CARBONDALE, Ill. – Senior pole vaulter Kellen Kravik led the 'Birds to a 1-2-3-4 sweep of the men's pole vault competition, winning his first Missouri Valley Conference title in the process, to highlight day one of the MVC Outdoor Track & Field Championships at the Lew Hartzog Track & Field Complex in Carbondale, Illinois.
Kravik, who broke the pole vault outdoor school record earlier this season, cleared 5.22 meters (17-1.5 ft.) on his third attempt to earn the title of MVC Champion. His teammates, Eddie Winner (5.02 meters / 16-5.5 ft.), Ryan Ashenbremer (4.87 meters / 15-11.75 ft.) and Sam Peschke (4.87 meters / 15-11.75 ft.) followed in second, third and fourth to sweep the top four spots with both Winner and Ashenbremer garnering All-MVC honors. Luke Nelson tied for eighth to score partial points for the 'Birds, clearing 4.42 meters (14-6 ft.). The men's pole vault squad combined for 29.33 points towards the men's team total in their hunt for the team title.
In addition to Kravik's win, which earned him his fifth-career All-MVC honors, six other Redbirds earned All-Valley honors by placing in the top-three of their events.
Joining the three men's pole vaulters who earned All-Conference accolades, senior Nicole Bagwell picked up her fourth-career All-Valley honor for the women's squad, taking second overall with a clearance of 3.85 meters (12-7.5 ft.).
The women's hammer throw squad had themselves a day with three finishing in the top six overall. Seniors Tayler Weaver and Julia Bourke earned All-MVC honors finishing second and third place overall, respectively. Both Weaver (61.71 meters / 202-5.5 ft.) and teammate Sydney Laufenberg, who took sixth, (58.32 meters / 191-4.25 ft.) launched huge personal best throws to move up to No. 4 and No. 5 all-time in school history and join Bourke in regional qualifying range in the event. Bourke finished with a best throw of 60.33 meters (197-11.25 ft.).
On the track, senior Kevin Koski was the 10,000-meter run runner-up, clocking a personal-best time of 29:33.19 to earn All-Valley honors and move up to eighth all-time in school history.
Fifth-year senior Jordyn Bruce shined on day one of the heptathlon, recording personal bests in the 100-meter hurdles (13.80), the shot put (11.70 meters / 38-4.75 ft.), the 200-meter dash (25.14) and tying her personal best in the high jump (1.66 meters / 5-5.25 ft.). She currently leads the competition with 3,328 points with three events remaining. Her time of 13.80 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles is the fourth-fastest time in school history. Her teammates, Zofia LeHew (2,586 points), Alexa Tarohocker (2,513 points) and Caleigh O'Flaherty (2,430 points) are in third, fourth and seventh after day one.
In the men's decathlon, Caleb Miedema and Brian Brown sit in sixth and eighth overall and look to make big jumps tomorrow with five remaining events.
The three-day competition will continue tomorrow Saturday, May 15 and Sunday, May 16. Spectators are not allowed to attend the Championships but will be able to catch exclusive coverage of the three-day meet on ESPN3 ($) with Brad Wells, Mike Mahon and Kelly Burke providing commentary. Individuals without access to ESPN3 can follow live updates here or on Twitter @redbird_trackxc.
BROADCAST SCHEDULE
Day 2 – 4:45 - 7:15 p.m.
Day 3 – 12:50 - 4:30 p.m.
All times listed are central.
TEAM SCORE UPDATE
The Redbirds lead with 43 points on the women's side and 43.33 points on the men's side following four events scored on day one. The women's team is followed by Southern Illinois in second with 37 points, while UNI is in second for the men with 34 points.
POINT SCORERS
4. Sam Peschke, pole vault
4. Payton Smith, javelin
5. Ali Cranston, pole vault
5. Logan Calvin, hammer throw
5. Josh Schmid, javelin
6. Cassie Wilson, pole vault
6. Ailey Mitchell, 10,000-meter run
6. Sydney Laufenberg, hammer throw
6. Zofia LeHew, javelin
7. Maddie Wright, pole vault
7. Alexa Tarohocker, javelin
8. Rebecca Waite, javelin
8. Zach Fiser, javelin
T-8. Luke Nelson, pole vault
FINALS QUALIFIERS
Women's 200-meter dash
Seven Hicks, 24.01, personal best, No. 8 all-time in school history
Jaclyn Greci, 24.29, personal best
Men's 200-meter dash
Brandon Gage, 21.59, personal best
Women's 1,500-meter run
Maddi Exline, 4:36.23
Ashley Heagy, 4:37.08, personal best
Rachel Hickey, 4:37.16
Grace Beattie, 4:27.20
Men's 1,500-meter run
Jack Anstey, 3:49.76
Jake Gillum, 3:55.36
ISU TOP-10 PERFORMANCES
4. Jordyn Bruce, 100m hurdles, 13.80
4. Tayler Weaver, 61.71 meters (202-5.5 ft.)
5. Sydney Laufenberg, 58.32 meters (191-4.25 ft.)
8. Kevin Koski, 10,000m, 29:33.19
REMAINING SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Day 2 | Saturday, May 15
Multi Events
10 a.m. – men's decathlon (110mH, discus, pole vault, javelin, 1,500m)
10:30 a.m. – women's heptathlon (long jump, javelin, 800m)
Field Events
3 p.m. – women's shot put
3 p.m. – men's high jump
3:30 p.m. – women's long jump
5:30 p.m. – men's shot put
5:30 p.m. – women's high jump
6 p.m. – men's long jump
Track Events
5 p.m. – women's 100mH prelims
5:10 p.m. – men's 110mH prelims
5:20 p.m. – women's 400m prelims
5:30 p.m. – men's 400m prelims
5:40 p.m. – women's 100m prelims
5:50 p.m. – men's 100m prelims
6 p.m. – women's 800m prelims
6:10 p.m. – men's 800m prelims
6:20 p.m. – women's 400mH prelims
6:30 p.m. – men's 400mH prelims
6:40 p.m. – women's 3,000m steeplechase final
6:55 p.m. – men's 3,000m steeplechase final
Day 3 | Sunday, May 16
Field Events
11:30 p.m. – women's triple jump
11:30 p.m. – women's discus
1:30 p.m. – men's triple jump
1:30 p.m. – men's discus
Track Events
1 p.m. – women's 4x100m relay
1:05 p.m. – men's 4x100m relay
1:10 p.m. – women's 1,500m final
1:20 p.m. – men's 1,500m final
1:30 p.m. – women's 100mH final
1:40 p.m. – men's 110mH final
1:55 p.m. – women's 400m final
2 p.m. – men's 400m final
2:10 p.m. – women's 100m final
2:15 p.m. – men's 100m final
2:20 p.m. – women's 800m final
2:25 p.m. – men's 800m final
2:35 p.m. – women's 400mH final
2:45 p.m. – men's 400mH final
2:55 p.m. – women's 200m final
3 p.m. – men's 200m final
3:05 p.m. – women's 5,000m final
3:30 p.m. – men's 5,000m final
3:55 p.m. – women's 4x400m relay
4:05 p.m. – men's 4x400m relay
4:20 p.m. – Graduating Seniors Recognition followed by Awards Presentation
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