MADISON, Wis - The Illinois State men's and women's track and field teams concluded the regular season Friday evening, as they competed in the Wisconsin Alumni Classic in Madison, Wisconsin. The meet was highlighted by two individual event wins, six ISU all-time top-10 performances, and a multitude of Redbird personal-bests.
"We had several standout performances in the 800-meter today in Plumb, Exline, and Johnson," said Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Jeff Bovee. "Those were big breakthroughs for all of them. Ari Cranston had an all-time best in the vault and there were several big performances in the throws by our fast-improving group there. The throwers are getting better each week and are peaking at the critical part of the season."
ON THE TRACK
Hattie Plumb won the women's 800-meter race with a personal-best time of 2:07.69, making it her fourth event win of the outdoor season. With that time, she matches Egle Kregzdyte's mark for fifth in ISU's outdoor top-10 list, set in spring of 2000. Maddi Exline also raced a personal-best time of 2:11.98, while finishing fifth in the 800-meter event.
Plumb and Exline were not the only ISU athletes to find success in the 800-meter, as Redbird junior Kimathi Johnson notched a personal-best time of 1:50.48 in the men's 800-meter to finish fourth.
Junior Jordyn Bruce had two second place finishes on the day: in the women's 100-meter hurdles (14.87) and in the 400-meter hurdles (1:03.00). Whitney Ward also placed in the 400-meter hurdles, crossing the finish line at 1:03.00 for third.
The women's 4x100-meter relay team of Demetria Anderson, Tori Ortiz, Kelsie Prear and Ashleigh Wilson clocked a time of 47.06 in their second race of the outdoor season together to place second.
IN THE FIELD
Ariana Cranston finished second in the women's pole vault, clearing an outdoor personal-best of 4.04m (13-03.00). With that mark, Cranston improves her position in ISU's record book, advancing to second all-time in Redbird history.
Kellen Kravik and Luke Nelson both cleared 4.99m (16-04.50) in the men's pole vault to tie for second place, with Sam Peschke finishing in fourth with a clearance of 4.69m (15-04.50).
Sophomore Logan Calvin had a career day on Friday, posting personal-bests in the discus (52.17m/171-2) and hammer throw (56.00m/183-9), finishing fourth and seventh, respectively, in those events. His discus mark is good for seventh all-time in ISU history. Calvin also placed third in shot put, recording a mark of 17.68m (58-00.25).
Sophomore Julia Bourke won her second women's hammer throw event of the outdoor season with a toss of 62.10m (203-9). Bourke also finished second in the women's shot put, heaving an outdoor personal-best 15.58m (51-01.50) to improve to fifth all-time on the Redbirds' top-10 list.
Other standout performances included Victoria Gruszka placing second in the women's triple jump, posting a mark of 11.30m (37-01.00), Francis Ehigbai placing third in the men's high jump with a clearance of 2.05m (6-08.75), and Zach Fiser recording a personal-best throw of 51.16m (167-10) in the javelin to finish in second place.
OTHER NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
Women's 100-meter Hurdles
6th/prelims – Olivia Rossman (15.92), ties personal-best
Men's 1500-meter
9th – Colton Bell (4:02.88), season-best
Men's Discus
6th – Sam Weisz (50.47m/165-7), personal-best
Women's Discus
6th – Kassie Hoyme (46.68m/153-2), season-best
Women's Javelin
8th – Parker Francisco (30.34m/99-6), personal-best
9th – Rebecca Waite (28.65m/94-0), personal-best
Men's Hammer Throw
15th - Zach Fiser (43.54/142-10), personal-best
Women's Hammer Throw
6th – Brandy Thomas (54.26m/178-0), personal-best, ISU all-time #8
12th - Hannah Johnson (49.42m/162-2), personal-best
Men's High Jump
6th - Derek Wegman (2.01m/6-07.00), season-best
Women's Pole Vault
11th - Maddie Wright (3.53m/11-7), personal-best
Women's Shot Put
5th – Tayler Weaver (14.93m/48-11.75), personal-best, ISU all-time #9
UP NEXT
The 2019 MVC Outdoor Track and Field Championships, hosted by Indiana State, will be held on May 10-12 in Terre Haute, Indiana. More information on the championship meet will be posted on GoRedbirds.com in the coming week.
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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