LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Illinois State track & field completed competition at the Lenny Lyles Invitational on Saturday evening, as four individuals secured program top-10 marks along with the men's 4x400m relay squad.
"I think overall we competed really hard today and became a better team for that," Director of Track & Field & Cross Country Jeff Bovee said. "It's hugely beneficial that we came down here to get more experience on a banked track before the conference meet. We have a lot of positive signs moving forward. Although we didn't have any event winners, we're focusing on the process, and I think we took advantage of that opportunity today."
MAKING HISTORY
Junior thrower Amiri Buchanan got the 'Birds off on a high note with his performance in the men's weight throw. Launching a personal best of 19.69m (64-7.25 ft.), Buchanan moved up to No. 7 in school history in the event, passing former Redbirds Curt Jensen, Cedric Chapman and Brian Krantz along the way. Buchanan's mark ranks second in the Valley behind teammate Logan Calvin.
"In the field, we had a really good day from Amiri in the weight throw," Bovee said. "Hannah Johnson also had a great series both in the weight throw and shot put. She had a really solid day."
The Redbird sprint and hurdles squad showed out on the track with three individuals setting personal bests.
Clocking a new personal best time of 7.97 seconds in the men's 60m hurdles was junior Brandon Ratliff. With his time, he took sole possession of third in school history and ranks second in the Valley on the season. Ratliff's previous personal best of 7.98 came at the 2021 MVC Indoor Championships.
Fifth-year senior Brandon Gage also etched his name into the program record book with his performance in the 400m dash. Gage, who already ranks eighth in the outdoor event, clocked a 48.05 to finish second overall. His time currently leads the MVC and ranks seventh in school history.
Freshman Arianna Walker caught fire on the track and improved on her personal best in the women's 200m dash, finishing in a time of 24.48 seconds. She now ranks seventh in school history and sits at third in the Valley on the season.
In the final event of the meet, the men's 4x400m relay squad of Gage, Avery Lyons, Nick Swartzendruber and Cecil Brownridge III blazed through the relay race, finishing second overall in a time of 3:14.64. That time leads the MVC and also ranks No. 7 in program history.
"This group just keeps getting better and better with every meet," Bovee said. "Arianna Walker, as a freshman, was on fire in the 200m dash. I was really pleased to see Devin Turner make the 60m dash final as well."
OTHER NOTABLE FINISHES
In the throwing ring, senior Hannah Johnson tossed a season best in the women's weight throw with a mark of 17.77m (58-3.75 ft.) to finish eighth. Johnson's throw was her furthest since throwing she tossed 17.99m (59-0.25 ft.) at the 2021 MVC Indoor Championships.
Freshman Devin Turner turned it up in the men's 60m dash, finishing a time of 6.92 seconds, just 0.04 seconds off his personal best. Turner qualified for the finals, where he finished seventh overall.
In the distance circuit, junior Maddi Exline made her season debut in the women's mile, as she notched a nine-second personal best with a time of 4:53.32. Exline's time currently leads the Valley.
"Maddi made a strong seasonal debut in the mile to lead the Valley," Bovee said. "She's looked better than she has ever looked this early in the season."
Making his debut on the track for the Redbirds was junior Joseph Morrison. Morrison clocked a Valley-leading time of 1:51.61 in the men's 800m run to finish second overall. His teammate, Riley Wells finished fourth in the event. On the women's side, senior Rachel Hickey ran a 2:10.24, which also leads the MVC.
"I was really pleased with the 800m group," Bovee said. "Joe Morrison, in his Redbird debut, got out there and battled coming off an injury. It's really exciting to see how well he opened up the season. Rachel Hickey looked sharp today as well.
Three Redbirds ran to personal bests in the 3000m races. On the women's side, Claire Fuhlhage and Caroline Meyers led the way in the second heat and finished in times of 10:03.30 & 10:03.60, respectively. Sophomore Charlie Wetzel set a personal best on the men's side with a time of 8:28.53.
The Redbird women's 4x4 squad of San'Toria Harris, Destiny White, Sa'Mone Winters and Jaclyn Greci sprinted to a season best of 3:48.83 to finish fifth overall in the relay.
UP NEXT
Illinois State will split squads between two meets next weekend. A select group of Redbirds will travel to South Bend, Indiana for the Meyo Invite, hosted by Notre Dame, on Feb. 4-5. Additionally, a squad will remain in Bloomington to compete in the Keck Select, hosted by Illinois Wesleyan, on Feb. 5.
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