KEVIN JENISON
GoSycamores.com
CHARLESTON, ILL. ? Indiana State senior Kylie Hutson continues to raise the bar on her competition, setting a new personal best with a vault of 14'-6” (4.42m) in winning the women's pole vault at the EIU Friday Night Special. The height keeps her No. 1 in the nation, a position she earned with a winning vault of 14'-5.25” (4.40m) at the Iowa State Classic a week ago.
While Hutson keeps going higher, ISU junior Kelsey Hanley keeps throwing farther. The Sycamore established a new personal best and came within three centimeters of the school weight throw record as she won the event with a throw of 67'-0” (20.42m). The school record is 67'-1.75” (20.45m) and was set by Carrie Meyers in 2000.
Those two performances were not the only bright spot for the Sycamores as Indiana State won eight events during the course of the meet with several personal bests established.
Indiana State senior Annie Smith tied her personal best with a height of 5'-8” (1.73m) in winning the women's high jump, junior Major Clay cleared 7'-2.5” (2.20m) to win the men's high jump, sophomore Tra Wilson ran 22.26 to take first in the men's 200 meters, and sophomore Kacie Klem had a time of 2:18.37 to win the women's 800 meters.
Violet Nwordu, who ran unattached, won the women's 200 meters with a time of 25.38 and placed third in the 60 meters with a time of 7.73. Nwordu is a graduate of Eastern Illinois and is currently a graduate student at Indiana State but will be a member of the Sycamore women's outdoor team later this spring.
The Sycamores had another fine outing in the field events.
Senior Lauren Martin competed in the women's long jump and finished second overall but the first collegian with a jump of 18'-0.75” (5.76m). Freshman Felisha Johnson backed up Hanley's first place finish in the women's weight throw with a personal best throw of 63'-4.25” (19.31m) to finish fourth. Johnson also finished seventh in the shot put with a throw of 46'-8.75” (14.24m).
Junior Chennelle Martin cleared 5'-04.25” (1.63m) to place fourth in the women's high jump with sophomore Nikki Snearley tying her personal best by clearing 5'-2.25” (1.58m) in placing sixth. Freshman Richelle Kimble established a personal best in the women's pole vault as she tied for fourth by clearing 11'-7.75” (3.55m). Junior Alicia Fritschi and junior Amanda Paden tied for sixth by clearing 11'-1.75” (3.50m).
Sophomore Brandon Pounds finished second in both the men's shot put and the men's weight throw with throws of 55'-3.75” (16.86m) in the shot put and 60'-1.25” (18.32m) in the weight throw. Senior Josh Williams was third in the weight throw at 59'-7.75” (18.18) with senior Julius Smith placing fifth with a throw of 58'-6.75” (17.85m), and senior Lyle Nolcox sixth at 58'-0.5” (17.69m).
Sophomore Drew LaMaster tied for fifth in the men's pole vault by clearing 15'-7.75” (4.77m) with sophomore Jeremy Pratt seventh after clearing 15'-1.75” (4.62m).
In women's track events, junior Jaquelle Spencer ran to a fifth place finish in the 60 meter dash (7.84), freshman Stacia Weatherford tied for second in the women's 200 meters (25.61), freshman Leeann Michl was sixth in the 200 meters (26.28), junior Rachel Posey placed fourth in the 400 meters (59.41), junior Kelsie Slater second in the 600 meters (1:36.21), freshman Patty Merrion seventh in the 600 meters (1:43.42), junior Allison Malone second in the mile (5:04.57), and freshman Tori Stone was ninth in the 60 meter hurdles (9.09).
The Indiana State 4x400 meter relay team of freshman Macey Black, Posey, Smith, and Stone was edged out at the line by Eastern Illinois University, finishing second by just six hundredths of a second with a time of 3:59.35.
In men's track events, junior Andrew Stull finished third in the 400 meters (50.71), junior Konstantinos Tzirtziris finished third in the 1,000 meters (2:34.2), freshman Albaro Escalera fourth in the 1,000 meters (2:36.38), junior Andrew Lepkowski finished fifth in the mile (4:19.68), senior Eric Schulz second in the 3,000 meters (8:37.98), and junior Tykeen Fulton was ninth in the 60 meter hurdles (8.52).
No team scores were kept at the EIU Friday Night Special which featured Indiana State, Illinois, Illinois State, Southern Illinois, and Eastern Illinois along with several other teams.
The Sycamores will be competing in the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Championships next weekend at the University of Northern Iowa.
