KEVIN JENISON
GoSycamores.com
TERRE HAUTE, IND. ? The Indiana State men's and women's track & field teams dominated in the later stages of the Terre Haute Double Dual Saturday afternoon in the Rose-Hulman Student Recreation Center, sweeping the visiting Illinois State Redbirds to retain the Coughlan-Malloy Cup.
The Sycamore men posted an 89-62 victory over the Redbirds while the women were an 83-68 winner over Illinois State. The Coughlan-Malloy Cup is based on the combined score from both teams with the Indiana State retaining the Cup with a 172-130 victory.
“Our freshmen and sophomores are getting better each week,” Angie Martin, Indiana State women's track & field coach said. “Their determination is also making our team better because of the pressure they are putting on our veterans to keep up with them. The entire team has a great attitude and they are exciting to watch.”
Indiana State men's head coach John McNichols was equally pleased with the team's effort but still knows that the team will be better.
“When I scored this meet based on the seedings, it was really close with Illinois State a bit ahead,” McNichols said. “Our kids came out and exceeded expectations and that gave us the win. We will be even better when we get a few more athletes back from injuries.”
The Indiana State women won eight events while the men took 11 events.
Sophomore Stacia Weatherford was a double winner for the Sycamore women, leading a sweep of the top four places in the 60 meter hurdles with a personal best time of 8.93 seconds and then edging Illinois State's Alia McAfee by three-hundredths of a second to win the 200 meters with a personal best time of 25.56 seconds. Junior Sarah Snapp was second in the 60 hurdles (9.09) with sophomore Tori Stone third (9.30) and freshman Brittany Housel fourth (9.32).
Senior Jaquelle Spencer won the 60 meter dash (7.72) by just one-hundredth of a second over Illinois State's Tia Harvey (7.73). Sophomore Leeann Michl won the 800 meters with a personal best 2:15.21 while the 4x400 meter relay team of freshman Shelby Higginbottom, Weatherford, junior Kaci Smith, and Michl took first in 3:51.24.
Higginbottom was also third in the 400 meters (57.85), Smith third in the 800 meters (2:19.07), senior Allison Malone second in the 3,000 meters (10:10.39) and freshman Jessica Zangmeister fourth in the 3,000 meters (10:18.12) in her first collegiate meet.
Sophomore Felisha Johnson continued her outstanding performance in the weight throw, clearing the automatic qualifying mark for the second straight meet with a winning throw of 72'-1.25” (21.99 meters). She also finished second in the shot put with a heave of 48'-3.25” (14.71 meters).
Sophomore Shalesa Smith took first in the triple jump with a leap of 37'-2.5” (11.34 meters) with junior Nicole Hope taking first in the pole vault by clearing a personal best 12'-5.5” (3.80 meters) which is also ties her for third best in school history.
Freshman Kelly Steffen tied for second in the high jump by clearing a personal best height of 5'-5.25” (1.66 meters). Senior Alicia Fritschi was second in the pole vault by clearing 11'-11.75” (3.65 meters) with sophomore Richelle Kimble fourth after clearing 10'-11.75” (3.35 meters). Higginbottom had a personal best leap of 17'-9.75” (5.43 meters) to take second in the long jump with Spencer third at 17'-2.25” (5.24 meters). Steffen was fourth in the triple jump at 36'-4.75” (11.09 meters).
Junior Tara Perigo was third in the shot put at 43'-6” (13.26 meters) with sophomore Kasey Kahle fourth at 40-6.75” (12.36 meters). Senior Kelsey Hanley was third in the weight throw with a toss of 63'-4.75” (19.32 meters).
On the men's side, senior Daryl Truitt proved to be the fastest man on the track by winning the 60 meters in 6.90 seconds, a tenth of a second faster than Illinois State's Kayode Adegoke (7.03). Sycamore junior Shaun Smith was third (7.07) and sophomore Justin Baxtron fourth (705).
The top six runners in the 200 meters were under 23 seconds with Sycamore Sophomore Justin Baxtron winning in 22.54. Adegoke was second for the Redbirds (22.71) as he edged Sycamore sophomore Duane Brown at the finish (22.75).
The top four finishers in the 400 meters were all within a second of each other with freshman Max Tuttle winning in 50.15, freshman Keenan Johnson third (50.40) and sophomore Brian Martin fourth (51.03). Illinois State's Fabian Norgrove was second (50.29).
Freshman Brad Adams outkicked Illinois State's Mat Smoody to win the 800 meters in 1:56.45. Smoody was second in 1:57.16 just ahead of Sycamore sophomore Corey Hahn who was third in a personal best 1:57.52.
Junior Jeremiah Vaughan ran away from the field to take the mile in 4:11.55 with senior Michael disher third (4:16.25) and freshman Drew Gambill fourth (4:18.53). Sophomore Dustin Betz led a sweep of the top three places in the 3,000 meters by the Sycamores with a winning time of 8:24.80. Junior Craig Padgett was second (8:26.55) and sophomore Albaro Escalera was third (8:35.36).
Senior Michael Roberts won the 60 meter hurdles in 8.18 seconds, just a tenth of a second faster than Illinois State's Kendric Smith. Indiana State freshman Greggmar Swift, who had the fastest time entering the finals, suffered a pulled hamstring in the finals. Swift ran 8.04 in the prelims and was leading the field before pulling off.
“I am not sure how bad the injury is but it will certainly slow down his training,” McNichols said. “He is definitely going to be one of our best hurdlers in school history.”
Indiana State's 4x400 meter relay team of Johnson, freshman Ray Skamay, Martin, and Tuttle was second in 3:23.03.)
Sycamore junior Major Clay competed for the first time this indoor season and continued his streak of competitions going over seven-feet, winning Saturday by clearing 7'-0.5” (2.15 meters). Indiana State took the top four spots in the event as freshman Shayne Cureton was second at 6'-8” (2.03 meters), freshman Robert Webb third at 6'-6” (1.98 meters), and sophomore Jamal Hampton fourth at 6'-4” (1.93 meters).
Indiana State also had three of the top four spots in the pole vault with junior Drew LaMaster winning by clearing 15'-3” (4.65 meters), junior Steven Swinford second at 14'-9” (4.50 meters), and sophomore Tucker Field fourth at 14'-3.25” (4.35 meters).
Freshman Marcel Hamilton was a double winner for Indiana State, capturing the long jump with a leap of 22'-5.75” (6.85 meters) and the triple jump with a leap of 48'-10.75” (14.90 meters). Cureton was second in the long jump at 22'-4.5” (6.82 meters) with sophomore Maurice Lyke third at 22'-4.25” (6.81 meters). Freshman Kevin Piraino was fourth in the triple jump at 44'-8” (13.61 meters).
Freshman Chris Fields was the top finisher for ISU in the shot put with a fourth place throw of 49'-1.5” (14.97) while sophomore Gregory McDaniel was the top finisher in the weight throw with a sixth place toss of 49'-1.5” (14.97 meters).
Indiana State will be seeking their second Cup of the Indoor season next Saturday as they travel to West Lafayette, Ind., to take on the Purdue Boilermakers for the Gene Edmonds Cup. Competition begins at 11 a.m. (ET).
