CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Indiana State men's and women's track & field claimed three individual MVC titles and 14 additional All-MVC honors as the Sycamore women finished third and the men fifth at the conclusion of the 2017 Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Championships on Sunday.
 
Indiana State ended up with 98 meet points in women's competition for third place in the team score, falling behind runner-up Illinois State (119) and champions Wichita State (181). This is the fourth top-three finish by the Sycamore women in the last five years under the direction of head coach Angela Martin.
 
The Sycamore men tallied 75 points, which trailed team champions Wichita State (146), runners-up Southern Illinois (108), Northern Iowa (101) and Illinois State (92).
 
"We fought hard to earn the points we did this weekend," Martin said. "We had many athletes step up and compete at the high level our conference is. It was good to see some of our seasoned athletes lead by example. We will have new challenges outdoors, but I am glad to move on to the next season and set out goals high as a program."
 
Indiana State had two separate events on Sunday where they earned 18 points by claiming the top-two spots. On the women's side, that was courtesy of two stellar performances and a good show of teamwork by senior All-American Alethia Marrero and freshman Imani Davis in the women's 800-meter final.
 
Marrero – the all-time MVC 800-meter record holder both indoors and outdoors – completed the first step in an impressive comeback after missing the entire 2016 season due to injury. Marrero took control of the race over the last 400 meters, winning at 2:09.17 for Indiana State's first indoor women's 800 title since 2013, when Leann Michl snared both the indoor and outdoor crowns.
 
Davis, meanwhile, followed Marrero's senior leadership and stuck with her over that last 400 stretch and took second place for her own over the last 200 to finish runner-up at 2:10.13 for her first-career All-MVC honor. That time by Davis was a career-best that already ranks fifth all-time in school history.
 
The duo were also integral parts of the Sycamore women's 4x400-meter relay that finished runner-up at 3:47.37 for All-MVC distinction alongside teammates Jamie Newsome and Oschtisha Jackson.
 
The other one-two Sycamore punch came courtesy of seniors Marcus Neely and Daley Carter in the 60-meter hurdles. The duo kept the Hurdle U streak going, as Neely won at a new career-best 7.82 seconds with Carter behind him at 7.94. Indiana State has now taken at least the top-two spots in the men's hurdles in each of the last five indoor championships, and have now won six straight titles – the first six-peat since Indiana State did so from 1996-2001.
 
For Neely, he now moves into 6th all-time in school history and ranks 21st on the current NCAA performance list. Neely finds himself closer to all-time greats on that list above him like Aubrey Herring (7.61), Greggmar Swift (7.64), Chris Lancaster (7.68), Adarius Washington (7.77) and Will Lash (7.77).
 
Sophomore thrower Cassaundra Roper kicked off the day with ISU's first title in the women's shot put indoors since 2014 (Mary Theisen). Roper took the lead on her first throw of 14.70m (48-02.75) and never let go. She improved on her final throw at a season-best 14.97m (49-01.50) to seal the win – Roper's first-career MVC title, just one year after finishing runner-up as a freshman.
 
Fellow sophomore Brooke Moore scored in what turned out to be two very tough distance finals on Sunday in the mile and the 3K. In the opening race of the day in the mile, Moore – who entered as the Valley leader at an ISU school-record time of 4:43.04 – ran an exhilarating race with Wichita State sophomore Rebekah Topham. The duo were neck-and-neck over the last two laps, but Topham's strategy to take it out fast a lap early paid off as her 400 kick was able to best Moore for the title at 4:49.71.
 
However, Moore fought till the very end, finishing runner-up at 4:50.68 after an incredible race for her first-career track All-MVC honors.
 
Moore was also a factor in the women's 3K, where she finished sixth at 10:02.03. Teammate and junior Taylor Austin finished eighth at 10:05.85 less than one day after finishing third for All-MVC in the 5K on Saturday night.
 
In a similar vein to Marrero, senior All-American David Timlin had an incredible comeback himself on Saturday. After missing most of the indoor season due to some minor injuries, Timlin qualified for finals in both the mile and 800 and proved why he's one of the most dangerous kickers around in both events with two photo finishes that left him a cumulative .29 seconds away from two MVC titles.
 
In the men's mile, Timlin stuck around with the lead pack until the last 200, where he showed off his famous skills. It turned out to be a photo finish, with Timlin earning All-MVC in third place at 4:12.99 behind Bradley's Haran Dunderdale (4:12.76) and Wichita State's Ugis Jocis (4:12.97).
 
It was eerily similar in the men's 800 final, with Timlin surging forward very late to force another extremely tight photo finish. Timlin again finished with All-MVC honors in third place at 1:54.40, just behind Loyola's Kevin White (1:54.44) and Wichita State's Zack Penrod (1:54.48).
 
The Sycamore women also had two All-MVC finishes in the field on Sunday. Junior Jamie Newsome was the runner-up in a very good women's triple jump competition, topping out at a massive season-best leap of 12.40m (40-08.25).
 
Senior transfer Kaitlyn Moricz earned All-MVC in her first career Valley meet, finishing third in the pole vault at 3.84m (12-07.25). Moricz led a Sycamore delegation that scored nine total points in the vault with Breanna Herring in seventh place at 3.64m (11-11.25) and Emily Brady in eighth at 3.49m (11-05.25).
 
This weekend marked the first in 100 MVC Championships across the cross country and indoor/outdoor track seasons without legendary head coach John McNichols, who passed away back in December after 34 years at the helm of the program. The Missouri Valley paid tribute to Coach McNichols with both a moment of silence before the National Anthem and a video tribute on the ESPN3 broadcast, while both Wichita State and host Northern Iowa showed displays of support for Indiana State.
 
Following competition, Wichita State coaches and athletes handed out blue wristbands to Indiana State coaches and athletes with the message "Forever in our hearts – Coach McNichols" inscribed upon them. UNI, meanwhile, wore blue ribbons on their competition jerseys – much like Illinois State did during the Terre Haute Double Dual Meet at Rose-Hulman back in January.
 
"The show of support around the conference this indoor season has been really touching," Martin said. "It's been a very hard season, and we miss Coach so much. But, we're going to keep at it this outdoor season and try to continue what he started here the best we can."
 
The Sycamores now look toward the outdoor season, which starts at the end of March with a trip to Ole Miss to dedicate their new facility at the Joe Walker Invitational on March 24-25.
 
Final Men's Team Scores:
1. Wichita State – 146
2. Southern Illinois – 108
3. Northern Iowa – 101
4. Illinois State – 92
5. Indiana State – 75
6. Bradley – 59
7. Drake – 43
8. Loyola – 38
 
Final Women's Team Scores:
1. Wichita State – 181
2. Illinois State – 119
3. Indiana State – 98
4. Southern Illinois – 89
5. Northern Iowa – 67.5
6. Missouri State – 46
7. Drake – 33.5
8. Loyola – 15
9. Bradley – 14
 
Specialty Awards:
 
Most Valuable Athlete (most points scored):
Women: Nikki Larch-Miller, Wichita State
Men: Kyle Landon, Southern Illinois; Hunter Veith, Wichita State
 
Most Outstanding Track Athlete (highest-ranking individual performance on NCAA list):
Women: Nikki Larch-Miller, Wichita State
Men: Brandon Carnes, UNI
 
Most Outstanding Field Athlete (highest-ranking individual performance on NCAA list):
Women: Breanne Borman, Wichita State
Men: Kyle Landon, Southern Illinois
 
Freshman of the Year (most points scored):
Women: D'Jenne Egharevba, Illinois State
Men: Derrius Rodgers, Illinois State
 
Elite 18:
Women: Claudia Rojo, Wichita State
Men: Isaac Holtz, UNI
 
Coach of the Year:
Women: Steve Rainbolt, Wichita State
Men: Steve Rainbolt, Wichita State
 
Day Two Champions:
Alethia Marrero – 800-Meters
Marcus Neely – 60-Meter Hurdles
Cassaundra Roper – Shot Put
 
Day Two All-MVC:
Alethia Marrero – 800-Meters, 1st Place
Marcus Neely – 60-Meter Hurdles, 1st Place
Cassaundra Roper – Shot Put, 1st Place
Daley Carter – 60-Meter Hurdles, 2nd Place
Imani Davis – 800-Meters, 2nd Place
Brooke Moore – Mile, 2nd Place
Jamie Newsome – Triple Jump, 2nd Place
Jamie Newsome, Imani Davis, Oschtisha Jackson, Alethia Marrero – 4x400-Meter Relay, 2nd Place
Kaitlyn Moricz – Pole Vault, 3rd Place
David Timlin – Mile, 3rd Place
David Timlin – 800-Meters, 3rd Place
 
Other Day Two Scorers:
Jaime Murtagh – High Jump, 4th Place
Devyn Mikell – Triple Jump, 5th Place
Tristan Parmley – 60-Meter Dash, 5th Place
Shana Cooper – 200-Meter Dash, 6th Place
Jaynard Keys – 200-Meter Dash, 6th Place
Brooke Moore – 3,000-Meters, 6th Place
Ayanna Morgan – 60-Meter Hurdles, 6th Place
Tristan Parmley, Jaynard Keys, Daley Carter, Tyrell Dowdell – 4x400-Meter Relay, 6th Place
Tyrell Dowdell – 400-Meter Dash, 7th Place
Breanna Herring – Pole Vault, 7th Place
Oschtisha Jackson – 400-Meter Dash, 7th Place
Vince Laconi – Shot Put, 7th Place
Micaela McLean – 60-Meter Hurdles, 7th Place
Taylor Austin – 3,000-Meters, 8th Place
Emily Brady – Pole Vault, 8th Place
Shana Cooper – 60-Meter Dash, 8th Place      
Patrycja Dziekonska – 60-Meter Hurdles, 8th Place
 
Day One Men's Team Scores (Through Five Events):
1. Southern Illinois – 40
2. Wichita State – 37
3. Illinois State – 25
3. Bradley – 25
3. Northern Iowa – 25
6. Indiana State – 22
7. Drake – 12
8. Loyola – 9
 
Day One Women's Team Scores (Through Five Events):
1. Wichita State – 60
2. Northern Iowa – 29
3. Illinois State – 27
4. Indiana State – 21
4. Southern Illinois – 21
6. Missouri State – 13
7. Bradley – 12
8. Loyola – 7
9. Drake – 5
 
Day One All-MVC:
Taylor Austin – 5,000-Meters, 3rd Place
Taylor Rogers, Ahmanah Woods, Aleksey Green, Abigail Grider – Distance Medley Relay, 3rd Place
 
Other Day One Scorers:
Ryan Chestnut – Weight Throw, 4th Place
Caitlyn Redmon – Long Jump, 4th Place
Blake Kramer, CJ Anyaebunam, Isaac Bentz, Quentin Pierce – Distance Medley Relay, 4th Place
Devyn Mikell – Long Jump, 5th Place
Cassaundra Roper – Weight Throw, 5th Place
Hunter Schuman – Weight Throw, 6th Place
Riley Smith – Pole Vault, 6th Place
Trey Kennedy – Pole Vault, 7th Place
 
For the latest information on the Sycamore Track and Field team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook and Twitter.