Record setting performances for Indiana State athletes
on final day of MVC Outdoor Track & Field Championships
KEVIN JENISON
GoSycamores.com
NORMAL, ILL. ? Indiana State senior Erica Moore was named the Missouri Valley Conference Most Outstanding Women's Track Athlete after winning the 400 meter hurdles in a record setting performance and then anchoring the 4x400 meter relay team to another record setting victory. Indiana State's Lauren Martin also won titles in the triple jump and 4x400 meter relay. Also on the winning relay team were Leeann Michl and Stacia Weatherford.
The Indiana State men and women teams finished fourth in their respective divisions of the team race. Wichita State won the men's team title with 224 points while Southern Illinois was second (207), Northern Iowa third (123), Indiana State fourth (110), Illinois State fifth (97), and Drake sixth (49).
“With the team we had over here, we did about as good as we could have expected,” John McNichols, Indiana State men's track & field coach said. “Several individuals exceeded expectations today but it was really a day of runner ups for us with Michael Roberts, Ernest Rollins, Drew LaMaster, Andrew Stull and the 4x100 relay team each finishing second.”
“We lacked depth this year but that is something that we have recruited for,” McNichols said. “I am not disappointed with our finish because we are so young. This competition was a great building block for us.”
Southern Illinois was the women's team winner with 204 points with Wichita State second (159.5), Illinois State third (136), Indiana State fourth (118), Northern Iowa fifth (75), Missouri State sixth (53), Drake seventh (47.5), and Bradley eighth (24).
“The team competed really well today,” John Gartland, Indiana State women's track & field coach said. “We had a number of breakthroughs and scored a lot more points than I thought we would but we were still a fourth place team. I am somewhat disappointed for our seniors who performed so well today.
“Erica's 56.21 is an amazing fast time in the 400 hurdles,” Gartland said. “I really don't know what we are going to do in the NCAA preliminaries since she is ranked so high in a number of events. Lauren got another victory in the triple jump where she has been very consistent during her career. We have been waiting for Jasmyn (Hudgins) to have a break out meet and she certainly had it this weekend, making the finals in both the 100 and 200 meters.”
Erica Moore became the third three-time winner of the 400 meter hurdles in Valley history, running a school record 56.21 on Sunday. The time broke the MVC all-time record and the MVC Outdoor Championship record set by Melinda Sallins of Missouri State in 1996 and 1995, respectively. It is also the third best time in the nation this season.
Stacia Weatherford ran a personal best 1:00.03 to finish fourth in the 400 meter hurdles. Weatherford also finished sixth in the 100 meter hurdles (14.44) after running a personal best 14.20 in the preliminaries Saturday. Sarah Snapp was eighth in the 100 hurdles in 14.85.
Lauren Martin became the third three-time winner of the women's triple jump in Valley history, jumping 42'-4.25” (12.91 meters) on Sunday. Shalesa Smith finished 12th at 37'-1.75” (11.32 meters).
Kelsey Hanley earned her second All-Conference recognition on Sunday, throwing a personal best (the fourth best in school history) of 160'-5” (48.89 meters) to finish third in the women's discus throw. Felisha Johnson was ninth with a throw of 142'-9” (43.52 meters).
Jasmyn Hudgins ran a personal best 12.10 to earn All-Conference recognition with a third place finish in the 100 meter finals. Hudgins was also in the finals of the 200 meters, placing eighth with a time of 25.02 after running a personal best 24.69 in the preliminaries Saturday. Jaquelle Spencer was seventh in the 100 meters with a time of 12.29.
Allison Malone was the lone distance runner for the Sycamore women, finishing eighth in the 1,500 meters (4:33.11) and 21st in the 5,000 meters (18:19.99).
The Sycamore 4x400 meter relay team of Leeann Michl, Martin, Weatherford, and Moore established a new school record and a new MVC Outdoor Championship record with a winning time of 3:38.94. The 4x100 meter relay team of Spencer, Hudgins, Martin, and Violet Nwordu earned All-Conference recognition by finishing third in 46.04 which is a season best and the sixth best in school history.
Michael Roberts ran to a second place finish in the men's 110 meter hurdles with a time of 14.37 after running a personal best 14.22 in the preliminaries on Saturday. Tykeen Fulton was eighth in the 400 meter hurdles in 56.37 after running a personal best 55.25 in the preliminaries Saturday.
Drew LaMaster cleared a personal best height (the sixth best in school history) of 16'-7.25” (5.06 meters) in finishing fifth in the men's pole vault. Dexter Childress was 10th with a personal best vault of 15'-3.5” (4.66 meters).
Ernest Rollins earned All-Conference recognition with a personal best jump of 47'-9.75” (14.57 meters) in placing second in the triple jump. Brandon Pounds was fourth in the discus throw with a distance of 161'-6” (47.22 meters).
Andrew Stull earned All-Conference recognition by running a personal best (and the 11th best in school history) at 21.21 in placing second in the 200 meter finals. Jeremiah Vaughan also earned All-Conference recognition with a second place finish in the 1,500 meters with a time of 3:52.97.
Michael Disher paced the Sycamores in the men's 5,000 meters as he finished fourth in 14:233.27. Craig Padgett was eighth in 14:52.05 while Albaro Escalera was 10th in 15:03.63.
The Indiana State 4x100 meter relay team of Steven Swinford, Roberts, Justin Baxtron, and Stull ran a season best and the 13th best in school history of 41.19 in finishing second Sunday. The 4x400 meter relay team of Childress, David Ertel, Fulton, and Swinford was sixth in 3:21.88.
