CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois State track & field program wrapped up competition at the Illini Classic inside the UI Armory on Friday evening, as the Redbirds bagged six event wins at the meet.
To cap off the meet on a strong note, the men's pole vaulters swept the podium, led by redshirt senior Ryan Ashenbremer. With a clearance of 5.07m (16-7.5 ft.), Ashenbremer set a new season best that currently ranks second in the MVC and is tied for 71st nationally. Fifth-year seniors Luke Nelson and Sam Peschke followed behind their teammate with season-best clearances of 4.72m (15-5.75 ft.) to finish second and third, respectively.
For the fourth time this season, fifth-year senior Kameesha Smith was crowned the winner in the women's high, as she cleared 1.76m (5-9.25 ft.). Sophomore Carly Tucker finished as the runner-up with a new personal best at 1.71m (5-7.25 ft.).
Making his season debut, freshman Elijah Williams, who is also a member of the Illinois State men's basketball team, finished first in the triple jump with a leap of 14.43m (47-4.25 ft.), which already ranks third in the MVC on the season.
Completing the triple jump sweep for the Redbirds, junior Danielle Taets was the winner on the women's side with a mark of 11.39m (37-4.5 ft.).
Other event winners included Hannah Johnson, who tossed 17.13m (56-2.5 ft.) to finish first in the weight throw and freshman Michael Marrs, who ran 22.41 in the 200m dash to win.
Freshman Solomon Hudson became the fifth Redbird on the season to run a sub-7 60m dash, as he clocked a 6.99 to finish third overall.
Redshirt sophomore Charles Murphy and junior Tyler Polak each ran personal bests times in the mile run, clocking times of 4:19.23 and 4:19.37, respectively. Polak's time was a seven-second personal best, while Murphy improved his personal best by two seconds.
QUOTES
Director of Track & Field/Cross Country, Jeff Bovee
On the men's team performance:
"It was a great day for our men's pole vaulters with three season bests led by Ryan Ashenbremer's clearance of 5.07m (16-7.5 ft.). On loan from the basketball team, Elijah Williams made his collegiate debut, winning the triple jump with an impressive mark of 14.43m (47-4 ft.). In the men's mile, we had good performances by Tyler Polak, who ran a seven-second personal best and by Charles Murphy, who ran a two-second personal best. In the sprints, Solomon Hudson broke the seven-second barrier for the first time in the men's 60m dash"
On the women's high jump performance:
"Kameesha Smith and Carly Tucker led a nice performance by our women in the high jump, as Kameesha won the event with a jump of 1.76m (5-9.25 ft.) and Carly set a personal best at 1.71m (5-7.25 ft.)."
UP NEXT
Four middle-distance runners – Maddi Exline, Rachel Hickey, Riley Wells and Jake Gillum – will make the trip to South Bend, Indiana for the Alex Wilson Invite on Saturday, Feb. 19 to conclude the regular season.
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