IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Seth Nelson broke the school record in the men's pole vault as the Illinois State track & field team snagged three more event wins on the final day of the Larry Wieczorek Invitational on Saturday. The Redbirds won the most events of any Missouri Valley Conference squad competing, as Northern Iowa and Bradley each claimed five event victories.
Nelson set a personal-record mark of 5.30m to win the pole vault and ascend from ninth to first in ISU history. This mark is the 27th best in the NCAA this season.
"Seth was clutch after sitting for three hours and hitting the mark after the building had already cleared out," said head coach Jeff Bovee. "What a remarkable way to celebrate his 21st birthday!"
Sophomore Astor Snaider took gold in the men's triple jump with a mark of 14.84m. Sophomore Becca Heitzig earned her second event win of the weekend with a time of 2:08.80 in the women's 800m, moving her into sixth all-time in the ISU record books.
Sophomore Victor Byaundaombe joined Snaider on the podium in second place with a triple jump of 14.82m. On the women's side of the event, juniors Ava Lawless and Megan Clark and sophomore Laney Nelson finished fourth, fifth and eighth, respectively. Transfer Joycelyn Crum placed fourth in the women's pole vault with a season-best mark of 3.75m, tied for ninth in school history.
Several Redbirds had solid finishes on the track, as well. Senior Macee Rivers set a personal-record time of 8.39 in the 60m hurdles to place second and soar from eighth to fourth all-time in program history. Erin Starks wasn't far behind, earning fifth with a time of 8.45.
Junior Immaculate Daniel and senior Lindsey Miller claimed third and fourth in the women's 60m dash, while sophomore Zach Paul placed fourth on the men's side after improving upon his second-place time in ISU history (6.67 to 6.66).
Senior Enyinnaya Nwagwu Jr. earned bronze in the men's 400m, crossing the finish line in 48.53. Freshman Logan Scott ran a personal-record time of 1:52.29 to place fourth in the men's 800m.
Junior Cayde de Waal took fourth in the men's mile (4:09.25), while junior Kane Shields and sophomores Will Gelon and Luke Barham each registered personal-record times in the race. Senior Mattison Plummer and freshman Pauline Schedler continued their successful weekends with second and fourth-place finishes in the women's mile. Schedler's time of 4:46.89 put her fifth all-time in program history.
WEEKEND EVENT WINNERS
Women
800m - Becca Heitzig, 2:08.80
1000m - Becca Heitzig, 2:46.58 (PR + school record)
Men
1000m - Logan Scott, 2:27.99
3000m - Julian Baker, 8:08.59 (PR)
Triple Jump - Astor Snaider, 14.84m
Pole Vault - Seth Nelson, 5.30 (PR + school record)
UP NEXT
The Redbirds will be right back at it next weekend as they travel to Columbia, Mo., for the Dr. Rick McGuire Invitational on Jan. 30-31.
