KEVIN JENISON
GoSycamores.com
TERRE HAUTE, IND. ? The Indiana State track & field team will be battling on two fronts this weekend as one group travels to South Bend, Ind., to compete in the Meyo Invitational on Friday and Saturday with another group heading to Greencastle, Ind., to compete in the Tiger Invitational on Saturday. Both of these meets are unscored competitions with the focus on improving performance.
“This is the part of the season where we have finished up our early scored meets and now focus on competing well, getting seeds for the Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Championships, and narrowing down the conference travel squad,” Angie Martin, Indiana State women's track & field coach, said.
The Meyo Invitational, hosted by the University of Notre Dame, is one of the top events of the Indoor season and attracts a large number of athletes from throughout the country. However, this week's winter storm may reduce the number of individuals and teams able to make the trip. Competition begins at 5 p.m. (ET) on Friday and 10:00 a.m. (ET) on Saturday.
“We didn't have a very good meet at Wisconsin due to illness and injuries,” John McNichols, Indiana State men's track & field coach, said. “For the next two weeks we are in competitions where our individual goals turn solely to performance. Everyone on the team is still competing for a spot on the roster for the conference championships but it is important for them to take care of themselves, stay healthy, and train hard.”
Eight individuals will be competing at the Meyo Invitational for the ISU women, all in the track events. A larger team will compete for the men at the Meyo Invitational with 20 individuals scheduled to compete.
The biggest portion of the Sycamore track & field teams will compete at the Tiger Invitational Saturday on the campus of DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind. Action will begin at 11 a.m. (ET) on Saturday with the field events with the track events starting at 11:15 a.m. (ET). The Tiger Invitational has been the launching pad of success for a number of Sycamore athletes and the youthful Indiana State team will gain valuable experience as they prepare for the MVC Indoor Championships later this month.
INDIANA STATE USTFCCCA RANKINGS
The second week of the national and regional rankings were released by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) with the Indiana State women's team moving up one to 34th in the nation and the Sycamore men's team dropping five spots to 69th in the second regular indoor season rankings.
Florida the men's pre-season number one, regained the top spot in the second regular season rankings with Louisiana State dropping down to second. They are followed by Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oregon, Indiana, Virginia Tech, Stanford, Penn State, and Florida State. Southern Illinois is the top Missouri Valley Conference team in the rankings at 50th followed by Indiana State at 69th, Northern Iowa 88th, Wichita State 90th, and Illinois State 126th. Among Division I universities in Indiana, the sixth ranked Hoosiers are followed by Purdue in 57th, Indiana State 69th, Notre Dame 84th, and Butler 93rd.
Oregon remained on top of the women's rankings followed by Texas A&M, Louisiana State, Clemson, Tennessee, Arkansas, Brigham Young, Texas, West Virginia, and Southern Illinois. The Salukis are the top Missouri Valley Conference team in the rankings with Indiana State 34th, Illinois State 77th, Northern Iowa 94th, Wichita State 106th, and Drake 126th. Among Division I universities in Indiana, the Hoosiers are ranked 20th with Indiana State 34th, Purdue 64th, Notre Dame 97th, and Ball State 117th.
The Sycamore men are ranked 11th in the second week of the Great Lakes Region rankings. Indiana is the top ranked team in the region followed by Ohio State, Wisconsin, Akron, and Kent State. The second five is led by Michigan followed by Notre Dame, Eastern Michigan, Michigan State, and Purdue.
Indiana State remained 13th in the second week of the Great Lakes Region rankings. Indiana is the top ranked team in the region followed by Ohio State, Eastern Michigan, Michigan, and Cincinnati. The second five is led by Purdue followed by Wisconsin, Kent State, Michigan State, and Dayton.
FORMER SYCAMORES AMONG WORLD LEADERS IN TRACK & FIELD EVENTS
Indiana State graduates Kylie Hutson and Erica Moore opened their post-graduate competition and both are ranked among the best in the United States and in the world with their efforts.
Hutson competed at the Air Force All-Comers Meet (Jan. 14) at the U.S. Air Force Academy, winning the pole vault competition by clearing 14'-5.25” (4.40 meters) which is currently the best indoor vault in the United States and ties her for 13th best in the world. It was the second best indoor vault of her career and she matched that height at Reno, Nev., on Jan. 28. Hutson cleared 14'-9” (4.50 meters) to win the 2010 NCAA Indoor Championship.
Moore competed at the University of Kentucky Invitational (Jan. 15) in Lexington, Ky., winning the 400 meters with a time of 52.85. That is currently the fourth fastest time in the United States (fastest in the United States on an oversized track) and the seventh fastest in the world (fastest in the world on an oversized track). It is also her fastest time in the indoor 400 meters. Moore ran 54.47 at the Wisconsin Elite Meet a year ago which is the second fastest time in ISU history.
Moore ran the 800 meters at the Penn State National Invitational (Jan. 29), winning the Invitational 800 meters with a time of 2:03.51 which is the fifth fastest in the United States and the 25th fastest in the World. Moore, who competes for the Knoxville Elite, holds the Indiana State Indoor record in the 800 meters at 2:04.94.
