ALLENDALE, Mich. – The Illinois State track & field program wrapped up competition at the Grand Valley State Big Meet on Friday evening, as seven Redbirds cracked into the ISU Top-10 all-time best list and several others set personal and season bests on the day.
CRACKING THE TOP-10
For the second meet in a row, senior Audrey Harrod ran a personal best in the women's 600m race. After a strong performance in the event at the Meyo Invite last weekend, Harrod moved up to No. 3 in ISU's all-time top-10 list with a clocking of 1:32.22. At the GVSU Big Meet, Harrod posted a time of 1:31.98 to finish second overall, as she continues to hold the third-fastest time in program history.
Following closely behind in the 600m was junior San'Toria Harris, who finished third overall in a time of 1:34.82. Harris managed to crack the ISU all-time top-10 list with her performance, as she now holds the 10th-fastest time in school history.
On the men's side, junior Cecil Brownridge III made his Redbird debut in the 600m race, clocking a time of 1:18.84 to win the event. Brownridge shot up in the Illinois State record book, now ranking third in school history in the event.
Fifth-year senior Jaclyn Greci moved up from No. 8 to No. 7 in the Redbird program record book, as she finished the 400m dash in a time of 55.48 to set an indoor personal best. Greci also leads the Missouri Valley Conference in the event.
In his mile run debut for Illinois State, Joe Morrison left it all out on the track, as he ran a personal best with a time of 4:05.92 to win the event and crack the ISU record book at No. 10. In a photo finish, fifth-year senior Jake Gillum finished just behind his teammate in a time of 4:05.93.
The reigning MVC indoor 800m champion, Riley Wells returned to form on the track, clocking an indoor personal best time of 1:50.25 and finish fourth overall. Well's time also leads the Valley and ranks No. 6 in school history.
Freshman Devin Turner ran his way into the ISU program record book, clocking a 21.85 in the 200m dash and notching a top-15 finish. Turner's now holds the eighth-fastest time in school history.
OTHER NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
Doing what she does best, fifth-year senior Kameesha Smith captured another win in the women's high jump with a clearance of 1.77m (5-9.75 ft.). It was Smith's second-best leap of the season.
The women's 4x400m relay squad of Harris, Destiny White, Harrod and Greci ran a season-best in the event to finish fourth overall. The time of 3:46.97 leads the Valley.
Redshirt senior Logan Calvin had another strong day in the throwing events, as he finished second in the invitational shot put with a throw of 18.99m (62-3.75 ft.), just shy of his indoor personal best. Calvin also tossed 20.47m (67-2 ft.) in the weight throw to mark the second time this season he's thrown over 67 feet. Junior Amiri Buchanan's toss of 19.34m (63-5.5 ft.) in the weight throw was just one foot shy of his personal best.
Sophomore standout Mye'Joi Williams finished as the runner-up in the women's invitational shot put with a mark of 15.35m (50-4.5 ft.). It was William's farthest toss since she opened up the season with a throw of 16.64m (54-7.25 ft.) at the John Coughlan Invite.
Competing in the open men's shot put, junior Joe Boyer also finished in second with a throw of 16.62m (54-6.5 ft.), which marked his farthest indoor throw since the 2019-20 season.
On the jumps runway, senior Caleb Miedema lept to a season best mark in the long jump at 7.07m (23-2.5 ft.).
In the women's pole vault, senior Maddie Wright cleared a season best with a mark of 3.66m (12-0 ft.). It was Wright's highest indoor mark since she cleared 3.71m (12-2 ft.) at the 2021 MVC Indoor Championships. On the men's side, Ryan Ashenbremer finished as the runner-up with a mark of 4.92m (16-1.75 ft.). Max Schweitzer followed in third with a new personal best clearance of 4.82m (15-9.75 ft.).
Two Redbirds – Caroline Meyers and Mackenzie Brownrigg – ran to personal bests in the women's 5000m races. Meyers was the winner of heat three, finishing in a time of 17:16.08, a nine-second personal best. Brownrigg ran a 18:04.42, a 15-second PR.
QUOTES
Director of Track & Field/Cross Country, Jeff Bovee
On the men's team performance:
"The men's team made a very strong step forward with several seasons best performances in the field and track. I was very pleased with Caleb Miedema in the long jump with a season best, Max Schweitzer in the pole vault with a new personal best and Joe Boyer in the open shot put, who had his farthest throw since 2019."
"We were given a huge boost by two wins on the track by Cecil Brownridge III and Joe Morrison in their collegiate debuts in both the 600m and mile. Those winning performances are rare at the level of competition we saw here today. Riley Wells is also rounding into form, and it's great to see Jake Gillum continuing to look so good as well."
On the men's team performance:
"On the women's side, I was glad to see Kameesha Smith is still jumping consistently and win another high jump competition. Atleigh Hamilton also had a strong performance, making the final in the long jump to have two strong weeks back-to-back. I was also really pleased with Audrey Harrod chopping more time off in the 600m. We had big personal bests from both Caroline Meyers and Mackenzie Brownrigg in the 5000m, and Jacki Greci had a strong effort in the 400m and the women's 4x4 relay."
UP NEXT
Illinois State is back in action tomorrow at the Titan Open, hosted by Illinois Wesleyan. The action from the Shirk Center will begin at 10:15 a.m. CT.
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