CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The Illinois State track & field program made history on day three of the 2021 Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships, becoming the first women's team in conference history to win four-consecutive MVC indoor titles.
After trailing Southern Illinois by 40 points following the first two days of competition, the 'Birds scored 70 points on championship Sunday to secure the win and finish with 138 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The women's high jumpers swept the competition, going 1-2-3-7 and scoring 26 points to give the Redbirds the lead heading into the 4x400-meter relay. Senior Kameesha Smith won her second-straight indoor conference title and broke her school record set earlier this season, clearing 1.83 meters (6-0 ft.) to lead the group. Both sophomore Grace Daun and senior Kristin Higgins cleared a personal-best 1.76 meters (5-9.25 ft.), placing second and third with the duo both earning All-Valley honors. Rounding out the high jump scorers was freshman Carly Tucker, who cleared a personal-best 1.66 meters (5-5.25 ft.) to place seventh at her first MVC Championship meet.
On the track, senior Mya Robinson completed her revenge tour, winning the women's 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.68 seconds after taking a fall in the finals last year. The MVC title was the first of Robinson's career and ISU's lone first-place finish in an individual track event.
The sprints squad provided key points for the women's team win with three student-athletes earning All-Valley honors to help lift the team to victory. Senior Jaclyn Greci and junior Destiny White placed second and third in the 400-meter dash to combine for 14 points. Greci's time of 55.79 seconds was not only an indoor personal best, but also moved her to No. 8 all-time in school history after posting the 10th-fastest time in school history during the prelims. Making the podium for the first time in an individual event, White ran a lifetime best of 55.96 seconds, which sits right outside the top-10.
In the 200-meter dash, freshman Seven Hicks tied for second with a personal-best time of 24.68 seconds to earn All-Valley honors at her first ever MVC Indoor Championships. Earlier in the day, Hicks had just missed All-Valley honors in the 60-meter dash, placing fourth with a lifetime best of 7.56 seconds, which ties for eighth all-time in Illinois State indoor track & field history.
Juniors Maddi Exline and Rachel Hickey were able to contribute eight points for the 'Birds in the 800-mter run with Exline taking fourth with an all-time personal-best time of 2:10.80 and Hickey finishing sixth with a time of 2:12.94.
The women's squad capped off the record-setting day three with a victory in the 4x400-meter relay. The relay team of Destiny White, Mattie Lieb, Audrey Harrod and Jaclyn Greci led the entire race, crossing the finish line in a season-best time of 3:50.01 to seal the fourth-straight team title for the ISU women's team.
ISU MEN TAKE THIRD
The Illinois State's men's team took third behind Northern Iowa and Indiana State, finishing with 138 points. Despite falling short of the team title, the Redbird men took home three individual MVC titles on day three of the MVC Indoor Track & Field Championships.
Senior Brandon Gage, who had previously been a part of MVC championship winning relay teams, made it to the top of the podium for the first time in an individual event, winning the men's 400-meter dash with a time of 49.03 seconds. Gage then anchored the men's 4x400-meter relay team, nearly completing the come from behind win before falling just short of the title. The men's 4x400 relay team of Kai Larson, Cole Maguire, Nick Swartzendruber and Gage finished second with a time of 3:18.20 to earn All-Valley honors.
In the men's 800-meter run, Riley Wells and Jake Gillum finished 1-2 with Wells getting his first MVC title with a time of 1:52.08. Gillum, who won the men's mile yesterday, took second in the 800m to earn All-Valley honors with a time of 1:52.31.
The 'Birds collected 15 points in the men's 60-meter hurdles with both Brandon Ratliff and JT Lowder recording personal-best times. Ratliff, who finished third at last year's MVC Indoor Championships, was the MVC Runner-Up earning his second career All-Valley honors. His personal-best time of 7.98 seconds is tied for third all-time in ISU history. Lowder ran sub-8.1 for the first time in his career to place fourth overall with a personal-best time of 8.08 seconds, ranking fifth all-time in school history. Wrapping up the scorers in the hurdles for ISU was Jaden Johnson who finished seventh with a time of 8.18 seconds, just short of his personal best.
MVC AWARDS
Director of Track & Field/Cross Country, Jeff Bovee – MVC Women's Coach of the Year
Senior high jumper, Kameesha Smith – Most Outstanding Field Athlete
Senior middle-distance runner, Jake Gillum – Elite 17 Award Winner
For all the latest news on Redbird track & field and cross country, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App: Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
