KEVIN JENISON

GoSycamores.com

CHARLESTON, ILL. ? The 2010 outdoor season got off to a quick start for the Indiana State men's track & field team as they won all four dual meets at the Eastern Illinois Invitational on Saturday, winning nine events in the process.

Indiana State defeated the host Eastern Illinois Panthers 105-88, topped Loyola (Chicago) 137-21, ran past SIU Edwardsville 111-75, and won over Wisconsin-Milwaukee 120-62.

The Indiana State women won three of four meets, and five events, in their outdoor opener at the EIU Invitational Saturday. The Sycamores were edged by host Eastern Illinois 92.50-102.50 but dominated in stopping Loyola (Chicago) 127.50-36.50, SIU Edwardsville 113-60, and Wisconsin-Milwaukee 109.50-63.50.

“It wasn't a bad day,” John McNichols, Indiana State men's track & field coach, said. “We beat two conference championship teams so I guess you would have to say it was a decent day. There were some spots that I wasn't overjoyed with but on the other hand, there were some pretty good performances on such a cold and windy day. I think the team competed well in their adjustment to the outdoors.”

McNichols was pleased with the effort of the distance group overall as ISU went 1-2 in both the 5,000 meters and 3,000 meter steeplechase, and took first and third in the 1,500 meters.

Michael Disher won the 5,000 meters with a personal best time of 14:32.16 which moved him to seventh on the Sycamore all-time list. Right behind him was Eric Schulz who was second in 14:32.76 which was very close to his personal best. Dustin Betz took the win in the 3,000 meter steeplechase in 9:41.80 with Craig Padgett second in 9:52.30, and Andrew Sullivan third in 10:13.00. Jeremiah Vaughan ran to a win in the 1,500 meters with a time of 1:55.14 with Andrew Lepkowski second in a personal best time of 3:58.30.

“It was a very good performance by Disher and Schulz in the 5K,” McNichols said. “Vaughan ran his typical strategic race in the 1,500 meters, with Betz leading the ISU contingent in the steeplechase. They all did really well despite the weather conditions.”

Indiana State also picked up a win in the 110 meter hurdles as Michael Roberts picked up the victory with a time of 14.53. The 4x100 meter relay team of Steven Swinford, Tra Wilson, Michael Roberts, and Andrew Stull earned ISU another victory with a time of 41.70.

In the field events, Major Clay continued his winning ways in the high jump, topping the seven-foot mark for the first time outdoors this season and the eighth straight time this year in winning with a jump of 7'-1” (2.16 meters). Ernest Rollins won the triple jump with a distance of 45'-10” (13.97 meters), and Brandon Pounds took first in the shot put with a throw of 52'-9.50” (16.09 meters).

Drew LaMaster and Steven Swinford tied for first in the pole vault, both going 15'-7” (4.75 meters). It was a personal best for LaMaster. Swinford had a personal best throw of 152'-10” (46.59 meters) in finishing third in the javelin. On Friday, Lyle Nolcox took second in the hammer throw with a toss of 180'-10” (55.12 meters).

“Clay's performance is something that I think we are just going to have to expect from him,” McNichols said. “Roberts ran a near personal best in the 110 hurdles and the 4x1 really had a really good effort for this early in the season.”

It was a different story on the women's side despite Indiana State winning three of the four meets.

”It was a very disappointing day for us,” John Gartland, Indiana State women's track & field coach, said. “We were beaten by Eastern Illinois who were the Ohio Valley Conference indoor champions but we should still beat them. They handled the cold weather better than us and didn't have the excuses that we had. EIU just beat us up and down the track and we just did not perform very well. We have a meet next week at Missouri and we have to get a lot better or we will be embarrassed.”

Most of the bright spots for the Sycamore women came in the field events as Indiana State won four events, took second in two others, and third in a couple more.

“Felisha Johnson and Lauren Martin really kept us in the meet,” Gartland said. “Kylie Hutson also had a really nice start for the outdoor season and Annie Smith had a personal best jump in winning the high jump.”

Johnson won the discus throw and finished second in the hammer throw and shot put. Her winning throw of 143'-11” (43.87 meters) in the discus is the 12th best throw in Indiana State history. She had ISU's ninth best all-time throw in the hammer at 167'-11” (51.18 meters) in finishing second and the schools 10th best throw of all-time in the shot put at 45'-4.5” (13.83 meters) in placing second.

Martin won the triple jump with a jump of 40'-1.25” (4.25 meters) and finished second in the long jump with a leap of 19'-0” (5.79 meters). She also ran the second leg on the 4x400 meter relay team that won with a time of 3:50.28, and ran the third leg on the 4x100 meter relay team that finished second with a time of 48.61.

Hutson opened up her outdoor season with another winning effort as she cleared 13'-11.25” (4.25 meters). Richelle Kimble finished second by clearing 10'-11.75” (3.35 meters) which is the eighth best in school history.

Smith had a personal best jump of 5'-6.5” (1.69 meters) to win the high jump competition with Nikki Snearley tying for third by clearing 5'-0.5” (1.54 meters). Tara Perigo had a personal best throw of 41'7.75” (12.69 meters) in fishing third in the shot put and Erica Moore had a personal best throw of 114'-2” (34.31 meters) in placing fourth in the javelin throw.

Kaci Smith was second in the 400 meters with a personal best time of 57.64 while Leeann Michl was second in the 800 meters with a personal best time of 2:14.17. Tori Stone had a pair of personal best times in the hurdles events as she finished third in the 100 hurdles in 14.90 and fourth in the 400 hurdles in 1:05.29.

Kacie Klem was third in the 1500 meters (4:45.01), Jaquelle Spencer third in the 100 meters (12.30), Stacia Weatherford fourth in the 100 hurdles (14.96), and Violet Nwordu fourth in the 100 meters (12.35).

Indiana State will be back on the road next weekend as they compete in the Tom Botts Invitational next Friday and Saturday at the University of Missouri in Columbus, Mo.