CHICAGO — The Illinois State men's 4x400m relay squad smashed the school record by over a second to close out the Windy City Invitational at the Dr. Conrad Worrill Track and Field Center at Gately Park on Saturday.
Sophomores Zach Paul and Reece Curtis and seniors Jake Welch and Enyinnaya Nwagwu crossed the finish line in 3:09.18 to not only etch their names into ISU history, but also to win the race, break the facility record and notch the 29th best time in the NCAA.
"Nothing like being home and watching the Birds chase a school record. It wasn't planned, but I couldn't be prouder of the fellas," said Associate Head Coach DeShaun Jordan. "Big time job by Reece stepping in last minute and closing it out on anchor."
Mid-Distance/Distance
Sophomore Becca Heitzig and freshman Pauline Schedler continued their strong seasons in the 800m race. Heitzig won the event with a season-best time of 2:07.81 to surge from sixth to second in program history. That mark ranks 78th in the NCAA this season. Schedler took fifth with a time of 2:10.48, moving into 10th in the ISU record books.
Another Redbird who moved up in the Redbird record books was sophomore Julian Baker, running a personal-record time of 8:06.13 in the 3000m to jump from sixth to fifth in school history.
Freshman Logan Scott ran a personal-record time of 1:51.28 in the men's 800m to earn fifth. Junior Kane Shields placed third in the men's mile, crossing the finish line in a personal-best time of 4:08.30.
Sprints/Hurdles/Relays
Senior Erin Starks ran a season-best time of 8.36 in the women's 60m hurdles to earn fifth. Although junior Nya Browne didn't qualify for finals, she moved from sixth to fifth in program history with a personal-record time of 8.45 in the semis.
Senior Lindsey Miller earned sixth in the 200m dash after crossing the finish line in 24.39.
Paul took fourth in the 400m, improving his seventh-place time in ISU history from 21.62 to 21.42. Nwagwu followed in sixth.
The women's 4x400m relay, comprised of Starks, Miller, senior Star Mpama and junior Chavi Flowers, ran a season-best time of 3:46.19 to finish fourth.
Jumps
Freshman Voldy Makabu earned gold in the men's high jump with a personal-record mark of 2.12m, which also ranks 55th in the NCAA. Junior Kaden Stewart wasn't far behind with a season-best mark of 2.08m to finish fifth.
In the men's triple jump, sophomore Victor Byaundaombe took bronze with a season-best mark of 14.88m. On the women's side, junior Ava Lawless recorded a season-best jump of 11.71m to place 11th.
Throws
The Redbirds were also represented well in the men's shot put, as freshman Zach Cowper won the event with a throw of 17.44m, and freshman Jo Atkins followed in third with a mark of 16.10m.
Sophomores Brianna Brodie and Morgan Foes each posted solid performances in the weight throw, finishing third and fourth, respectively.
EVENT WINNERS
Women
800m - Heitzig, 2:07.81 (PR + second in school history)
Men
4x400m - Paul, Curtis,Welch and Nwagwu (School record + facility record)
High Jump - Makabu, 14.88m (PR)
Shot Put - Cowper, 17.44m
Up Next
ISU will split up next weekend, with the majority heading back to Chicago for the Blue Demon Alumni Classic, and Redbird 5k runners traveling to Allendale, Mich., for the GVSU Big Meet.
