CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – On day one of the MVC Indoor Track & Field Championships, Charlie Wetzel and Kameesha Smith earned the first All-Valley honors of the weekend for their top-three performances in the 5,000-meter run and long jump, respectively.
Competing at his first ever conference championship meet, Charlie Wetzel placed second in the 5,000-meter run to earn the silver medal and All-MVC honors. Wetzel, along with his competition in the 5,000m all ran an extra lap, totaling 5,200m. He finished the race with a time of 15:36.25, including the extra 200 meters.
Kameesha Smith was the first Redbird to reach the podium for the women's team, placing third in the long jump with a jump of 5.73 meters (18-9.75 ft.). This was only the second time that Smith competed in the long jump this season, earning All-Valley honors for the second-consecutive year in the event after she placed second a year ago. Smith will return to the UNI-Dome on day three, where she will look to defend her MVC high jump title.
DOWN GOES A VALLEY RECORD
Jack Anstey opened up the outdoor season for the Redbirds earlier than normal, competing at the Texas Qualifier in Austin, Texas where he set a Missouri Valley Conference record in the 1,500-meter run with a time of 3:39.73. Placing fifth overall in an extremely talented field, Anstey improves his school record by over two seconds.
MOVING ON TO THE FINALS
The 'Birds advanced four total runners to the 200-meter finals on Sunday with two men and two women posting top-eight times in today's prelims. Micah Amerson, who made his MVC Championships debut today, advanced to the finals with the sixth-fastest time, clocking in at a personal-best of 22.28 seconds. Finishing right behind him with the seventh-fastest time of 22.31 seconds was senior Brandon Gage. On the women's side, freshman Seven Hicks (25.22) and senior Jaclyn Greci (25.36) both moved onto the finals with the sixth and eighth fastest times, respectively.
MVC POINT SCORERS
4th Sydney Laufenberg, weight throw – 18.72 meters (61-05 ft.)
4th Logan Calvin, weight throw – 18.93 meters (62-01.25 ft.)
4th Men's Distance Medley Relay (R. Wells, N. Swartzendruber, H. Porter, A. Englert) – 10:13.76
4th Women's Distance Medley Relay (A. Mitchell, B. Oakley, A. Harrod, M. Exline) – 12:20.81
6th Caleb Miedema – long jump 7.08 meters (23-02.75 ft.) *
7th Amiri Buchanan, weight throw – 17.18 meters (56-04.5 ft.)
8th Aanise Sajna, long jump – 5.46 meters (17-11 ft.)
8th Hannah Johnson, weight throw – 17.99 meters (59-00.25 ft.)
8th Joe Boyer, weight throw – 17.17 meters (56-04 ft.) *
*indicates personal best mark/time
TEAM STANDINGS
After day one, the Illinois State women's team sits in third with 18 points, behind Southern Illinois and Northern Iowa, while the men's team is tied for third with Drake at 24 points behind Northern Iowa and Indiana State.
HOW TO WATCH/FOLLOW ALONG
Fans will be able to watch all the final two days of the MVC Indoor Track & Field Championships on ESPN3 ($) beginning at 4:45 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 27 and 11:15 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 28. Coverage is provided by Brad Wells, Mike Mahon and Kelly Burke. Individuals without access to ESPN3 can follow live updates here or on Twitter @redbird_trackxc.
DAY 2 AND 3 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Saturday, Feb. 27 | Session 1 (Men)
Multi Events
9:30 a.m. Heptathlon (60m Dash, Long Jump, Shot Put, High Jump)
Field Events
11:00 a.m. Pole Vault Final
11:00 a.m. Triple Jump Trials & Final
12:00 p.m. Shot Put Trials & Final
Track Events
12:00 p.m. Mile Timed Final
12:20 p.m. 60m Hurdles Semifinals
12:40 p.m. 400m Dash Prelims
1:00 p.m. 60m Dash Semifinals
1:20 p.m. 800m Prelims
1:40 p.m. 3000m (Slow Heat) Final
1:55 p.m. 3000m (Fast Heat) Final
Saturday, Feb. 27 | Session 2 (Women)
Multi Events
4:30 p.m. Pentathlon (60m Hurdles, High Jump, Shot Put, Long Jump, 800m)
Field Events
5:00 p.m. Pole Vault Final
5:00 p.m. Shot Put Trials & Final
5:00 p.m. Triple Jump Trials & Final
Track Events
5:00 p.m. Mile Timed Final
5:20 p.m. 60m Hurdles Semifinals
5:40 p.m. 400m Dash Prelims
6:00 p.m. 60m Dash Semifinals
6:20 p.m. 800m Prelims
6:40 p.m. 3000m (Slow Heat) Final
6:55 p.m. 3000m (Fast Heat) Final
Sunday, Feb. 28
Multi Events
10:00 a.m. Men's Heptathlon (60m Hurdles, Pole Vault, 1000m)
Field Events
10:30 a.m. Men's High Jump Final
12:30 p.m. Women's High Jump Final
Track Events
11:30 a.m. Men's 60m Hurdles Final
11:40 a.m. Women's 60m Hurdles Final
11:50 a.m. Men's 400m Dash (2 sections) Final
12:10 p.m. Women's 400m Dash (2 sections) Final
12:30 p.m. Men's 60m Dash Final
12:40 p.m. Women's 60m Dash Final
12:50 p.m. Men's 800m Final
1:00 p.m. Women's 800m Final
1:10 p.m. Men's 200m Dash (2 sections) Final
1:25 p.m. Women's 200m Dash (2 sections) Final
2:00 p.m. 1000m – Men's Heptathlon
2:10 p.m. Men's 4x400m Relay Final
2:25 p.m. Women's 4x400m Relay Final
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