NORMAL, Ill. – The NCAA has announced its selection of athletes for the 2025 NCAA West first round, which will begin on May 28 in College Station, Texas.
Illinois State will have 10Â athletes represent the Redbirds in the first round of the NCAA championships.Â
Sophomore Immaculate Daniel secured her spot in the first round after setting the Illinois State school record for the 100m dash at the Normal Invite in April. Daniel claimed the event win with a time of 11.33, which sits as the 31st fastest time in the West.
Senior Corrina Courser and Junior Erin Starks qualified for the West Regional in the women's 100m hurdles after setting their regional marks at the Fighting Illini Twilight in late April. Courser recorded a time of 13.36 to secure a runner-up finish as Starks finished one place behind with a mark of 13.41. Courser's mark was the 29th fastest time in the West region, and Starks tallied the 33rd fastest time.
Freshman Victor Byaundaombe recorded his regional qualifying mark in the triple jump at the Senior Spotlight earlier this May. Byaundaombe, the 2025 MVC Outdoor Champion in the men's triple jump, recorded a mark of 15.32m (50-3.25) to secure the event win in the final home meet of the season. Byaundaombe's qualifying mark sits 43rd in the West region.
Junior Charles Cruse qualified for the NCAA West first round after recording a clearance of 5.17m (16-11.5) in men's pole vault at the Normal Invite in April. For the second year in a row, Cruse will represent the Redbirds at the NCAA West first round.
Junior Enyinnaya Nwagwu Jr. qualified for the NCAA West first round men's 200m after running a time of 20.82 in a runner-up effort at the 2025 MVC Outdoor Track & Field Championship. Nwagwu Jr.'s time sits as the fifth-fastest time in Redbird history.
The men's 4x400m relay team of Zach Paul, Jake Welch, Evan Watson, Enyinnaya Nwagwu Jr. secured their spot in the NCAA West first round after running a time of 3:06.89 at the 2025 MVC Outdoor Track & Field Championship. Their time was enough to secure a runner-up finish and was the second-fastest time in Redbird history. Sophomore Jaiden Reed will serve as the relay team's alternate in Texas as well.
