NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State track & field teams opened up the 2021-22 indoor campaign by hosting the John Coughlan Invite on Saturday afternoon, as the Redbirds captured 17 event wins, six program top-10 marks and numerous personal bests.
"Overall, I'm really pleased with the young athletes and how they competed today," Director of Track & Field and Cross Country jeff Bovee said. "It's so much easier when you have great leaders, and our returners came out and put it out there with their performances."
Sophomore Mye'Joi Williams notched an impressive win in the women's shot put. With a throw of 16.64m, Williams set a new personal best and now ranks second in program history. Her throw also ranks second in the NCAA through one week of indoor season competition.
Also posting a notable performance from the Redbird throws squad was redshirt senior Logan Calvin. In the men's shot put, Calvin won the event with a mark of 18.95m, improving his personal best and inching closer to the school record. Calvin's throw also ranks second nationally.
Junior Amiri Buchanan notched personal bests in both events he competed in. In the weight throw, Buchanan won the event with a mark of 19.12m, which now ranks 10th in school history. That mark also ranks 13th in the NCAA. In the shot put, Buchanan finished as the runner-up with a throw of 17.88m. Buchanan now ranks fourth in program history in the event.
"Really solid day for the Redbirds," Bovee said. "In the throws, Mye'Joi had a huge improvement in the shot put with one of the top throws in the entire country. She looked phenomenal today. Same with Amiri and Logan. The throws group is going to be a big part of our success this year It's really exciting to see how well they're coming along."
On the track, the Redbirds swept event wins in both the men's and women's 60m dashes. In his first meet as a Redbird, junior Marshaun Cook captured the win for the ISU men. His time of 6.83 second ranks eighth in school history.
For the Illinois State women, sophomore Seven Hicks notched the victory, clocking in at 7.52 seconds to set a new personal best. With her time, Hicks moved up in the program record book, as she now holds the seventh-best time in program history.
"In the sprints, we had some huge performances in the 60m dashes in particular," Bovee said. "Seven and the whole women's group shows the depth we have in that event. On the men's side, we haven't had men running like that in a few years. Coach Jordan is doing a heck of a job bringing that crew along."
In the women's high jump, last season's MVC Outdoor Champion Grace Daun finished in first place with a clearance of 1.75m. Daun was just one centimeter shy of her personal best.
Junior Danielle Taets notched a personal best in the women's triple jump with a leap of 11.89m to finish second overall. In a photo finish, senior Matt Blanco won the mile run in a time of 4:19.25, a nine second personal best.
EVENT WINNERS
Men's Winners
- Marshaun Cook, 60m dash
- Brandon Ratliff, 60m hurdles
- Tyler Didde, 200m dash
- Matt Blanco, mile run
- Amiri Buchanan, weight throw
- Logan Calvin, shot put
- Lamar Frederick Jr., high jump
- Darcis Bitangalo, long jump
- Ryan Ashenbremer, pole vault
- Watkins, Marrs, Langellier, DeJesus, 4x400m relay
Women's Winners
- Seven Hicks, 60m dash
- Bri Buggs, 200m dash
- Maddie Wright, Pole Vault
- Grace Daun, high jump
- Mye'Joi Williams, shot put
- Hannah Johnson, weight throw
- Hicks, Harris, Lieb, Walker, 4x400m relay
UP NEXT
The Redbirds are set travel to Chicago, Illinois for the Blue Demon Holiday Invite, hosted by DePaul, on Friday, Dec. 10. The action from the Gately Indoor Track & Field Center will begin at 3:00 p.m. CT
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