KEVIN JENISON
GoSycamores.com
WEST LAFAYETTE, IND. ? The Indiana State men's and women's track and field team was able to compete at the Purdue Outdoor Open this weekend despite the forecasted rainy conditions, bringing home five even victories and several personal best performances.
"When you have your team split between two different meets and you bring the athletes that we did here, you never know what will happen," Geoff Wayton, Indiana State assistant track & field coach said. "The kids we had here today really worked hard and performed well. The rain held off and we were able to get the competition in with a lot of outstanding performances."
Tara Perigo was the lone winner on the women's side as she won the javelin competition with a throw of 117'-1” (35.70m) which is a personal best and the eighth best in school history. Autumn Sowders was right behind in second at 116'-11” (35.64m) also a personal best and the ninth best in school history.
Tra Wilson won the long jump for the Indiana State men with a distance of 22'-9” (6.93m) which was a personal best effort. Robert Webb was the other field event winner for the Sycamores, taking the high jump by clearing 6'-2.75” (1.90m). The other individual winner for ISU was Craig Padgett who won the 1,500 meter run with a dominating final lap and a personal best time of 3:57.71.
The final Sycamore victory came from the men's 4x400 meter relay team of Robert Webb, Daryl Truitt, David Ertel, and Tra Wilson who won in 3:42.42.
Alicia Fritschi cleared 12'-4.5” (3.77m) in the women's pole vault to finish fourth in the competition but established a new personal best and the third best height in Indiana State history. Annie Smith was fourth in the high jump at 5'-3.25” (1.61m), Sarah Baker ninth in the discus with a personal best throw of 131'-11” (40.21m), and Perigo was 10th in the shot put at 43'-4.25” (13.21m).
Shalesa Smith was fourth in the 100 meter (13.03) for the ISU women with Rachel Posey fourth in the 200 meters (26.27), Macey Black fifth in the 400 meters (59.86), Kristy Twitchell fourth in the 800 meters (2:25.44), Bethany Scruton fifth in the 1,500 meters (5:18.39), Sarah Snapp second in the 100 meter hurdles (14.64) and Tori Stone second in the 400 meter hurdles (1:04.85).
The 4x400 meter relay team of Posey, Stone, Black, and Twitchell was second in 4:00.94.
Jeremy Pratt cleared a personal best 16'-0.75: (4.90m) to finish third in the men's pole vault while John Lopp was fifth in the javelin with a personal best distance of 172'-9” (52.65m).
Josh Gambles placed fourth in the 100 meters (11.42) and ninth in the 200 meters (23.61), David Ertel was sixth in the 400 meters (51.40), Corey Hahn third in the 800 meters (1:56.51) Tyler Kent second in the 5,000 meters (15:24.64), Webb ninth in the 110 meter hurdles (16.08), and Tykeen Fulton fifth in the 400 meter hurdles (56.55).
Indiana State will be at home next Saturday when they host the Pacesetter Invitational on Saturday at Marks Field.
