AUSTIN, Texas – The Illinois State track & field program completed the second day of action in Texas and North Carolina, as redshirt sophomore Rachel Hickey and junior Caleb Miedema each posted program top-10 marks in their respective events on the day.
After a successful indoor campaign in which she set personal bests in both the 800m and mile run, Hickey opened up the outdoor season with a personal best in the 1500m, clocking a time of 4:26.23 to finish first in heat eight. Hickey's time now ranks No. 7 in school history.
Behind her teammate Hickey, junior Maddi Exline opened her outdoor season on a high note with a time of 4:27.66. Freshman Lucie Grandjean also made her Illinois State debut on the track, as she finished the 1500m in a time of 4:37.82.
In the 5000m, sophomore Claire Fuhlhage ran an eight-second personal best at 17:22.22 to finish eighth in heat one.
"Claire got us off to a great start today with a new personal best in the 5000m, which is not her primary event," Director of Track & Field/XC Jeff Bovee said. "Despite conservative paces in the first two laps, Rachel and Maddi also secured season debut personal bests, as they both closed very well in the final 400m."
With a mark of 7.19m (23-7.25 ft.), junior Caleb Miedema leapt to a new personal best and finished fourth overall in the men's long jump at the Bobcat Invitational. His jump now ranks ninth in school history.
Competing at the Texas Relays, sophomore Brandon Ratliff clocked a 14.05 in the preliminary race of the 110m hurdles, just missing the qualifying mark by 0.03 seconds.
Elsewhere on the track, the men's 4x400m relay team of Avery Lyons, Cecil Brownridge III, Brandon Gage and Nick Swartzendruber placed fifth in the university/college timed final with a clocking of 3:13.42. In the field, fifth-year senior Kameesha Smith cleared 1.72m (5-7.75 ft.) in the women's high jump to tie for sixth overall.
Back at the Bobcat Invitational, Brownridge III also set a personal best in the 200m dash with a time of 21.82.
In the women's pole vault, sophomore Amni Austin cleared an outdoor personal best of 3.60m (11-9.75 ft.). Sophomore Ariel Atias also cleared an outdoor personal best in the men's pole vault, clearing 4.60m (15-1 ft.).
Redshirt senior Logan Calvin made his season debut in the hammer throw, tossing 56.41m (185-0 ft.) to place 10th overall.
The Redbirds conclude action from the Texas Relays, Raleigh Relays and Bobcat Invitational on Saturday, March 26, beginning at 10:00 a.m. CT.
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