MADISON, Wisc. – Illinois State Track & Field wrapped up the 2021-22 outdoor regular season, as redshirt sophomore Rachel Hickey shattered the Illinois State school record in the 800m at the Billy Hayes Invitational while six other student-athletes also notched program all-time top-10 marks at Indiana and Wisconsin.
SCHOOL RECORD SHATTERED AT INDIANA
After weeks of making significant progress in both the 800m and 1500m, the big day finally came for Hickey, as she broke the Redbird school record in the 800m with a time of 2:05.06 to win the event in Indiana.
The previous record in the 800m stood for over 30 years, as former Redbird Metria Bell, a member of the Illinois State Athletics Percy Family Hall of Fame, set the previous standard when she ran a 2:06.87 during the 1992 season.
Hickey's time of 2:05.06 now ranks No. 1 in the MVC, No. 15 in the West Region and No. 38 in the NCAA. Throughout the 2021-22 indoor and outdoor campaign, Hickey has set personal bests in the indoor 800m, mile run, outdoor 800m and 1500m on her way to breaking the school record.
In the men's 800m, junior Joe Morrison posted his first sub-1:50 performance in his ISU career. Morrison's time of 1:49.98 ranks No. 2 in the MVC behind teammate Riley Wells and No. 53 in the West Region.
Closing the night off on a strong note, senior Jake Gillum ran to a new personal best in the men's 1500m, clocking a time of 3:43.74. Gillum now ranks No. 5 in school history, No. 4 in the Valley and No. 70 in the West Region.
REDBIRD WRAP UP REGULAR SEASON IN WISCONSIN
Freshman Windsor Roberts had a breakthrough performance at the Wisconsin Classic, as she cleared a personal best of 4.01m (13-1.75) to finish third in the pole vault. That mark currently leads the MVC, ranks No. 3 in school history and sits at No. 36 in the NCAA West Region.
First-year throws coach Amanda Youngblood saw quite the performance from the student-athletes in the throwing circle.
One standout from the group was sophomore Macy Byer, who launched a personal best throw of 51.48m (168-11) in the women's discus. Byer's mark ranks No. 2 in the MVC, No. 6 in school history and No. 48 in the NCAA West Region.
Freshman Taylor Kesner and sophomore Batya Butler also set personal bests in the discus, throwing 48.76m (160-0) and 47.27m (155-1), respectively. Kesner followed up her personal best in the discus with another in the javelin, as she won with a throw of 40.07m (131-5).
In the men's discus, junior Joe Boyer tossed the disc 54.32m (178-2) to finish fourth overall. His mark now ranks No. 3 in the MVC, No. 6 in school history and No. 43 in the West Region. If his mark holds, he would qualify for the NCAA West Preliminary in both the shot put and discus.
Redshirt senior Logan Calvin finished third in the shot put with a throw of 19.03m (62-5.25). It was Calvin's farthest throw since he opened the outdoor campaign at the Texas Relays. Calvin also set a new personal best in the discus with a mark of 53.94m (177-0), which ranks No. 7 in school history and No. 52 in the West Region. Sophomore Payton Taylor also threw a personal best of 51.98m (170-6) in the discus, which ranks No. 9 in school history
Junior Amiri Buchanan set a season best in the men's shot put at 17.54m (57-6.50) to finish fifth overall. His mark ranks No. 6 in the MVC and No. 52 in the West Region.
In the women's shot put, sophomore Batya Butler threw a new personal best of 14.77m (48-4.75) to finish fourth overall. Josh Schmid closed out the impressive day from the throws squad with a personal best in the men's javelin at 54.65m (179-3) to finish second.
The Redbird duo of Cameron Getz and Caleb Miedema finished second and third in the men's high jump, respectively. Getz cleared 2.02m (6-7.50) on his first attempt, while Miedema cleared the same height on his third attempt, setting a new personal best.
Senior Rebecca Waite was the women's 100m champion at the Wisconsin Classic, as she ran a winning time of 12.37.
QUOTES
Director of Track & Field/Cross Country, Jeff Bovee
On the team's performance:
"Today was a fantastic day for the 'Birds at both Wisconsin and Indiana. The weather cooperated for the first time in weeks, and we had big breakthroughs in the throws, pole vault, and middle distance events. The throwers really had a great day with almost every thrower leaving with an all-time best. Windsor Roberts inched closer to the school record and Evan Pickard had a huge personal best. Josh Schmid and Taylor Kesner are also making significant progress in the javelin."
"We have been waiting for the breakout race for Rachel and it finally lined up. She had the right conditions, and her confidence is as high as ever. She is going to do some special things in the post season. I'm very pleased with Gillum and Morrison's races as they put marks out there that may hold up for the preliminary round as well."
UP NEXT
The Redbirds will make a return trip to Des Moines, Iowa for the 2022 MVC Outdoor Championships to kick off postseason competition from May 13-15.
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