CARBONDALE, Ill. – The record-breaking season continues for fifth-year senior Grace Beattie, who broke the meet record and won her second-straight Missouri Valley Conference 3,000-meter steeplechase title on day two of the Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Championships.
Beattie took down former Redbird Kristen Zillmer's 2014 meet record of 10:10.72 by more than three seconds, clocking in at a winning time of 10:07.04. In addition to Beattie, Jordyn Bruce and Grace Daun were also crowned MVC Champions on day two, winning the heptathlon and high jump for the 'Birds.
Bruce won her first MVC championship in the heptathlon, recording a personal best in six out of the seven events and improving her total score by over 400 points. It came down to the final event, but Bruce took the win with 5,439 points, which is No. 2 all-time in school history. Her teammate Zofia LeHew earned All-Valley honors for the second-time this season, taking third with 4,230 points in the first heptathlon of her young career.
A freshman outdoors, Grace Daun won her first career MVC high jump title after taking second at both the 2020 and 2021 MVC Indoor Championship meets. Daun cleared 1.74 meters (5-8.5 ft.) to get the win and give ISU their fifth-straight conference champion in the high jump between indoors and outdoors. Joining Daun on the podium was senior Kristin Higgins, who garnered her fourth-career All-Valley honors with a second-place finish. Higgins also cleared 1.74 meters but took second due to number of attempts at the winning bar.
The throws squad continued to build off of their success on day one with three 'Birds earning All-Valley honors and one snagging a regional qualifying mark. On the women's side, Tayler Weaver (16.29 meters / 53-5.5 ft.) and Mye'Joi Williams (15.90 meters / 52-2 ft.) finished second and third to combine for 14 points between the two. For the men, Logan Calvin recorded a mark of 18.81 meters (61-8.5 ft.) to place third, while freshman Amiri Buchanan fell just short of All-Valley honors, but earned a regional qualifying mark with his huge personal-best throw of 18.17 meters (59-7.5 ft.). Buchanan's mark is also No. 5 all-time in school history.
Freshman Jalen Hunter came in ranked 14th in the long jump and nearly left with a medal, placing fourth overall with a personal-best mark of 7.13 meters (23-4.75 ft.). Hunter moves into ISU's top-10 list for the first time with that mark, which is No. 10 all-time in school history.
The three-day competition will continue tomorrow 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 3 – 12:50 - 4:30 p.m.
All times listed are central.
TEAM SCORE UPDATE
The women's squad holds a 44-point lead over Southern Illinois heading into the final day of competition with 114 points. The men's team is currently in second place with 74.33 points, 29.17 points behind UNI.
FINALS QUALIFIERS
Women's 100-meter dash
Seven Hicks, 11.90
Women's 100-meter hurdles
Jordyn Bruce, 14.08
Mya Robinson, 14.09
Men's 110-meter hurdles
Jaden Johnson, 14.56
Brandon Ratliff, 14.76
Women's 200-meter dash
Seven Hicks, 24.01, personal best
Jaclyn Greci, 24.29, personal best
Men's 200-meter dash
Brandon Gage, 21.59, personal best
Women's 400-meter dash
Jaclyn Greci, 55.39
Destiny White, 55.77
Men's 400-meter dash
Brandon Gage, 48.59
Women's 400-meter hurdles
Whitney Ward, 1:01.70
Jordyn Bruce, 1:02.22
Men's 400-meter hurdles
Cole Maguire, 52.80
Women's 800-meter run
Maddi Exline, 2:11.49
Audrey Harrod, 2:13.13
Men's 800-meter run
Jack Anstey, 1:50.22, season best
Riley Wells, 1:50.90
Women's 1,500-meter run
Maddi Exline, 4:36.23
Ashley Heagy, 4:37.08, personal best
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 AT THE MVC CHAMPIONSHIPS
2. Jordyn Bruce, heptathlon, 5,439
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.)
5. Amiri Buchanan, 18.17 meters (59-7.5 ft.)
8. Kevin Koski, 10,000m, 29:33.19
8. Seven Hicks, 200m, 24.01
10. Jalen Hunter, long jump, 7.13 meters (23-4.75 ft.)
REMAINING SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
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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