NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State Track & Field completed day one of competition at the 2023 MVC Outdoor Championships, as Zofia LeHew ended the day on a high note with the title of MVC Champion.
LeHew closed night one out on a high note, as she won the women's javelin with a personal best mark of 48.82m (160-02), the second furthest mark in school history. This comes only one year after LeHew finished fourth in last year's MVC Outdoor Championships.
She is also the first female student-athlete from Illinois State to win the javelin since 2012, when Leigh Petranoff won her fourth straight outdoor event title (2009-2012).
ALL-VALLEY
Completing the 1-2 finish for the Redbirds in the women's javelin was sophomore Taylor Kesner. Kesner finished second in the event with a mark of 47.68m (156-05) to earn All-MVC honors for the first time in her Redbird career.
In the men's hammer, Amiri Buchanan finished as the top Redbird in the event, as he threw for a personal-best mark of 62.58m (205-03) to finish second overall. This mark also stands as third furthest in school history. Buchanan has now garnered All-Valley honors at both the 2023 Indoor and Outdoor Championships.
MOVING ON IN THE FINALS
Three Redbirds punched their ticket to the 200m dash final, led by freshman Nnenna Okpara. Okpara clocked the fastest time for a Redbird, going for a prelims time of 23.68, the second fastest time in school history, to finish second in her heat as well. Sophomore Arianna Walker would come in at 24.12 to finish her heat and third overall amongst all competitors.
Finally, senior Hassy Fashina-Bombata would clock a new personal best time of 23.76, tied for third fastest in school history, as she came in second overall amongst all three heats.
In the men's 200m, junior Raydoffa Braziel finished second overall among all heats, clocking a personal best time of 21.02, eighth fastest in school history. He will be joined in Sunday's event finals by freshman Enyinnaya Nwagwu Jr., who clocked a preliminary time of 21.08, now the ninth fastest time in school history.
All three Illinois State women advanced in the women's 1500m opening round, led by senior Maddi Exline who ran the fastest prelim time at 4:26.11. Sophomore Mattison Plummer and senior Rachel Hickey also punched their ticket with times of 4:29.07 and 4:30.64, respectively.
Sophomore Mathis Chavand also advanced the men's 1500m run final, as he ran the third-fastest prelim time at 3:51.21.
MULTIS UPDATE
Through five events in the decathlon, Cade Ward sits in fifth with 3181 points, including a second-place finish in the men's decathlon 400m at 49.26. Junior Loyal Howard sits in eighth with 2811 points.
Gracie Jessup sits eighth in the heptathlon with a score of 2715 points. Jessup finished fourth in the 100m hurdles with a time of 14.78.
OTHER MVC POINT SCORERS
4th – Taylor Kesner, hammer – 54.11m (177-06)
5th – Ailey Mitchell, 10000m – 37:10.89
5th – Morgan Wrublik, hammer – 50.97m (167-02)
7th – Mye'Joi Williams, hammer – 49.46m (162-03)
TEAM STANDINGS
Through three events scored, the Redbird women sit in first place while the men sit in seventh place. The women's side totaled 33 while the men totaled 8 points.
UP NEXT
Day Two of the 2023 MVC Outdoor Championships get underway at 10:30 Saturday morning as the men's decathlon starts the second day of events before the women's heptathlon begins at 11:30 a.m.
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