KEVIN JENISON

GoSycamores.com

TERRE HAUTE, IND.  ? The Indiana State senior track & field team members led the way in an exciting finish to the 2010 home season Saturday at Marks Field as the Sycamores hosted the annual Pacesetter Invitational.

“We had some decent performances and some improvements here and there,” John McNichols, Indiana State men's head coach said. “However, we our concerns about the team have not been reduced and, in some regards, have increased the last couple of weeks. We have a lot of work to do before the conference meet.”

Indiana State women's track & field coach John Gartland was impressed with the leadership of his seniors in their final home appearance of their careers.

“This was a very emotional day,” Gartland said. “The seniors really led the way. Kylie (Hutson) had a tremendous effort in the rain and excelled even though the grip on the pole was wet most of the time. Erica (Moore) had a tremendous day as she nearly won the high jump, had her second best career time in the 100 meter hurdles, and then dominated the 800 meters. Lauren (Martin) did not compete but was there to cheer on her teammates. And Adriane (Wunderlich) had the best meet of her career.”

Kylie Hutson, the defending NCAA Outdoor champion in the pole vault, set a new Marks Field record in the event as she closed out her home meet career, clearing 14'-3.25” (4.25m) to break the record she set last year. The height currently moves her into a tie for second in the nation. Hutson beat out two of the top pole vaulters in the United States today, Mary Saxer, formerly of Notre Dame, and Vera Neuenswander, formerly of Indiana, to win the event who were competing unattached.

Sycamore teammate Richelle Kimble established a personal best in finishing fourth as she cleared 12'-5.5” (3.80m). Amanda Paden was sixth at 11'-1.75” (3.40m).

Indiana State's Chennelle Martin won the women's high jump with teammate Erica Moore second. Both cleared 5'-5” (1.65m) with Martin winning with fewer misses. Annie Smith was fourth at 5'-3” (1.60m) and Nikki Snearley sixth at 5'-1” (1.55m). Jaquelle Spencer and Shalesa Smith tied for second in the women's long jump as both went 17'-4.75” (5.30m) which is a personal best for Smith. Smith finished second in the triple jump with a personal best of 38-10.5” (11.85m).

Felisha Johnson set a new personal best and the fifth best in school history by throwing 48'-2.75” (14.70m) in winning the shot put. Tara Perigo was second at 42'-9.75” (13.05m) with Kasey Kahle fifth at 39'-5” (12.01m).

Kelsey Hanley won the women's hammer throw for Indiana State with a toss of 176'-6” (53.80m) and was second in the discus with a throw of 158'-2” (48.21m). Johnson was third in the hammer at 166'-9” (50.82m) and was third in the discus a throw of 149'-5” (45.55m). Kahle was fifth in the discus at 130'-8” (39.84) with Sarah Baker sixth at 125'-2” (38.15m).

Tara Perigo finished second in the javelin with a throw of 112'-4” (34.25m) with Autumn Sowders third at 108'-4” (33.01m), and Nikki Snearley sixth with a personal best 98'-3” (29.95).

Moore ran to a season best time of 14.13 to win the 100 meter hurdles with ISU's Sarah Snapp third in 14.66, Stacia Weatherford fourth in 14.66, and Tori Stone fifth in 14.77. Weatherford was second in the 400 meter hurdles in 1:02.32 with Rachel Posey fourth in 1:05.12.

Moore also won the 800 meters with a time of 2:09.21 with Adriane Wunderlich third in 2:14.30 and Allison Malone fourth in 2:14.31. Kaci Smith was third in the 400 meters with a time of 58.11. Bethany Scruton was eighth in the 5,000 meters (19:13.40).

Jaquelle Spencer led a 1-2-3 finish in the 100 meters for Indiana State with a winning time of 12.26. Jasmyn Hudgins was second at 12.49 with Macey Black in 12.71. The Sycamores had the top five times in the 200 meters led by Leeann Michl at 25.75. Hudgins was second in 25.79, Spencer third at 26.13, Black fourth in 26.17, and Stone fifth in 26.56

The Sycamores ran two teams in the 4x400 meter relay as Indiana State took the top two spots. Michl, Smith, Weatherford, and Posey won with a time of 3:53.10 while the team of Black, Wunderlich, Stone, and Kristy Twitchell was second in 4:03.65.

On the men's side, Major Clay won the high jump competition with a jump of 6'-10.75” (2.10m) with Robert Webb second at 6'-2.75” (1.90m). Indiana State finished second and third in the men's pole vault with Steven Swinford clearing 15'-3” (4.65m) to place second and Dexter Childress third at 14'-9” (4.50m). In the long jump, ISU's Tra Wilson finished fifth with a jump of 22'-3” (6.78m).

Brandon Pounds won the men's shot put with a toss of 55'-4.75” (16.88m), won the discus with a throw of 166'-2” (50.65m) and finished fourth in the hammer with a throw of 175'-10” (53.59m). Lyle Nolcox was third in the hammer at 175'-10” (53.59m). Joshua Williams, who competed unattached, won the event with a throw of 191'-2” (58.26m).

John Lopp was fourth in the javelin with a throw of 155'-8” (47.44m) with Dexter Childress sixth at 133'-4” (40.65m).

Justin Baxtron was fourth in the 100 meters in 10.89 with Andrew Stull third in the 200 meters at 21.85. Konstantinos Tzirtziris finished second in the 400 meters in 49.57 with David Ertel third in 51.17 and Corey Hahn sixth in 52.34. Jeremiah Vaughan finished fourth in the 800 meters in 1:56.44. Andrew Lepkowski won the 1500 meters with a personal best time of 3:51.17 with Dustin Betz fourth in 3:59.81, Kyle Smiley fifth in 4:00.18, Eric Schulz sixth in 4:02.62, and Andrew Sullivan seventh in 4:04.56.

Brandon Query won the 3,000 meter steeplechase with a personal best time of 9:39.76. Michael Roberts was third in the 110 meter hurdles in a personal best time of 14.42 with Patrick Mendenhall sixth in 15.35, and Tykeen Fulton finished fifth in the 400 meter hurdles with a time of 56.82. Indiana State took the top three places in the 5000 meters with Michael Disher winning in 14:42.14, Craig Padgett second in 14:52.15, and Scott Keeney third in a personal best 15:01.56.

Indiana State's 4x100 meter relay team of Daryl Truitt, Tra Wilson, Justin Baxtron, and Andrew Stull was second in 42.86. The Sycamore 4x400 meter relay team of Fulton, Swinford, Ertel, and Hahn finished fourth in 3:28.02 while the team of Lepkowski, Smiley, Vaughan, and Betz were fifth in 3:33.10.

The Sycamores will be back in competition next Friday when they participate in the Billy Hayes Invitational at Indiana University.