KEVIN JENISON
GoSycamores.com
TERRE HAUTE, IND. ? The 2010 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships is shaping up to be one of the most exciting competitions in recent years with three or four teams having a chance to take home the championship including the Indiana State Sycamores.
“This is one of those meets where we could finish first or finish fourth,” John McNichols, Indiana State men's track & field coach, said. “That is how close the top teams are.”
The MVC Indoor Track & Field Championships will be held Saturday and Sunday in the University of Northern Iowa Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Competition begins at 11 a.m. (ET) on both days.
Each of the top four men's teams has strengths in areas that could give them a shot at claiming the 2010 title.
“Southern has good distance runners and an individual in the vault,” McNichols said. “Wichita State has good sprinters, hurdlers, multi-event athletes, and vaulters, and Northern Iowa is strong in the 400 and 800 meters along with both relay events, the pole vault, and multi's.”
The Sycamore strengths come in the distance and throws along with several other outstanding individuals.
“We have good, strong individuals who have really good characters,” McNichols said. “In years past we have had numbers to go along with our top athletes but this year is different. We are down in numbers but still have a number of top athletes.”
This will be McNichols' 80th Missouri Valley Conference championship which includes 27 in cross country, 27 in indoor track & field and 26 in outdoor track & field.
“In every one of these championships there have been favorites and there have been teams that upset the trend during those championships,” McNichols said. “We have been one of those teams before and we could be this year.”
McNichols' men's cross country team upset pre-championship favorite Southern Illinois for the 2009 MVC men's cross country title last fall. Indiana State has won six cross country championships but has never won an indoor track & field title.
“We have been second so many times in this event that you just get tired of being the bride's maid,” McNichols said. “I think this team is ready to compete for the title this year. It is going to be a fun meet to watch.”
The Indiana State women's team has quality athletes, more depth than the men's team, but face a bigger challenge to bringing home their fifth MVC indoor championship.
“I think that with their throwers and hurdlers, Southern Illinois will probably win the women's title,” John Gartland, Indiana State women's track & field coach, said. “Wichita State has a shot to make a run at them with their distance people. Our problem is that our elite athletes have been getting better but the rest of the team has not. If we don't receive their best efforts and they don't perform up to their potential, we may struggle to hold onto third place.”
Senior Kylie Hutson will be going after history this weekend as she seeks to become the first four-time champion of the women's pole vault in MVC Indoor Championship history. Senior Erica Moore and senior Lauren Martin are also back to defend their titles in the 800 meters and triple jump, respectively, and junior Kelsey Hanley and freshman Felisha Johnson look to dominate in the throws.
“I am looking for Allison (Malone) to have a good meet even though she is still recovering from a pre-season injury,” Gartland said. “She has worked hard to overcome the injury and has run well in the last two meets.”
Malone, a junior, was the top cross country runner for the Sycamores this past fall.
Gartland also looks for sophomore Kacie Klem and freshman Stacia Weatherford to perform well this weekend.
“Kacie has done a good job in the mile and will anchor the distance medley this weekend,” Gartland said. “Stacia has really been working hard and getting better each week.”
Southern Illinois University was the overwhelming favorite to take both the men's and women's Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships but Indiana State University is positioned to make a serious challenge for both titles according to the MVC Pre-Championship poll of Valley coaches released on Tuesday.
The Southern Illinois men received all six first-place votes for a total of 36 points to top the pre-championship poll. The Sycamores, who were runner-up to Northern Iowa a year ago, were tabbed as the runner-up again this year with 25 points. Northern Iowa totaled 24 points for third with Wichita State fourth with 23 points. The poll rounds out with Illinois State fifth (13 points) and Drake sixth (six points).
Northern Iowa has won the last 10 MVC Men's Indoor Championships and the Sycamores have finished second in seven of the last 10 championships. Indiana State has yet to win an MVC Indoor men's title.
The Sycamores own six of the top marks in the Valley and three NCAA provisional qualifiers in junior Major Clay (high jump), sophomore Brandon Pounds (shot put), and senior Josh Williams (weight throw). All three are ranked nationally with Clay sixth in the high jump, Pounds 29th in the shot put and Williams 21st in the weight throw.
Senior Daryl Truitt has the MVC's top time in the 60 meters (6.86) while sophomore Jeremiah Vaughan has the top time in the mile (4:06.81) and the 3,000 meters (8:06.08), senior Michael Roberts the best time in the 60 meter hurdles (8.06), Clay is tops in the high jump (2.21 meters/7'-3”), and Pounds the best mark in the shot put (18.05 meters/59'-2.75”). In addition, ISU has the second and third best times in the 5,000 meters as junior Michael Disher is second (14:46.27) and senior Eric Schulz third (14:50.17), and Williams in second best in the weight throw (20.06 meters/65'-9.75”).
Five 2009 All-Conference performers will make the return trip to Cedar Falls, Iowa. Pounds won both the shot put and weight throw a year ago while junior Michael Roberts was second in the 60 meter hurdles, sophomore Colton Slack in the only member of the third place 4x400 meter relay team returning, Clay finished third in the high jump a year ago, and sophomore Ernest Rollins was third in the triple jump.
Indiana State has also received six of the 12 MVC weekly honors with three Track Athlete of the Week honors (Vaughan twice, sophomore Tra Wilson once), and three Field Athlete of the Week honors (one each for Clay, Pounds, and Williams).
The Southern Illinois women received seven of the eight first place votes in the women's pre-championship poll and were picked to defend their 2009 title with 62 points. Wichita State claimed the other first place vote and was picked second with 55 points. Indiana State is a close third with 51 points. The rest of the poll has Illinois State fourth (37 points), Missouri State fifth (35), Northern Iowa sixth (23), Drake seventh (16), and Bradley eighth (10).
Indiana State has won four MVC Indoor Championships with the last coming in 2001. Since then the Sycamores have been third four times and finished a disappointing fourth a year ago.
The Sycamores are led by senior Kylie Hutson who was the Co-Field Women's Most Outstanding Athlete in 2009. Hutson has won three straight MVC Indoor pole vault championships and currently leads the nation and the Valley with a vault of 4.42 meters (14'-6”). The senior is also the defending NCAA Indoor and Outdoor pole vault champion.
Hutson is just one of four All-Conference performers returning to lead the Sycamores in their quest for a fifth Indoor Championship. Senior Erica Moore won the 800 meters in 2009 and was part of the winning 4x400 meter relay team that also included senior Lauren Martin and sophomore Kaci Smith. Martin was also the winner in the triple jump a year ago.
Hutson, Moore, Martin, junior Kelsey Hanley, and freshman Felisha Johnson are each provisional qualifiers for the NCAA Indoor Championships. Hutson leads the nation in the pole vault (4.42m/14'-6”) while Moore ranks ninth in the 800 meters (2:05.20), ninth in the pentathlon (3,928 points), and 17th in the 400 meters (53.77). Martin is eighth in the triple jump (13.21 meters/43'-4.25”) with Hanley 10th in the weight throw (20.13 meters/66'-0.5”), and Johnson 23rd in the weight throw (19.18 meters/62'-11.25”).
Moore leads the Valley in the 400 meters and 800 meters while Hutson tops the Valley in the pole vault, and Martin the triple jump.
Indiana State has received six of the 12 MVC weekly honors with Moore named the Track Athlete of the Week three times and Hutson the Field Athlete of the Week three times.
