DES MOINES, Iowa – Illinois State Track & Field concluded competition at the Drake Relays and Clark Wood Invitational on Saturday, as three Redbirds set program all-time top-10 marks in their respective events.
DRAKE RELAYS CONCLUDE
Opening the day in Des Moines, the women's Distance Medley Relay team of Maddi Exline, Claire Fuhlhage, Kayla Perry, and Mattison Plummer finished seventh overall with a time of 11:34.91. That time ranks sixth in Illinois State program history.
In the stacked men's 110m hurdles field, Illinois State's Brandon Ratliff collected second place with a final time of 13.98, one day after qualifying with a prelims time of 14.23.
After qualifying yesterday, both 4x100 relay squads were back in action for Saturday event finals. First, the women's team of Hassy Fashina-Bombata, Arianna Walker, Lindsey Miller, and Bri Buggs ran to a second-place finish in a time of 45.58.
Then, the men's team of Enyinnaya Nwagwu Jr., Sean Hopkins, Jaylin Holmes, and Devin Turner collected fourth with their time of 40.53.
In the men's 800m, senior Riley Wells finished third with a time of 1:50.14.
Finally, it was time for the 4x400m relay teams closing out the meet for the 'Birds. The women's team of Fashina-Bombata, Nnenna Okpara, Destiny White, and San'Toria Harris captured third in a time of 3:40.34. Then, the men's 4x400 team would follow suit, capturing third in a time of 3:11.83.
COMPETITION WRAPS AT CLARK WOOD INVITATIONAL
Saturday would be all about freshman Dewayne Johnson, as the Pontiac native would be in action for the men's 110m hurdles. The day got started for Johnson with a prelim qualifying time of 14.49, the 10th fastest time in program history.
However, he would not be satisfied as only a couple hours later, the freshman would better his time in the event finals, collecting a third-place finish in a time of 14.14, the sixth fastest program time.
Joining the top-10 party was junior Danielle Taets in the women's triple jump. The Orion native jumped to a mark of 12.13m (39-09.75), placing her 10th in the program record book.
Taets would also have teammate Madison Saunders finish top-five, gathering fourth with a mark of 12.06m (39-06.75).
Saunders would also compete in the women's 100m on Saturday, as she would turn in a qualifying time of 12.02. Unfortunately, Saunders would not compete in the event finals later in the afternoon.
OTHER TOP-10 STUDENT-ATHLETE FINISHES IN DES MOINES AND LOUISVILLE
-      Isabelle Hemmen – t-1st, pole vault (UNSEEDED): 3.42m/11-02.50
-      Leslie Fisher – 4th, triple jump: 14.98m/49-01.75
-      Carly Tucker – t-4th, high jump (SEEDED): 1.70m/5-07.00
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Matt Blanco- 5th, 3000m steeple: 9:47.25
-      Rob Pulliam – 6th, high jump (SEEDED): 2.00m (6-06.75)
-      Andrew Englert – 6th, 1500m: 3:51.67
-      Khalil Ross – 7th, triple jump: 13.56m/44-06.00
-      Windsor Roberts – t-8th, pole vault (SEEDED): 3.77m/12-04.50
-      Viviana Sanfilippo – 8th, 1500m: 4:36.60
-      Tyler Polak – 8th, 3000m steeple: 9:59.37
-      Morgan Wrublik – 8th, hammer – 52.17m/171-2
-      Taylor Kesner – 8th, javelin: 41.19m/135-1
-      Jacob Rollins – 9th, shot put: 14.81m/48-07.25
-      Mattie Lieb – 10th, 100m: 12.05
UP NEXT
The Redbirds will close out the regular season at the Wisconsin Alumni Classic, hosted by Wisconsin, and Billy Hayes Invitational, hosted by Indiana, next Friday before turning their attention to postseason action.
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