ALLENDALE, Mich. – Illinois State track & field senior Kameesha Smith jumped to the top of the school record board, breaking a 29-year-old record in the women's high jump at the Grand Valley State University Big Meet inside the Kelly Family Sports Center.
In only her second meet of her senior season, Smith cleared four bars (1.65m, 1.69m, 1.73m and 1.77m) on her first attempts with ease before winning the event and making history as ISU's newest school record holder. It took two tries, but on attempt number two, Smith cleared a personal-best 1.82 meters (5-11.5 ft.) to take over the top spot. Tiffani Archey previously set the record at 1.81 meters (5-11.25 ft.) in 1992. At 1.82 meters, Smith not only has a Missouri Valley Conference leading mark but is also tied for sixth in the nation in the high jump.
Teammates, Grace Daun and Kristin Higgins rank right behind Smith in the MVC at second and third in the event. Daun cleared a personal-best 1.73 meters (5-8 ft.) today, moving her onto the ISU indoor top-10 list for the first time tying for the No. 9 spot, while Higgins jumped a season-best 1.69 meters (5-6.5 ft.). As a group, the women's high jumpers were ranked No. 2 in the nation in the USTFCCCA Event Squad Rankings last week.
Earlier in the day, senior Kevin Koski took his own stab at a school record in the 5,000-meter run, coming up just one-second short with a time of 14:00.40. Koski's time is second all-time in school history behind Mike Baker (13:59.24/1982) and leads the Valley by nearly 48 seconds. Currently, the near-record breaking time is the fourth fastest 5K time in the nation.
Freshman Mye'Joi Williams showed out for the throws squad today, winning the shot put with a personal-best mark of 14.95 meters (49-0.75 ft.) to make it onto the ISU indoor top-10 list for the first time in her young career. She ranks No. 10 all-time in school history and No. 3 in the Valley with that throw.
QUOTES FROM DIRECTOR OF TRACK & FIELD, JEFF BOVEE
On the GVSU Big Meet:
"It was good to get back to a big invite for track & field again. It's been a long year, but it feels like we're getting back to normal a little bit coming up here to Grand Valley. They have a phenomenal facility and I thought our student-athletes took advantage of it. Overall, I think this is just what we needed at the right time, just two weeks away from the conference meet."
On Kameesha Smith's record-breaking performance:
"Kameesha going back-to-back weeks trying to get the school record and finally getting it this time was just awesome. She's really established herself as one of the top high jumpers in the country and it will be interesting to see how she develops throughout this season. She's only had two meets now and she has a lot left there."
On Kevin Koski's near record-breaking performance:
"That was a big personal best for him. I just can't even say how proud I am of him just putting in the work over a long period of time to get to where he is. We're going to have to make some choices with indoor and cross country championships being just a few days apart, but that's a good problem to have. Kevin looked great."
On Mye'Joi Williams and the throws squad:
"Mye'Joi winning the shot put with almost a two-foot personal best was awesome. She's made huge improvements since high school. Coach (Jeff) Rebholz is doing a great job with that crew. We have a lot of depth in the throws and I think we're going to be even better outdoors with more throwing events. A big part of our success will be what we're doing there."
PERSONAL-BESTS
Kameesha Smith, High Jump, 1.82 meters (5-11.5 ft.)
Kevin Koski, 5,000m, 14:00.40
Grace Daun, High Jump, 1.73 meters (5-8 ft.)
Mye'Joi Williams, Shot Put, 14.95 meters (49-0.75 ft.)
Mye'Joi Williams, Weight Throw,
Riley Wells, 800m, 1:51.55
Jake Gillum, Mile, 4:06.28
Danielle Taets, Triple Jump, 11.16 meters (36-7.5 ft.)
Seven Hicks, 60m, 7.72
Mattie Lieb, 60m, 7.87
Seven Hicks, 200m, 25.03
Mattie Lieb, 200m, 25.18
Brandon Ratliff, 200m, 22.61
Brandon Gage, 400m, 48.69
Jaclyn Greci, 400m, 56.30
Cole Maguire, 400m, 49.52
Ailey Lindemann-Mitchell, 3,000m, 10:10.27
Ashley Heagy, 3,000m, 10:23.53
Max Schweitzer, Pole Vault, 4.72 meters (15-5.75 ft.)
Josh Schmid, Shot Put, 14.59 meters (47-10.5 ft.)
Payton Smith, Weight Throw, 16.10 meters (52-10 ft.)
Note: Brandon Gage and Jaclyn Greci's times are personal bests for indoor only.
UP NEXT
The Redbirds will have one final tune-up before the MVC Indoor Championships next weekend at the EIU Friday Night Special on Friday, Feb. 19 at the Lantz Indoor Fieldhouse.
In accordance with state and local guidelines, fans are currently not allowed to be in attendance at home ISU Athletics events. Game dates, opponents, times and locations are subject to change.
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