SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Sycamore All-American Marcus Neely and National Champion Felisha Johnson both fell just short of moving on to the next round in their respective events on a scorching day three of the USA Track and Field Championships.
 
Senior All-American Marcus Neely gave a valiant effort in the first round of 110-meter hurdles, but ultimately fell short of the semi-finals after finishing fifth in his heat and 17th overall at 13.99. The competition for the semi-finals was fierce, as just .04 separated Neely and 16th place.
 
"I'm incredibly happy to be able to end my career at the USAs surrounded by our nation's best athletes," Neely said. "I was the first man out, but I'm still proud to have represented Indiana State."
 
Today marks the end of an incredible career for Neely, but he leaves Indiana State as one of the best hurdlers on a prestigious list of Sycamores that have been part of Hurdle U. His personal-best time of 13.60 in the 110-meter hurdles, ran at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, is fifth in school-history only behind such greats as Olympian Greggmar Swift (13.35), NCAA champion Aubrey Herring (13.36), Adarius Washington (13.40) and NCAA champion Chris Lancaster (13.45).
 
Neely's senior season alone saw him accomplish great feats, including earning Second-Team All-American honors at the NCAA Outdoor Championships with a 10th-place finish, claiming victory at the MVC Indoor Championships in the 60-meter hurdles and also winning the MVC title for the 110-meter hurdles at the outdoor championships. Because of his victories at the MVC Championships, the Hurdle U streak was kept alive as the Sycamores have now won six straight titles in both events.
 
"Marcus has had an incredible season and today was just as emotional as the whole year," head coach Angela Martin said. "He is such a focused young man and I am proud of him and know his future is very bright."
 
"I'm beyond blessed for the opportunities our staff has given me and now I can be a proud Alum and fan of Indiana State," Neely said. "March On!"
 
Johnson, the two-time NCAA Champion for the Sycamores, finished fifth overall in the shot put with a mark of 18.64m (61-02.00) in a loaded field of competition where the three IAAF World Championship qualifiers finished with marks well above 19.00m. With two throws remaining, Johnson found herself in third, but was overtaken in the end. Her mark of 18.64m was just .08m shy of her season-best.
 
Though the result wasn't the desired outcome, today's performance by Johnson is yet another she can add to her already extraordinary career. This comes as no surprise, as she is no stranger to high-level competition, evidenced by how she made Team USA for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio. The road to Rio was a difficult one, with Johnson emerging out of the deepest women's shot put final in U.S. Olympic Trials history, where seven women were over 18 meters. She finished third at the trials at 19.23m (63-01.25) and went on to finish 14th overall in Rio.
 
As a Sycamore, Johnson was a two-time NCAA Champion in the weight throw indoors and a six-time First-Team All-American. Johnson claimed three MVC championships overall during her tenure, all coming in the 2013 season. She also competed in the 2012 Olympic Trials, but fell one spot shy of making the finals, finishing 13th.
 
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