CHICAGO –The Illinois State track & field program competed in its final meet of 2022 calendar year, capturing 10 wins at the Blue Demon Holiday Invite on Friday including Hassy Fashina-Bombata's two sprint victories and a new school record in the 60m hurdles.
"I believe today went like we expected. Our athletes have worked very hard this fall and today was a good day to execute and we did just that," ISU assistant coach DeShaun Jordan said. "Hassy setting the school record in the 60 hurdles and a win in the 200 meter was amazing to see that record go down. A double win for Amiri Buchanan in both the shot put and weight throw was also huge for us. This is the right energy we needed going into break and the rest of the indoor season will be a show."
In just her second meet as a Redbird, Fashina-Bombata stole the show in Chicago setting a school indoor record in the 60m hurdles in a time of 8.22, topping the previous mark of 8.30 set in 2019 by Demetria Anderson. Fashina-Bombata also clocked a blistering time of 24.27 in the 200m dash to take the win and climb to No. 4 all-time indoors in that event.
Ariana Walker also picked up a win for the Redbirds in the 300m dash, with a time of 40.68. In the 400m competition, ISU went 1-2 as Nnenna Okpara took the top spot in a time of personal-best time of 56.20 and Brimonet Buggs took second in 56.67. Vivianna SanFilippo also tallied a top-3 finish for the Redbirds with a third-place time of 5:12.98 in the mile run.
On the track on the men's side, Raydoffa Braziel picked up a victory in the 600m run in a time of 1:18.56, followed by teammate Nick Swartzendruber in third in 1:20.60. In the 400m dash, ISU went 2-3 as Edward Watkins took second in 49.43 and Michael Marrs finished third in 49.59. The men's hurdles duo of Brandon Ratliff (7.94) and Jaden Johnson (8.23).
In the field, the Redbird throwers swept the top spots in both the weight throw and shot put. Taylor Kesner won the women's weight throw with a personal-best mark of 18.77m and Amiri Buchanan won on the men's side with a meet record throw of 19.63m. Buchanan also won the men's shot put with a toss of 17.65m and Mye'Joi Williams took home a victory in the women's shot put with a mark of 14.99, with teammate Batya Butler right behind in second with a throw of 14.89m. Melissa Parrella also picked up victory for the Redbirds in the women's long jump with a leap of 5.74m.
EVENT WINNERS
Men's Winners
Amiri Buchanan, shot put
Amiri Buchanan, weight throw
Raydoffa Braziel, 600m run
Women's Winners
Hassy Fashina-Bombata, 60m hurdles
Hassy Fashina-Bombata, 200m dash
Arianna Walker, 300m dash
Nnenna Okpara, 400m dash
Taylor Kesner, weight throw
Mye'Joi Williams, shot put
Melissa Parrella, long jump
UP NEXT
The Redbirds will have a month-long break before returning to competition in January, when they host the annual Coughlan-Malloy Cup on Saturday, Jan. 14, at Horton Field House.
For all the latest news on Redbird track & field and cross country, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App: Â Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Athletic Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
Â
