CHARLESTON, Ill. – With the Illinois State track & field squad split up this weekend, part of the team competed at the EIU Friday Night Special, winning nine individual events.
Tori Ortiz highlighted the meet with wins in both the 60m (7.75 seconds) and the 400m. In the 400, Ortiz ran a sub-57 second time for the second time this season, clocking in at 56.92 and beating the second-place finisher by over a second.
After running strong legs in the 4x400-meter relay the last few meets, Kai Larson got the chance to compete in the 400-meter dash for the first time this season and recorded a personal-best time of 50.11 seconds, winning the event.
JT Lowder (8.15 seconds) and Micah Amerson (22.89 seconds) won the 60-meter hurdles and the 200-meter dash and with their wins, Illinois State notched five victories in the sprint events.
The distance group had solid performances from Maddi Exline, who ran a season-best time of 5:06.26 to win the women's mile, and the men's 800m where Illinois State finished 1-2-3. Nick Swartzendruber (first), Harris Porter (second) and Jake Gillum (third) nearly crossed the finish line together, clocking in at 1:57.14, 1:57.47 and 1:57.53, respectively.
In the field events, Kameesha Smith continued her undefeated season in the high jump, clearing 1.75 meters and Charde Golliday leaped to a mark of 11.82 meters in the triple jump with both student-athletes winning their respective events.
Sydney Laufenberg threw over 19 meters in the weight throw for the second time this season, improving on her personal-best mark and maintaining the No. 3 spot in Illinois State track & field history. Laufenberg's mark of 19.44 meters was the top collegiate finish and second overall.
SEATTLE – Senior distance runner Jack Anstey ran a sub-four-minute mile for the second time in his career on Friday night at the Last Chance College Elite Meet at the Dempsy Indoor facility on the campus of the University of Washington.
Anstey, who clocked in at a season-best 3:59.93 had the fastest collegiate time and second-fastest time overall. He now has the No. 1 time in the Valley and ranks 30th in the nation.
"There was fantastic pacing by the Washington runners and Jack tucked up into 3rd 'til a lap to go and moved into 2nd," said Director of Track & Field/Cross Country, Jeff Bovee. "He charged home strong and came up short against a professional runner, but Jack looked like he has his snap back in his legs. He should be ready for a busy conference championship meet next week."
UP NEXT
The Redbirds will have two distance runners and three pole vaulters compete at the Alex Wilson Invitational at the University of Notre Dame, tomorrow, Feb. 22. Field events begin at 11 a.m. inside the Loftus Sports Center.
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