TERRE HAUTE, Ind. ? The Indiana State University men's and women's track and field teams will be in Des Moines, Iowa, this weekend for the 2007 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships hosted by Drake University. The Sycamores go into the meet with high expectations but knowing that it will be difficult to bring home the championship. The MVC Championships will be held Thursday through Sunday at Drake.
“Wichita State may be uncatchable,” said John Gartland, ISU women's coach. “They are very strong, very balanced and won the indoor championship. There are three or four teams, including us, that will be fighting it out for second.”
The University of Northern Iowa is the favorite heading into the men's championship after claiming the indoor title.
“Northern Iowa is very strong in certain events and they get points in bunches,” said John McNichols, ISU men's coach and track and field coordinator. “We are a very balanced team but whether that balance can overcome Northern Iowa's strengths is yet to be seen.”
The Indiana State men been in the hunt for the championship the last 20 or so years and are the defending champions.
“Our training has been completed and now it is a matter of getting on the track and performing,” McNichols said. “We have very formidable opponent in Northern Iowa and it could come down to the last race of the championships on Sunday.”
Gartland sees the battle for second in the women's championship being between Indiana State, Northern Iowa, Southern Illinois and Missouri State.
“Northern Iowa is very balanced,” Gartland said. “Southern Illinois has strong throwers and Missouri State has improved since their performance in the indoor championships. We also have a balanced team and should be right up there when the meet ends on Sunday.”
The Indiana State women have had good performances this season and appear in most events in the Missouri Valley Conference best lists for the 2007 outdoor season. Jeanne Roberts is currently tied for second in the 100 meters and sixth in the 200 meters while Dani Prince is fourth in the 1500 meters and second in the 5000 meters with Laura Engle third in the 1500 meters and fourth in the 5000 meters.
Erica Moore has the best time in the conference in the 400 meter hurdles and will also compete in the 100 meter hurdles where she has the ninth best time. Moore also has the second best point total in the heptathlon and the fourth best time in the 800 meters. Myra Bess is fourth in the 100 meter hurdles and fourth in the 400 hurdles.
Leah Durr and Laura Engle are third and fourth, respectively, in the 3000 meter steeplechase. The 4x100 relay team has the third best time in the conference this season while the 4x400 relay team has the fourth best time.
Santia Spight shares the top spot in the high jump list and will seek to defend her championship from a year ago. Kylie Hutson has the best vault in the pole vault, Janae Bridges is third and Samantha McClendon tied for fourth inn the long jump, Lauren Martin fourth in the triple jump, Lisa Barrett third and Hutson sixth in the javelin. Bridges is the defending outdoor champion in the long jump.
For the men's team, Jeramie Gray has returned to action from spring football practice and in just two meets has the fourth best time in the 100 meters. Sean Wright leads the conference in the 400 meters and Kurt Heimann the 800 meters. Wright is the defending 400 meter champ.
The Sycamores could have an outstanding showing in the 1500 meters where they have three of the top 10 performances with Sean Bowman fourth, Randy Placencia fifth and Kyle Walsh seventh. Indiana State also has the top performance in the 5000 meters and 10,000 meters as Justin Kunz holds the top spot in both events. Scott Keeney is fifth in the 5000 meters with Jeremy Kunz and Erik Forehand seventh and eighth, respectively in the 10,000. Justin Kunz is the defending 10,000 meter champ.
Indiana State should also be strong in the hurdles as they hold four of the top 10 spots in both the 110 meter and 400 meter hurdles. Jordan Paladin leads the Sycamore effort as he is second in both events. Clayton Wilson (seventh), Carlton Hoyles (eighth) and Anthony Bertoli (10th) round out the top 10 times in the 110 meter hurdles while Bertoli is sixth, Brian Jackson seventh and James Twitchell eighth in the 400 hurdles. Jordan is the defending 400 meter hurdle champ.
The Sycamores also have four of the top 10 performances in the 3000 steeplechase led by Kyle Walsh (first) and Scott Keeney (second). Antonio McDaniel has the sixth best time and Eric Schulz the seventh best performance of the season.
Indiana State has the top time in the 4x100 relay and the second best time in the 4x400 relay.
The Sycamores are also strong in the field events. Curt Sunderland (third), Brandon Youngdale (seventh) and Corey Dowden (eighth) are in the top 10 list in the high jump, Jake Conn (fifth) and Anthony Bertoli (10th) in the pole vault, Corey Down and Rylen Peterson are tied for fourth in the long jump, and Paladin Jordan (second), Corey Dowden (third) and Rylen Peterson (10th) in the triple jump. Bertoli is also fifth in the decathlon standings.
Jason Carruthers has the top distance in the hammer throw and second best in the discus while Jeremy Gillingham is fourth in the shot put, fifth in the discus and seventh in the hammer. Lyle Nolcox is sixth in the hammer after qualifying for the regional last week at the Billy Hayes Invitational. Carruthers is the defending outdoor champ in the hammer throw.
After this weekend, the Sycamores who have qualified for the regionals will be traveling to the University of Missouri for the Mid East Regionals which will be held May 25-26.
