KEVIN JENISON
GoSycamores.com
TERRE HAUTE, IND. - The Indiana State track and field teams will be back in Charleston, Ill., this week for the annual Big Blue Classic. The Sycamores competed in a limited track meet (the "Ice Dual") last Saturday in O'Brien Stadium to open the 2012 outdoor season.
"This is our first full meet of the season and there will be some good competition," Angela Martin, Indiana State track & field coach, said. "The meet comes at a good time. The team has been working hard and we should have some good results. However, we still have a lot of time before conference to work on those areas that need improvement."
Competition opens with the Neil Moore Multi-Events which will feature Kelly Steffen and Patricia Merrion in the women's heptathlon and Robert Webb in the men's decathlon. The two-day event will start at 12 p.m. (ET) Thursday with the final events starting at 11 a.m. (ET) Friday.
The regular meet opens at 3 p.m. (ET) Friday with competition in the hammer throw. Track events begin at 7 p.m. (ET) with the 400 meter hurdle preliminaries. Friday's action will also feature the 4x800 meter relay, 5,000 meter run, 4x400 meter hurdle relay, and 10,000 meter run.
Saturday will be a busy day with competition beginning at 11 a.m. (ET) with the men's javelin and women's discus. Track events start at 12:30 p.m. (ET) with the preliminaries in the men's 110 meter hurdles.
"The weather has been great for our training," Martin said. "The team is looking forward to competing in a full meet and we are looking forward to seeing how the training is paying off."
Missouri Valley Conference Athletes of the Week
Indiana State sophomore hurdler Max Tuttle was named the Missouri Valley Conference Male Track Athlete of the Week Tuesday following his performance at the Indiana State-Eastern Illinois "Ice Dual" last Saturday.
Tuttle opened up his 2012 outdoor track & field season by winning the 400 meter hurdles at the Indiana State-Eastern Illinois "Ice Dual" Saturday in Charleston, Ill., with a time of 53.51, holding off Sycamore teammate Ray Skamay (53.90) and Eastern Illinois' Dominique Hall (54.88) to bring home the win.
The sophomore leads the conference in the event and ranks 29th in the NCAA East and 65th nationally. Tuttle also placed fourth in the 110 meter high hurdles with a time of 14.84 and led off the ISU 4x400 meter relay team that finished second in 3:19.09.
Indiana State will be back at O'Brien Stadium on the campus of Eastern Illinois University Thursday through Saturday for the EIU Big Blue Classic.
Sycamore Athletes In The Rankings
Max Tuttle is just one of several Sycamores who have put their name on the NCAA national and East region list following their performances last weekend.
The sophomore leads the conference in the 400 meter hurdles, ranks 29th in the NCAA East and 65th nationally with a time of 53.51.
Junior Brandon Pounds had a personal best throw of 196-feet (59.75 meters) in the hammer throw which currently ranks 24th in the nation, 13th in the NCAA East, and second in the Valley.
Freshman Jonathan Christensen cleared a personal best 6-feet-8¾-inches (2.05 meters) in his first outdoor competition for Indiana State which ranks 52nd nationally, 28th in the NCAA East and tops the Valley.
Sophomore Maurice Lyke ran 14.72 in the 110 meter hurdles which ranks 81st nationally, 49th in the NCAA East and third in the Valley. Sophomore Ray Skamay ran 53.90 in the 400 meter hurdles which is 84th in the nation, 41st in the NCAA East and second in the Valley.
Junior Stacia Weatherford won the 400 meter hurdles last weekend with a time of 1:00.62 which ranks 28th in the nation, 10th in the NCAA East and tops the Missouri Valley Conference.
Junior Mary Theisen had a throw of 163-feet-8-inches (49.88 meters) in the discus at the Ice Dual which ranks 23rd nationally, 11th in the NCAA East and second in the Valley. Junior Felisha Johnson threw 179-feet-3-inches in the hammer throw which ranks 55th nationally, 23rd in the NCAA East and fourth in the Valley.
Sophomore Rachael Johnson tied her personal best by clearing 5-feet-5-inches (1.65 meters) in the high jump which ranks 94th nationally, 49th in the NCAA East, and second in the Valley.
Sycamores in the Rankings
The 2012 Outdoor Track & Field Preseason rankings were released last week by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) with the Sycamore men 88th and the ISU women 73rd nationally.
Illinois State is the top Missouri Valley Conference school in the men's rankings at 51st with Southern Illinois 81st, Indiana State 88th, Northern Iowa 93rd, Wichita State 94th, and Drake 101st. Among Indiana schools, the Hoosiers are ranked eighth in the preseason rankings with Notre Dame 56th, Indiana State 88th, and Purdue 90th.
Southern Illinois is the top Missouri Valley Conference school in the women's rankings at 30th followed by Wichita State in 64th, Illinois State 67th, Indiana State 73rd, Northern Iowa 112th, Drake 117th, and Missouri State 164th. Among Indiana schools, the Hoosiers are 56th with Indiana State 73 rd, Purdue 91st, Notre Dame 95th, Ball State 128th, and Butler 189th.
