NORMAL, Ill.. – The Illinois State Track & Field program has announced the release of its schedule for the upcoming indoor and outdoor season. The schedule features 16 regular season meets, including hosting five home meets across the campaign.
The Redbirds begin the season by hosting the two-day John Coughlan Invite event on Dec. 6 and 7 at Horton Field House.
Following the holiday break, Illinois State returns to action with its annual Coughlan-Malloy Cup, a dual against Indiana State on Jan. 17. The Redbirds will look to bounce back against the Sycamores following a defeat in last years event after Illinois State hoisted the cup the previous four years
The Redbirds will travel to Iowa City, Iowa for the Larry Wieczorek Invite for the third consecutive year on Jan. 24-25. Illinois State will travel to Columbia, Mo. the following weekend to compete at the Dr. Rick McGuire Invitational hosted by the University of Missouri on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.
Following the trip to Missouri, the Redbirds return to the Bloomington-Normal area to compete at the Keck Select Invitational hosted by the Illinois-Wesleyan University on Feb. 7-8.
For the second year in a row, the Redbirds will travel to Nashville, Tenn. to compete at the Vanderbilt Invitational on Feb.14-15. Illinois State will wrap up the regular season by hosting the Redbird Tune-up the following weekend on Feb. 21.
To begin the month of March, Illinois State will look to challenge for a conference title at the MVC Championships in Chicago, Ill. on March 2-3. Following the conference championship meet, any student-athletes that meet qualifying standards for the NCAA Indoor Championships will compete in Virginia Beach, Va. on March 14-15.
The Redbirds will split to begin the outdoor campaign as part of the squad will stay in Normal to host the Redbird Challenge on March 28-29, while the other part will travel to St. Louis, Mo. to compete at the WashU Distance Festival on March 28.
At the beginning of April, Illinois State will make its third trip in as many years to Oxford, Miss. to compete at the Joe Walker Invite on April 4-5. The Redbirds will then return to Normal to host The Normal Invite the following weekend on April 11-12.
The Redbird squad will split off once again as some members will travel to Azusa, Calif. to compete at the Bryan Clay Invitational on April 16-18 while the other members will travel to Waco, Texas to compete at the Michael Johnson Invitational hosted by Baylor on April 18-19. To wrap up the month of April, the Redbirds will travel to Des Moines, Iowa to compete at the 115th Drake Relays on April 24-26.
Illinois State opens the month of May by hosting the Senior Spotlight on May 2. The Redbirds will then travel to Madison, Wisc. to compete at the Wisconsin Twilight on May 9 to close out the regular season.
To begin the postseason the Redbirds will look to bounce back at the MVC Outdoor Championships on May 16-18 in Carbondale, Ill.
Student-athletes who qualify for the NCAA West Preliminary Round will travel to College Station, Texas from May 28-31 to compete for a spot at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. The NCAA Outdoor Championships will be held on June 11-14 in Eugene, Oregon.
