NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State track & field team is set to host the first John Coughlan Invite to open the 2022-23 indoor campaign on Saturday, Dec. 3 inside Horton Field House. Both the track and field events will begin at 1 p.m. CT.
JOHN COUGHLAN
The John Coughlan Invite is named after legendary ISU Track & Field head coach John Coughlan. In his 23-year tenure at Illinois State, Coughlan won 18 Missouri Valley Conference team titles. For his success, he earned spots in both the MVC Hall of Fame and the Illinois State Athletics Percy Family Hall of Fame. Coughlan passed away in June of 2021.
SCOUTING THE COMPETITION
The Redbirds are set to host the men's and women's squads from both Saint Louis and Western Illinois, and the women's team from new Missouri Valley Conference member Murray State.
THOUGHTS FROM COACH JEFF BOVEE
"We have been eagerly awaiting the start of the 2022-2023 season with our student-athletes training with each other since September," Bovee said. "This meet provides an opportunity to assess our team's general fitness before the winter break and gives us an early preview of our new MVC member Murray State, which won the OVC title last year. We go into the season with high expectations, with many top returners and several transfers and newcomers that we think can make an immediate impact. We will not compete all of our team this week but will have more open up next week up in Chicago where the 2023 MVC Indoor Championships will be held."
MEET INFORMATION
Admission to the John Coughlan Invite is free and spectators can park in lots surrounding Horton Field House. For those who can't be in attendance, follow along on Twitter at @RedbirdTFXC for updates. Live results will also be available on the track & field schedule page on GoRedbirds.com.
UP NEXT
Following the John Coughlan Invite, the Redbirds will travel to Chicago, Illinois for the Blue Demon Holiday Invite, hosted by DePaul, on Friday, Dec. 9 from the Gately Indoor Track & Field Center.
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