Felisha Johnson sets Edmonds Cup record

in winning Women's Weight Throw

KEVIN JENISON

GoSycamores.com

WEST LAFAYETTE, IND. ? The Indiana State women's track & field team captured four events including a record setting performance by sophomore Felisha Johnson while the men won five events at the 16th Annual Gene Edmonds Cup competition but it wasn't enough to bring the Cup to Terre Haute as the Boilermakers topped the Sycamores by the combined score of 188-136.

The Sycamore women were edged 62-100 in their dual meet while the men lost a close one, falling 74-88. It was the first loss of the season for both squads in scored meets.

“It is hard to change the atmosphere there,” John McNichols, Indiana State men's track & field coach said. “It is such a great home setting with large fan support and they (Purdue) compete well at home. We struggled early but got stronger as the meet progressed with some good performances and made it close.”

Johnson set a Gene Edmonds Cup record by winning the women's weight throw with a toss of 68'-00.25” (20.73 meters). Sophomore Richelle Kimble became just the sixth ISU women's pole vaulter to clear the 12-foot mark, winning the event by clearing 12'-5.5” (3.80 meters). She is now tied for third best on the all-time list with current junior Nicole Hope and ISU graduate Amanda Barlage.

Freshman Shelbi Higginbottom was also a winner for the ISU women, running a personal best and the 16th best in school history of 57.38 to take the 400 meters. Sophomore Leeann Michl also ran a personal best and the eighth best school history of 2:13.83 in winning the 800 meters.

On the men's side, sophomore Justin Baxtron ran a personal best 22.63 to win the 200 meters while sophomore Corey Hahn ran a personal best 1:54.87 to take the 800 meters. Junior Jeremiah Vaughan won the 3,000 meters with a time of 8:26.83 with senior Michael Roberts taking the 60 meters hurdles with a time of 8.10 seconds.

Freshman Marcel Hamilton won the triple jump with a personal best leap of 49'-8.5” (15.15 meters) which is also the seventh best in school history. Hamilton was also second in the long jump with a personal best leap of 23'-0” (7.01 meters) while freshman Shayne Cureton was third with a personal best leap of 22'-11” (6.98 meters). Junior Ernest Rollins was second in the triple jump with a personal best leap of 49'-0.75” (14.95 meters) which is the 11th best in school history.

“This team is making progress,” McNichols said. “Our philosophy has always been to run against the toughest competition possible to get ready for the conference championship. Going against the best helps to make the team better by inspiring our athletes to improve themselves. Every week with this young team I see something that I didn't think we had.”

Sycamore junior Major Clay tied his personal best in the high jump and the third best in school history by clearing 7'-3” (2.21 meters) but finished second in the competition to Purdue's Geoffery Davis, who also cleared 7'-3” but had fewer misses during the competition.

Freshman Shayne Cureton placed third in the high jump with a personal best (15th best in school history) jump of 6'-9.75” (2.08 meters) while also finishing third in the long jump with a jump of 22'-11” (4.75 meters). Junior Drew LaMaster finished third in the pole vault by clearing a personal best 16'-0.75” (4.90 meters) which is the 10th best in school history.

Freshman Chris Fields led the ISU effort in the throws with a pair of personal bests, throwing 49'-11” (15.21 meters) in the shot put and 51'6.25” (15.70 meters) in the weight throw.

Several of the track events were decided by tenths of a second. Senior Daryl Truitt was edged out at the finish and placed second in the 60 meters (6.91 seconds) to Purdue's Shane Crawford (6.80). Freshman Max Tuttle and freshman Keenan Johnson ran personal bests in the 400 meters, battling Purdue's Josh Lee right down to the finish with Lee taking the win (49.60), Tuttle second (49.824), and Johnson third (49.825).

Another close finish came in the mile as ISU sophomore Dustin Betz (4:14.12) was edged at the finish by Purdue's Scott Lasiter (4:14.04). Sycamore junior Craig Padgett was a close third (4:15.58) with sophomore Albaro Escalera right behind in fourth (4:18.60).

Freshman Kevin Piraino was third in the 200 meters (22.63), senior Konstantinos Tzirtziris third in the 600 meters (1:22.51), freshman Drew Gambill third in the 800 meters (1:55.41), and senior Michael Disher third in the 3,000 meters (8:30.53).

The Sycamore 4x400 meter relay team of Johnson, freshman Brad Adams, Tuttle, and sophomore Brian Martin was also involved in a close finish as the finished second in 3:20.68 just behind the Purdue team that finished in 3:20.40.

For the Indiana State women, freshman Rachael Johnson was third in the high jump by clearing 5'-3” (1.60 meters), Higginbottom third in the long jump with a personal best leap of 18'-7” (5.66 meters), Felisha Johnson second in the shot put with a personal best heave of 50'-9.75” (15.47 meters), and senior Kelsey Hanley third in the weight throw with a toss of 60'-6.75” (18.46 meters).

There were several close races on the track during the women's competition. In the 60 meter dash, sophomore Macey Black ran to a third place finish with a personal best time of 8.05 seconds, finishing behind Purdue's Leah Eber (7.73) and Cianna Tabb (7.93). Junior Kaci Smith (1:36.33) was edged by Purdue's Kari Shoolbraid (1:36.09) at the finish in the 600 meters.

The top four finishers in the 60 meter hurdles were separated by just over a tenth of a second. Junior Sarah Snapp ran a personal best 8.91 seconds and was edged at the finish by Purdue's Tabb (8.90). ISU sophomore Stacia Weatherford was third (8.94) with sophomore Tori Stone fourth (9.14).

Senior Allison Malone finished third in the mile (5:14.68).

The 4x400 meter relay team of Higginbottom, Weatherford, Smith, and Michl ran a season best 3:49.07, losing by just three-tenths of a second to the Purdue team who won in 3:48.71.

ROSE-HULMAN FRIDAY NIGHT INVITATIONAL

Several members of the Indiana State track & field teams were able to garner some valuable experience as they competed as unattached at the Rose-Hulman Friday Night Invitational.

On the women's side, Chennelle Martin was second in the high jump by clearing 5'-4.25” (1.63 meters) with Hannah McKnight winning the pole vault at 9'-6.25” (2.90 meters), Kyra Burton fourth in the pole vault at 9'-0.25” (2.75 meters), and Toni Tillett second in the 400 meters (1:04.20).

On the men's side, Austin Schulthies finished third in the long jump at 20'-2.25” (6.15 meters), fourth in the high jump at 6'-0.75” (1.85 meters), and 12th in the 55 meter dash (7.07). Evan Myers was fourth in the long jump at 19'-4.75” (5.91 meters), Stephen Devroe sixth in long jump at 17'-10.75” (5.76 meters), Dylan Molenaar fifth in the 55 meter hurdles (8.44), Paul Person third in the 400 meters (52.32), and Devin Price fourth (23.56) and Justin Mulherin sixth (23.75) in the 200 meters.

Price was also third in the 55 meters (6.70) with Mulherin fifth (6.81) while in the mile William Neal was third (4:32.56), Tristan Selby fourth (4:34.73), Bryan Horsman fifth (4:35.31), Cody Siblisk seventh (4:36.61), and Conor Strain eighth (4:36.79).

In addition, Indiana State graduate Lauren Martin made her first post-graduate appearance as she won the triple jump with a leap of 40'-1.25” (12.22 meters).