KEVIN JENISON
GoSycamores.com
TERRE HAUTE, IND. ? Indiana State's men's and women's track & field teams will be in action this weekend as they compete in the 2011 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Indiana State was picked to finish third in the men's championship and fourth in the women's championship according to a pre-championship poll of Valley coaches.
The Sycamore men finished fourth a year ago but have higher expectations this year with the influx of young talent.
“We have a number of young and talented athletes that look to make an impact in the conference championship,” John McNichols, Indiana State men's track & field coach said. “They have worked hard this season. Together with the veterans we will field a stronger team that a year ago.”
Both the Indiana State men and the Wichita State women will be attempting to earn the Valley's Triple Crown by winning outdoor titles after already winning championships in cross country and indoor track & field this academic year.
“To win the Triple Crown we really have to break the form chart,” McNichols said. “Right now that chart shows us fourth and maybe third. We still have some holes that we need to fill in order to contend for the championship. We will have to be ready to compete for every point in every event.”
The Sycamores will be led by junior Major Clay who is the two-time defending high jump champion and currently leads the Valley (ranked eighth nationally) after clearing an outdoor personal best of 7'-3.25” (2.22 meters) at the Pacesetter Invitational (Apr. 23). Clay has also won two straight indoor MVC titles.
Senior Michael Disher is the defending champion in the 3000 meter steeplechase and currently leads the Valley with a time of 8:59.21 established at the Indiana Outdoor Invitational (Apr. 16). Junior Jeremiah Vaughan ran the second fastest 1500 meters in school history at the Billy Hayes Invitational last Friday (3:46.03) and leads the Valley in the event heading into the championship. He was second in the 1500 meters in the last two MVC Outdoor Championships.
Also leading the Valley heading into the 2011 Championships is the Sycamore 4x100 team of senior Daryl Truitt, junior Shaun Smith, sophomore Justin Baxtron, and junior Andrew Stull who ran the second fastest time in school history (40.43) at the Billy Hayes Invitational last Friday.
Other All-Conference performers from a year ago returning to this year's competition include junior Andrew Stull (second in 200 meters), senior Michael Roberts (second 110 meter high hurdles), and junior Ernest Rollins (second triple jump). Disher, Roberts, and Truitt also earned All-Conference recognition in 2009 with Disher third in the steeplechase, Roberts second in 110 high hurdles, and Truitt second in 100 meters and a member of conference champion 4x100 meter relay team.
The Sycamore women's team also finished fourth a year ago but has also added quality athletes to replace those lost to graduation and have shown steady improvement in their performances throughout this season.
“We are as ready as we will ever be,” Angie Martin, Indiana State women's track & field coach, said. “If everyone can move up at least one spot from their seeding then we will do alright.”
Junior Nicole Hope is leading the Missouri Valley Conference in the pole vault after clearing 13'-1.5” (4.00 meters) twice this season. She accomplished the height most recently at the Billy Hayes Invitational last Friday.
Returning All-Conference performers from a year ago include senior Chennelle Martin who is the defending champion in the women's high jump, senior Alicia Fritschi (second pole vault), senior Kelsey Hanley (third discus and third hammer throw), and sophomores Leeann Michl and Stacia Weatherford who were part of the conference champion 4x400 meter relay team. Hanley was also All-Conference in 2009 when she was third in the discus.
The Championships begin on Friday with the first day of competition in the men's Decathlon (11 a.m. ET) and the women's Heptathlon (11:30 a.m. ET). Decathlon events will include the 100 meters, long jump, shot put, high jump, and 400 meters while the Heptathlon events include the 100 meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, and 200 meters.
Competition in the men's and women's hammer throw, men's and women's javelin throw, and women's pole vault will be held Friday afternoon while Friday evening's action features the 10,000 meters for both the men and women.
Saturday will see the final events of the Decathlon (110 meter hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin, and 1500 meters) and the Heptathlon (long jump, javelin, and 800 meters) starting at 11:30 a.m. (ET). Men's and women's shot put, men's and women's high jump, and the men's and women's long jump will be contested Saturday afternoon starting at 4 p.m. (ET). Track action opens at 6 p.m. (ET) with the preliminaries in the women's 100 meter hurdles and men's 110 meter hurdles. Preliminaries will also be held in the 100, 200, 400, 800 meters, and 400 meter hurdles. The day wraps up with the men's and women's 3000 meter steeplechase starting at 8 p.m. (ET).
Sunday's schedule begins at 12:00 p.m. (ET) with competition in the men's pole vault, men's and women's triple jump, and men's and women's discus throw. Track events start at 2 p.m. (ET) with the men's and women's 4x100 meter relay. They will be followed by the 1500 meters, 100 meter hurdles, 110 meter hurdles, 100, 200, 400, and 800 meter finals, and the 5000 meters. The competition wraps up with the men's and women's 4x400 meter relay starting at 5 p.m. (ET).
USTFCCA RANKINGS
The Indiana State men's track & field team dropped eight spots while the women's team dropped six as the sixth week rankings for the 2011 Outdoor season were released Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). The Sycamore men are ranked 91st in the national rankings after being 83rd a week ago. The women's team dropped to 100th nationally after being ranked 94th a week ago.
Texas A&M remained on top of the men's national rankings with Florida moving ahead of Louisiana State for second. They are followed in the top 10 by Florida State, Texas Tech, Texas, Southern California, Nebraska, Virginia Tech, and Arizona.
Southern Illinois is the top ranked Missouri Valley Conference team at 59th followed by Illinois State 76th, Indiana State 91st, Wichita State 95th, Drake 122nd, and Northern Iowa 154th.
In the Hoosier state, Butler held on to the top spot as the Bulldogs are ranked 67th followed by Notre Dame 72nd, Indiana 83rd, Purdue 84th, and Indiana State 91st.
The top two teams remained the same in the women's national rankings with Louisiana State maintaining its hold on the top spot and Texas A&M second. They are followed in the top 10 by Clemson, Southern California, Oregon, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Arizona, Baylor, and Texas.
Southern Illinois is the top ranked Missouri Valley Conference team at 20th followed by Wichita State in 46th, Illinois State 97th, Indiana State 100th, Northern Iowa 118th, and Missouri State 183rd.
In the Hoosier state, Indiana is the top ranked team at 34th followed by Purdue 87th, Indiana State 100th, Notre Dame 115th, Ball State 173rd, and Butler 191st.
SYCAMORE ATHLETES IN THE RANKINGS
Several Sycamores posted performances that rank among the top 100 in the nation after the second week of the outdoor season.
Women's Team ?
Sophomore Felisha Johnson ranks 14th nationally (sixth East/first Great Lakes Region/third in the MVC) in the hammer throw with a distance of 200'-7” (61.14 meters) at the Tom Botts Invitational (Apr. 9). She also ranks 36th nationally (18th East/fourth Great Lakes Region/third MVC) in the shot put with a distance of 51-07.75” (15.74 meters) at the Billy Hayes Invitational (May 6).
Senior Kelsey Hanley ranks 26th nationally (12th East/fifth Great Lakes Region/second MVC) in the discus throw with a distance of 172'-8” (52.63 meters) at the EIU Big Blue Classic (Apr. 2). She also ranks 34th nationally (14th East/fifth Great Lakes Region/seventh MVC) in the hammer throw with a distance of 193'-1” (58.66 meters) at the Tom Botts Invitational (Apr. 9).
Junior Nichole Hope ranks 47th nationally (19th East/eighth Great Lakes Region/first MVC) in the pole vault after clearing 13'-1.5” (4.00 meters) at the Billy Hayes Invitational (May 6), the second time this season she has cleared that height.
Sophomore Richelle Kimble ranks 96th nationally (38th East/17th Great Lakes Region/third MVC) in the pole vault after clearing 12'-8” (3.86 meters) at the Ice Dual (Mar. 26).
Men's Team ?
Junior Major Clay ranks eighth nationally (sixth East/second Great Lakes Region/first MVC) in the high jump after clearing 7'-3.25” (2.22 meters) in winning the Pacesetter Invitational (Apr. 23).
Senior Michael Disher ranks 62nd nationally (34th East/ninth Great Lakes Region/first MVC) in the 3,000 meter steeplechase as he finished the event in 8:59.21 set at the Indiana Invitational (Apr.17).
Junior Ernest Rollins ranks 65th nationally (36th East/fifth Great Lakes Region/second MVC) in the triple jump as he sprang to a personal best distance of 49'-9” (15.16 meters) at the Indiana Invitational (Apr. 17).
Junior Jeremiah Vaughan ranks 72nd nationally (27th East/10th Great Lakes/first MVC) in the 1500 meters with a personal best time of 3:46.03 at the Billy Hayes Invitational (May 6).
The 4x100 meter relay team of Daryl Truitt, Shaun Smith, Justin Baxtron, and Andrew Stull is ranked 71st nationally (40th East/second Great Lakes/first MVC) in the event after running the second fastest time in school history of 40.43 at the Billy Hayes Invitational (May 6).
Freshman Greggmar Swift ranks 70th nationally (34th East/seventh Great Lakes/third MVC) in the 110 meter hurdles after setting a personal best of 14.21 in the finals of the event at the Drake Relays (Apr. 30).
Senior Michael Roberts ranks 87th nationally (46th East/11th Great Lakes Region/fourth MVC) in the 110 meter hurdles after racing to a 14.27 finish at the Billy Hayes Invitational (May 6).
