally these last few weeks to get this group thinking about another championship, but the athletes performed when they needed to the most. I'm extremely proud of our student-athletes on both sides and how they battled today and this weekend."
BOVEE NAMED MVC WOMEN'S COACH OF THE YEAR
For the fourth time in just as many Valley championships, Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Jeff Bovee was named the MVC Women's Coach of the Year after guiding the Redbird women to the Valley crown. Bovee has built a dynasty on the women's side over the past four years, leading the women to three indoor titles and two outdoor titles since 2016.
INDIVIDUAL CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS
Five Redbirds and one ISU relay team captured individual MVC titles on the final day of the Valley championships. Illinois State dominated the 800-meter runs once again, with the 'Birds winning both the men's and women's MVC titles for the second time this year. Jack Anstey won the men's 800-meter run with a time of 1:49.82, capturing the first 800-meter title of his career. He now has an indoor mile, outdoor 800-meter, and outdoor 1,500-meter championship on his resume. Hattie Plumb defended her indoor 800-meter crown, crossing the finish line first in 2:08.38 to win her second-career MVC Championship in the event.
Demetria Anderson and Jordyn Bruce found themselves on the top of the podium in their respective hurdle events. After winning the 100-meter hurdles at the 2018 MVC Outdoor Championship, Anderson repeated her title in 2019, clocking in at 13.74 to become a back-to-back outdoor champion. Bruce became a conference champion for the first time of her career on Sunday, winning the 400-meter hurdles after a fantastic push in the final 100-meters with a season-best time of 1:00.67.
In the women's pole vault, Ariana Cranston claimed the Valley crown for her third-consecutive MVC meet, winning the event with a clearance of 3.75m (12-03.50). The junior is getting used to being on the top of the podium, and is now a three-time conference champion and four-time All-MVC performer.
The women's 4x400-meter relay team of Tori Ortiz, Destiny White, Plumb, and Ashleigh Wilson capped off the meet with a bang, winning the MVC title with a season-best time of 3:44.22. In her final race as a Redbird, Wilson anchored the relay and held off the top-ranked Salukis of Southern Illinois to help the team secure the gold.
A full list of individual MVC Champions can be found below.
Demetria Anderson, 100-meter Hurdles
Grace Beattie, 3,000-meter Steeplechase
Jordyn Bruce, 400-meter Hurdles
Ariana Cranston, Pole Vault
Tori Ortiz, 4x400-meter Relay
Hattie Plumb, 800-meter and 4x400-meter Relay
Kameesha Smith, High Jump
Destiny White, 4x400-meter Relay
Ashleigh Wilson, 4x400-meter Relay
Jack Anstey, 800-meter
Kyle Mattes, 10,000-meter
ALL-CONFERENCE PERFORMERS
In addition to the 11 conference champions who earned All-MVC honors (above), multiple Redbird student-athletes received All-Conference distinction after finishing second or third in their respective events.
Of those performances on Sunday, Avery Lyons' stood out. Lyons' brought the fire in the men's 400-meter, crossing the finish line in a personal-best 47.55 to finish third. Not only was this Lyons' second 400-meter personal-best in just as many days, but the mark ranks 10th all-time in ISU history.
Freshman Cole Maguire also showed-out on Sunday, finishing second in the 400-meter hurdles with a personal-record time of 52.51. With the time, Maguire improves to fifth all-time on the Redbirds' top-10 list.
The Redbird 4x100-meter relays also made the podium, both placing third overall. The men's team of Dion Hooker, Lyons, Brandon Gage, and Andy Hatch clocked in at a season-best 41.13, while the women's squad of Anderson, Wilson, Jaclyn Greci, and Tori Ortiz finished in 46.84. The men's 4x400-meter relay cannot be overlooked, as the team of Lyons, Gage, Nick Swartzendruber, and Devon Kelly placed second in 3:14.80.
A full list of All-MVC performers can be found below:
Demetria Anderson, 100-meter Hurdles (1st) and 4x100-meter Relay (3rd)
Nicole Bagwell, Pole Vault (2nd)
Grace Beattie, 3,000-meter Steeplechase (1st)
Jordyn Bruce, 400-meter Hurdles (1st) and Heptathlon (3rd)
Ariana Cranston, Pole Vault (1st)
Charde Golliday, Triple Jump (3rd)
Jaclyn Greci, 4x100-meter Relay (3rd)
Kristin Higgins, High Jump (2nd)
Tessa Holland, High Jump (3rd)
Sydney Laufenberg, Discus (2nd)
Tori Ortiz, 4x400-meter Relay (1st) and 4x100-meter Relay (3rd)
Hattie Plumb, 800-meter (1st) and 4x400-meter Relay (1st)
Kameesha Smith, High Jump (1st)
Ashlee Stieler, Javelin (2nd)
Tayler Weaver, Shot Put (2nd)
Destiny White, 4x400-meter Relay (1st)
Ashleigh Wilson, 4x400-meter Relay (1st) and 4x100-meter Relay (3rd)
Jack Anstey, 800-meter (1st)
James Brandenburg, Decathlon (2nd)
Logan Calvin, Shot Put (3rd)
Brandon Gage, 4x100-meter Relay (3rd) and 4x400-meter Relay (2nd)
Andy Hatch, 4x100-meter Relay (3rd)
Dion Hooker, 4x100-meter Relay (3rd)
Devon Kelly, 4x400-meter Relay (2nd)
Avery Lyons, 4x100-meter Relay (3rd), 400-meter (3rd), and 4x400-meter Relay (2nd)
Kyle Mattes, 10,000-meter (1st)
Cole Maguire, 400-meter Hurdles (2nd)
Luke Nelson, Pole Vault (2nd)
Nick Swartzendruber, 4x400-meter Relay (2nd)
Jordan Wilkerson, Javelin (3rd)
UP NEXT
Qualifying student-athletes will move on to compete at the NCAA West Preliminary Round in Sacramento, California, on May 23-25. The full list of qualifying student-athletes will be available on Wednesday of this week.
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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