NORMAL, Ill. – Competing on its home track for the first time this season, the Illinois State track & field program captured 16 event wins en route to a sweep of the team victories at the Redbird Invite on Saturday.
Opening up his final outdoor season as a Redbird, senior pole vaulter Ryan Ashenbremer cleared 5.11m (16-9.25) to win the pole vault. The mark was his best in since the 2019 season and currently ranks No. 19 in the NCAA West Region on the season.
Making her Illinois State debut, freshman Windsor Roberts finished second in the women's pole vault with a clearance of 3.70m (12-1.5 ft.). With her mark, she now ranks No. 8 in school history in the event.
It was a Redbird sweep in the high jump events, as junior Cameron Getz won the event on the men's side. Getz cleared a personal best of 2.06m (6-9 ft.) to win the event, as that mark currently leads the MVC. Completing the sweep was senior Kameesha Smith, who cleared 1.73m (5-8 ft.) to win on the women's side.
The Redbird throwing squad had a strong day of competition, winning four events in the field. Sophomore Macy Byer led the women's team in the discus, as she threw 47.47m (155-9 ft.) to place first. Sophomore Catie Daily finished second with a throw of 44.22m (145-1 ft.). On the men's side, senior Logan Calvin tossed the disc 50.73m (166-5 ft.) to win his first event of this outdoor season.
Leading the women's shot put group in a 1-2 finish, sophomore Mye'Joi Williams threw 15.10m (49-6.5 ft.) to place first as Batya Butler notched a personal best of 14.50m (47-7 ft.). Williams and Butler currently rank second and fourth, respectively, in the Valley.
Competing in her first meet since the 2021 outdoor season, sophomore Zofia LeHew threw the javelin 41.18m (135-1 ft.) for the win. Her mark currently ranks third in the MVC.
Redshirt sophomore Rachel Hickey was one of three winners in the distance events, capturing the win in the women's 1500m. Hickey led wire to wire and clocked a winning time of 4:28.40. In the men's 1500m, sophomore Andrew Englert finished first to complete the Illinois State sweep with a time of 3:54.85.
Sophomore Ailey Mitchell won the women's 5000m, closing strong over the final 1600m to clock a time of 17:53.05. Mitchell's win was her first in two seasons at Illinois State.
In the horizontal jumps, freshman Darcis Bitangalo set a personal best with a leap of 6.87m (22-6.5 ft.) to win the men's long jump. Atleigh Hamilton, another Redbird freshman, placed third in the women's long jump with a mark of 5.63m (18-5.75 ft.), just shy of her personal best.
Junior Cecil Brownridge III was the lone sprinter to capture an individual event win, as he won the men's 200m dash. In the windy conditions, Brownridge III clocked a time of 22.16.
Illinois State completed the relay sweep, winning both the men's and women's 4x100m relays and capping off the meet with victories in the 4x400m relays.
TEAM SCORES
With a total of 12 teams in competition on the men's side, Illinois State finished first with a total score of 171 points, topping Illinois and fellow MVC foes Bradley, Loyola-Chicago and Valparaiso.
The Redbird women finished first among 14 programs, totaling 203.5 points. The ISU women also bested Illinois and led MVC teams in the meet.
QUOTES
Director of Track & Field/Cross Country, Jeff Bovee
On the team's performance:
"We survived the wind gate here this weekend, but we had a lot of fun competing at home. Our student-athletes always respond really well to being at home. A lot of new faces seemed to break through this weekend. Of course, we had some vets show us how it's done, but what I really liked seeing the most was a lot of new contributors, from Darcis in the long jump to Andrew in the 1500m to Khalil and Elijah finding their footing in the triple jump. The same can be said about a lot of the young guys in the sprints, as well as the women. A lot of new, young talent was infused, and I think seeing more of that is really going to drive this team forward as we head throughout the outdoor season."
UP NEXT
With the conclusion of the Redbird Invite, Illinois State is set to travel to Champaign, Illinois for the Illini Classic from April 8-9.
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