NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State track & field program will travel to Champaign, Ill., for the Fighting Illini Twilight hosted by Illinois on Saturday afternoon. Action is set to begin at 1 p.m.Â
The Redbirds will make the in-state road trip for the fourth consecutive year and return following an impressive showing in Champaign last year. Last April, Junior Charles Cruse (pole vault), Senior Devin Turner (long jump), and Senior Madison Saunders (triple jump) each entered the top-10 list for their events.
following a strong showing in California and Texas last weekend. On the west coast, the distance squad competed at the Bryan Clay Invitational hosted by Azusa Pacific. Across the three-day meet, Illinois State saw three student-athletes enter the top list for their respective events.
On Wednesday, Freshman Astrid Van Breedam ran the 10th fastest mark in program history with a time of 10:34.76 in the 3000m steeplechase. Van Breedam's time also qualified her for the U20 European Athletics Championships in Finland this August.
Just a day later, Junior Maggie Reed moved to eighth in program history for the 5000m with a time of 16:49.83. On the men's side, Junior Yusuf Baig also entered the top-10 list and to seventh all-time with a time of 14:02.20.
On Friday and the last day of the meet, in the women's heats of the 1500m, Sophomore Grace Erb (4:30.40), Van Breedam (4:32.95), Sophomore Colleen Zeibert (4:33.19), and Reed (4:33.37) ran new personal best marks. Sophomore Kane Shields also recorded a career best in the men's 1500m with a time of 3:48.49.Â
In Waco, Texas, at the Michael Johnson Invitational hosted by Baylor, Senior Windsor Roberts recorded a season-best mark after clearing the bar at 3.87m (12-8.25) in pole vault. On the men's side, Cruse tallied an eighth-place finish, clearing the bar at 5.07m (16-7.50).
