ST. LOUIS – Mid-distance runners Rachel Hickey and Joe Morrison swept the Missouri Valley Conference Track Athlete of the Week honors following strong performances in the 800m at the Billy Hayes Invitational.
For the second time this season and third in her career, Hickey was named MVC Female Track Athlete of the Week after breaking the 30-year-old Illinois State school record in the women's 800m with a time of 2:05.06. Hickey not only broke the record, she did so by nearly a full second, as it previously stood at 2:06.87.
Hickey's time now ranks No. 1 in the MVC, No. 15 in the West Region and No. 38 in the NCAA. She also holds the Valley-lead in the 1500m. On the season, Hickey has set personal bests in the indoor 800m, indoor mile run, outdoor 800m and outdoor 1500m on her way to breaking the school record.
For the first time in his Illinois State career, junior Joe Morrison posted his first sub-1:50 performance in the 800m at the Billy Hayes Invitational with a time of 1:49.98. Morrison's clocking was the fastest in the Valley last week and ranks No. 2 on the season behind teammate Riley Wells. In the NCAA West Region, Morrison sits at No. 58.
This marks the first time in Morrison's career that he has garnered MVC Weekly Honors.
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