KEVIN JENISON
GoSycamores.com
SOUTH BEND, IND. ? Indiana State sophomore Jeremiah Vaughan (Brookville, Ind.) has been assaulting the record books in several events this season and he finally made it to the top of the list in one event as he ran 4:04.04 in finishing 10th in the men's mile at the Alex Wilson Invitational today (Saturday).
“We had a lot of positive things happen today,” John McNichols, Indiana State men's track & field coach, said. “Vaughan's school record really highlighted the day but we also had outstanding performances in the 5,000 meters and in the weight throw.”
Vaughan surpassed Sean Bowman's record time of 4:06.33 which was set in 2007. The sophomore also came within four hundredths of a second in topping Jordan Fife's record in the 3,000 meters earlier this season when he ran 8:08.78 at the Wisconsin Elite Meet. Fife has the record of 8:08.74 which he set during the 2007 season.
Also making their move in the top 10 of the Sycamore all-time list was junior Michael Disher (Indianapolis, Ind.) and senior Eric Schulz (New Albany, Ind.) who moved up in the all-time 5,000 meter list. Disher finished 22nd overall with a time of 14:37.39 which is the third best all-time in ISU history while Schulz was 24th with a time of 14:41.58 which is the sixth best all-time.
Freshman Albaro Escalera (Stockwell, Ind.) was 27th in the 5,000 meters with a time of 15:03.07 while sophomore Craig Padgett (Mishawaka, Ind.) was 28th in 15:24.06.
Senior Josh Williams (South Bend, Ind.) made the most of his competition in the men's weight throw as he won the event with a personal best distance of 66'-7.25” (20.30 meters) which is the second best all-time at Indiana State. The distance also surpassed the provisional qualifying mark and ranks him 19th in the nation.
Sophomore Brandon Pounds (Indianapolis, Ind.), who has already provisionally qualified for the shot put, was also a winner in the event at the Alex Wilson Invitational with a distance of 48'-1” (17.70 meters).
“We will have to see if Josh receives an invitation to the NCAA Indoors Monday night,” McNichols said. “He is really close but we won't know for sure until Monday.”
Pounds currently ranks 30th in the shot put with the top 14 guaranteed a spot.
On the women's side, freshman Felisha Johnson (Indianapolis, Ind.) has already provisionally qualified for the women's weight throw but did not improve on her distance despite finishing fourth at the Alex Wilson with a distance of 63'-7.25” (19.08 meters). Johnson is also on the bubble as she currently ranks 17th in the nation.
“Everyone that came here did really well,” John Gartland, Indiana State women's track & field coach, said. “Nobody really improved their performances but gave it their best effort. We have two automatically qualified and three others who have provisionally qualified. We will know Monday night just how many will be going to the NCAA Indoors.”
Junior Jaquelle Spencer (St. Louis, Mo.) competed in the 60 meters and 200 meters at the Alex Wilson and finished second in both events. Spencer ran 7.73 in the 60 meters and 25.15 in the 200 meters which were not personal bests but very close to them.
Freshman Stacia Weatherford (Indianapolis, Ind.) also set a personal best in competition at the Alex Wilson, running 56.90 in the 400 meters which is the ninth best all-time.
Indiana State senior Kylie Hutson (Terre Haute, Ind.) and senior Lauren Martin (Schaumburg, Ill.) have automatically qualified for the 2010 NCAA Indoor Championships which will be held in Fayetteville, Ark., next weekend.
Erica Moore (Sullivan, Ind.) ranks 27th in the nation in the 400 meters, 10th in the 800 meters, and 20th in the pentathlon. Kelsey Hanley (Arcadia, Ind.) ranks fourth in the weight throw with Johnson currently tied for 18th in the weight throw.
On the men's side, Major Clay (Springfield, Ill.) ranks 11th in the high jump while Pounds ranks 32nd in the shot put and Williams is tied for 21st in the weight throw.
