OXFORD, Miss. – The Illinois State track & field program concluded day two of the Ole Miss Classic with multiple personal bests and ISU top-10 performances at their first outdoor meet since 2019.
ISU's field event athletes recorded six ISU top-10 performances over the course of the weekend. Redshirt junior Logan Calvin went three-for-three for personal bests in the throwing events, beginning with the hammer throw yesterday where he threw 59.76 meters (196-1 ft.) for the ninth-best throw in school history.
In the discus, Calvin improved upon his No. 7 mark in school history with a personal-best throw of 52.44 meters (172-0.75 ft.) to place fourth. He wrapped up the weekend with a winning throw of 18.56 meters (60-10.75 ft.) in the shot put, moving up to No. 2 all-time in school history in the event.
The women's throwing events were led by senior Sydney Laufenberg who won the discus with a best throw of 54.78 meters (179-9 ft.) at her first outdoor meet since the 2019 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. In the javelin, heptathlete Zofia LeHew was the Redbirds' top finisher, placing third with a best mark of 39.65 meters (130-1 ft.).
The women's high jump squad started the outdoor season in similar fashion to the end of the indoor campaign – taking the top two spots in the event. Senior Kristin Higgins won the event with an outdoor personal best of 1.75 meters (5-8.75 ft.), which ties for the seventh-best clearance in school history, while Daun cleared 1.70 meters (5-7 ft.) to place second in the first outdoor meet of her collegiate career.
Returning to the sand for the first time since she was crowned the 2020 MVC Indoor Champion, Charde Golliday placed second in the long jump with a best mark of 5.99 meters (19-8 ft.).
Eddie Winner jumped onto the ISU outdoor top-10 list after his first outdoor competition as a Redbird, placing third overall with a clearance of 5.07 meters (16-7.5 ft.). That mark is the eighth-best in school history.
On the track, six student-athletes finished in the top three in their respective events, including four in the hurdles. Senior Mya Robinson tied her personal-best of 14.22 seconds to place second in the 100-meter hurdles, while sophomore Jaden Johnson placed third with a time of 14.60 seconds in his first collegiate 110-meter hurdles race. That time moved Johnson into the No. 9 spot in school history. Johnson's teammate, JT Lowder posted the 10th-fastest 110-meter hurdles time in school history, clocking in at 14.71 seconds to place fourth overall.
The Redbirds took second in both the men's and women's 400-meter hurdles. Senior Jordyn Bruce's time of 1:02.58 is currently the second-fastest time in the Missouri Valley Conference, while junior Cole Maguire's time of 53.04 seconds is currently the fastest time in the Valley for the men's 400-meter hurdles.
Coming off of a stellar debut indoor season, freshman Seven Hicks was able to pick up right where she left off, placing second in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.95 seconds.
The 400m duo of Jaclyn Greci and Destiny White each posted strong season openers for the 'Birds with Greci coming in third with a time of 55.74 seconds and White following in fourth with an outdoor personal-best time of 56.10 seconds. On the men's side, Brandon Gage placed fourth overall with a lifetime best time of 48.14 seconds.
The 'Birds won both women's relays with the 4x100-meter relay of Mattie Lieb, Destiny White, Jaclyn Greci and Hicks clocking in at 46.48 seconds and the 4x400-meter relay of Greci, Bruce, White and Brittney Oakley finishing in 3:49.5. In the men's relays, the 4x100-meter relay of Brandon Ratliff, Jalen Hunter, Gage and Micah Amerson took third with a time of 41.88, while the 4x400-meter relay team of Maguire, Kai Larson, Gage and Kyle Langellier finished second with a time of 3:16.22.
ISU TOP-10 PERFORMANCES
2. Logan Calvin, shot put, 18.56m (60-10.75 ft.)
6. Tayler Weaver, hammer throw, 55.89m (183-4.5 ft.)
7. Logan Calvin, discus, 52.44m (172-0.75 ft.)
T-7. Kristin Higgins, high jump, 1.75m (5-8.75 ft.)
8. Eddie Winner, pole vault, 5.07m (16-7.5 ft.)
9. Logan Calvin, hammer throw, 59.76m (196-1 ft.)
9. Jaden Johnson, 110mH, 14.60 seconds
10. JT Lowder, 110mH, 14.71 seconds
PERSONAL-BEST PERFORMANCES
Mya Robinson, 100mH, 14.22 seconds (ties personal best)
Rebecca Waite, 100m, 12.35 seconds
Micah Amerson, 100m, 11.00 seconds
Micah Amerson, 200m*, 22.33 seconds
JT Lowder, 200m, 22.65 seconds
Brimonet Bugg, 200m, 24.85 seconds
Mattie Lieb, 200m, 24.98 seconds
Rebecca Waite, 200m, 25.03 seconds
Brandon Gage, 400m, 48.14 seconds
Kyle Langellier, 400m, 50.48 seconds
Destiny White, 400m*, 56.10 seconds
Logan Calvin, shot put, 18.56m (60-10.75 ft.)
Logan Calvin, discus, 52.44m (172-0.75 ft.)
Rebecca Waite, Javelin, 39.20m (128-7 ft.)
Parker Francisco, Javelin, 34.38m (112-9 ft.)
Kristin Higgins, High Jump*, 1.75m (5-8.75 ft.)
Max Schweitzer, Pole Vault, 4.72m (15-5.75 ft.) (ties personal best)
Logan Calvin, hammer throw, 59.76m (196-1 ft.)
Tayler Weaver, hammer throw, 55.89m (183-4.5 ft.)
Zach Fiser, hammer throw, 49.37m (162-0 ft.)
Hannah Johnson, hammer throw, 51.42m (168-8.5 ft.)
* indicates outdoor personal-best only
UP NEXT
The Redbirds will return to home next weekend for the first of two meets at the Redbird Outdoor Track this season. The Redbird Invite is set to have a 10 a.m. start time on Friday, April 2. A full schedule will be posted to goredbirds.com.
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