KEVIN JENISON
GoSycamores.com
CHARLESTON, ILL. ? The Indiana State men's and women's track & field teams battled the elements and the Eastern Illinois University Panthers in a hastily put together and shortened unscored dual meet in Charleston on Saturday, winning 11 of the 22 events. Both schools were scheduled to compete at the SIUE Cougar Invitational this weekend but that meet was cancelled by the weather conditions moving through the Edwardsville, Ill., area.
“This was a good start under bad conditions,” John McNichols, Indiana State men's track & field coach, said. “I think that it was very important that our athletes who were competing for the first time in their outdoor events were able to get one in. This is just the first step in a long outdoor season. We are looking forward to next week and we should have better weather.”
“We had a pretty good day competitively, especially in the field events,” Angie Martin, Indiana State women's track & field coach, said. “Our runners ran really hard despite the cold and windy conditions. The entire team had a great attitude and competed well.
The Sycamore women won each of the contested field events during the competition.
Senior Kelsey Hanley and sophomore Felisha Johnson finished 1-2 in the women's discus throw with Hanley going 149'-10” (45.68 meters) to win the event and Johnson second at 148'-9” (45.34 meters). The two switched positions in the women's hammer throw as Johnson had a personal best throw of 162'-9” (49.60 meters) to win the event and Hanley finished second at 191'-3” (58.30 meters).
Junior Tara Perigo, the school record holder in the women's javelin, opened the 2011 outdoor season with a victory at Eastern with a distance of 114'-11” (35.02 meters). Junior Nicole Hope and Richelle Kimble each cleared a personal best 12'-8” (3.86 meters) in the pole vault with Hope awarded first with fewer misses than Kimble. That height ties the Sycamore duo for third place on the all-time outdoor pole vault list.
Freshman Rachael Johnson also picked up a win for Indiana State, clearing 5'-3.75” (1.62 meters) to win the women's high jump. Johnson was also third in the javelin throw with a distance of 101'-0” (309.78 meters). Sophomore Kasey Kahle took third place in the hammer throw with a personal best distance of 143'-0” (43.58 meters) and senior Alicia Fritschi was third in the pole vault by clearing 11'-8” (3.56 meters).
The Sycamore men won two of the contested field events led by junior Major Clay continuing his streak of clearing seven-feet in high jump competitions as he won the event by clearing 7'-0.25” (2.14 meters). Sophomore Robert Webb was second by clearing 6'-6” (1.98 meters).
Freshman Jordan Colanese was the other winner in the field events for the ISU men as he won the javelin with a throw of 162'-9” (49.60 meters). Sophomore Dexter Childress was third at 142'-8” (43.50 meters).
Junior Jeremy Pratt and freshman Tucker Field finished second and third in the men's pole vault with Pratt clearing 15'-7.25” (4.76 meters) to finish second and Field 15'-1.50” (4.61 meters) to place third. Sophomore Gregory McDaniel finished third in the men's hammer throw with a toss of 155'-2” (47.30 meters).
The Sycamore women had three 1-2-3 sweeps in the track events. Sophomore Stacia Weatherford led the first 1-2-3 sweep as she won the 400 meter hurdles in 1:03.24. Freshman Brittany Housel was second (1:04.27) and sophomore Tori Stone was third (1:07.67).
Freshman Jessica Zangmeister led a 1-2-3 sweep in the 3,000 meters with a winning time of 10:38.51. Freshman Valerie Burns was second (10:59.65) and junior Bethany Scruton was third (11:06.80). Sophomore Leeann Michl led the sweep in the 800 meters as she won in 2:22.80. Junior Kaci Smith was second (2:23.31) and freshman Shelby Higginbottom was third (2:23.75).
Junior Kristy Twitchell was second in the steeplechase, shorted to 2,000 meters and without the water barrier, with a time of 7:33.06 with sophomore Hanna Mercer third in 7:45.75.
Indiana State also finished 1-2 in the 4x400 meter relay. Higginbottom, senior Rachel Posey, Smith, and Housel ran to victory with a time of 4:04.30 while the relay team of Michl, Stone, Weatherford, and freshman Jordan Lump was right behind in second at 4:07.04.
Sophomore Corey Hahn was a winner for the Sycamore men as he took the 800 meters in 1:59.90. Freshman Keenan Johnson was second in 2:00.57. Senior Michael Disher won the steeplechase, shortened to 2,000 meters and without a water barrier, with a time of 5:57.55 with sophomore Dustin Betz second in 6:08.13.
Sophomore Albaro Escalera was second in the 1500 meters with a time of 4:02.02.
The Sycamores were first and second in the 4x400 meter relay with the team of freshman Ray Skamay, junior Andrew Stull, freshman Max Tuttle, and Johnson winning the event in 3:22.78. Sophomore Brian Martin, freshman Johnathan Jackson, freshman Kevin Piraino, and Hahn were second in 3:29.43.
The Indiana State track & field teams will be back at Eastern Illinois next Thursday, Friday and Saturday for the EIU Big Blue Classic.
