OXFORD, Miss. – Redshirt-junior Logan Calvin and senior Tayler Weaver both moved into the Illinois State top-10 in the hammer throw for the first time in their careers, highlighting day one of the Ole Miss Classic on Friday afternoon.
On his opening throw, Calvin had already recorded a career best of nearly three feet before launching one on his second throw to improve by over three meters. Calvin's second throw of 59.76 meters (196-1 ft.) placed fifth overall and catapulted him onto the Illinois State top-10 list for the first time in the hammer throw, ranking ninth in school history.
After expiring her indoor eligibility last season, Weaver decided to return to Illinois State for one final outdoor campaign and opened it with a big throw. Weaver, who was not previously in the ISU hammer throw top-10, threw a personal-best mark of 55.89 meters (183-4.5 ft.) to place 12th overall and move into the No. 6 spot in school history.
Juniors Zach Fiser and Hannah Johnson also recorded personal bests in the hammer throw at Ole Miss, joining Calvin and Weaver. Fiser threw a huge personal best, placing 13th overall with a nearly 20 feet improvement of 49.37 meters (162-0 ft.), while Johnson surpassed the 50-meter barrier for the first time, throwing a personal-best of 51.42 meters (168-8.5 ft.) and place 18th overall.
The top finisher for the Redbird women's throwers was senior Julia Bourke, who placed seventh overall with a best throw of 59.84 meters (196-4 ft.).
Over in St. Louis at the Billiken Invite, all eight runners competing were racing their first outdoor meet in a Redbird uniform. Every Redbird student-athlete competing ran the 1,500m, while freshman Ashley Heagy also ran the 800m.
Heagy was the top finisher for the 'Birds on the women's side in the 1,500m, clocking in at 4:49.17 to place sixth overall. Joining Heagy in the top-10 was Kendy Ummel, crossing the finish line 10th overall with a time of 4:57.46. Kylie Hagmann (5:00.10), Natalie Sparreo (5:03.96) and Paige Arseneau (5:04.10) finished 11th, 13th and 14th overall to round out the Redbird finishers.
On the men's side, Lucas Capistrant posted the fastest time for Illinois State in the men's 1,500m, coming in at 4:02.71 to place 11th. Ryan Kennedy (4:09.12) and TJ Stevenson (4:11.26) finished within two seconds of each other, placing 14th and 16th overall, respectively.
Heagy finished fourth in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:25.06.
UP NEXT
The Redbirds will continue the action at the Ole Miss Classic tomorrow, Saturday, March 27. Field events will begin at 9 a.m., while running events will start at 11 a.m. and finish around 3 p.m.
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