KEVIN JENISON

GoSycamores.com

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Throwing farther, jumping higher, running faster … that is what the Indiana State Sycamores are looking for on Friday night as they compete in the EIU Friday Night Special in Lantz Gymnasium on the campus of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Ill.

The meet is the final tune-up for the Sycamores before the MVC Indoor Championships and the final chance for many of the athletes to either earn a spot on the conference championship roster or improve their seed performances for the championship.

Competition is expected to begin at 3 p.m. (ET) with the field events including the weight throw and shot put while track events will begin at 4 p.m. (ET) with the running of the 5,000 meter race. The competition is expected to close at 10:30 p.m. (ET) with the 1,000 meters.

Indiana State's 18th ranked women's team will run a limited schedule in track with Demetria Camble, Kaisha Martin, and Katie Wise going in the 60 meters, Macey Black in the 200 meters, Kalli Dalton and Hanna Mercer in the 800 meters, and Taylor Gilles, Jalencia Lemons, Kelly Steffen, and Carmelia Stewart in the 60 meter hurdles.

The largest group of women will compete in the field events. Katie Bekavac, Kalyn Davis, Audrey Hawthorne, and Ionna Koisidou will compete in the high jump with Richelle Kimble, Alyssa Markiewicz, Hannah McKnight, Lauren Rice, and Kimyanna Rudolph in the pole vault, Lizzy Herron, Rachael Johnson, and Kelly Steffen in the long jump, and Nikija Pujate in the triple jump. Felisha Johnson, Dawnielle Passmore, Katelyn Rutz, and Whitney Walker will compete in both the shot put and weight throw.

The Sycamore's 20th ranked men's team will have a larger contingent in the track events.  Justin Baxtron, Keith Housley, Ray Humphrey, Devin Price, and Shaun Smith will compete in the 60 meters with Ryan Dickson, Ray Humphrey, and Max Tuttle going in the 200 meters, Brian Martin, Ryan Henrickson, Ray Skamay, and Michael Steele in the 400 meters, Brad Adams in the 800 meters, Gabe Ocasio in the mile, and Duane Brown, Jonathan Jackson, and Marcus Neely in the 60 meter hurdles.

The men will have a more limited schedule in the field events. Jamal Hampton, Robert Webb, and Brett Wehmiller will go in the high jump with Connor Curley, Drew LaMaster, and Wes Schenck in the pole vault. Derek Bunch, Sean Dennis and Chris Fields will compete in both the shot put and weight throw with Justin Applegate going in the weight throw.

Sycamore Women In The Rankings

Several members of the Indiana State women's track & field team have posted marks which put them in the top 50 of the nation and several are among the best in the Valley this indoor season.

Felisha Johnson leads the nation in the women's weight throw with a distance of 75-feet-3.25-inches (22.94 meters) at the EIU Early Bird (Dec. 7) which also is the top distance in the Missouri Valley Conference and in the Great lakes Region. Johnson is currently second in the shot put with a distance of 58-feet-4.75-inches (17.80 meters) established in winning the invitational shot put at the Indiana Relays. She leads the Missouri Valley Conference and the Great Lakes Region in the event. Both distances are school records.

Macey Black, Stacia Weatherford, Leeann Michl, and Shelby Higginbottom ran a school record 4:41.65 in the 4x400 meter relay at the Tyson Invite (Feb. 9) which is the top time in the Valley, fourth in the Great Lakes Region, and ranks 46th nationally.

Katie Wise leads the Valley and the Great Lakes Region, and ranks 39th nationally in the 60 meters after running a personal best 7.42 at the Grand Valley Big Meet (Feb. 8). The freshman is also second in the Valley, third in the Great Lakes Region, and 71st nationally in the 200 meters with a career best 24.19 at the Grand Valley Big Meet.

Leeann Michl leads the Valley in the 800 meters and ranks 57th nationally with a time of 2:10.34 (converted to 2:08.85) at the Coughlan-Malloy Cup (Jan. 12).

Stacia Weatherford leads the Valley in the 60 meter hurdles and ranks 59th nationally after running a school record time of 8.48 seconds at the EIU Early Bird (Dec. 7).

Kimyanna Rudolph leads the Valley in the pole vault and ranks 79th nationally after clearing a career height of best 12-feet-7.5-inches (3.85 meters) at the Meyo Invitational.

Sycamore Men In The Rankings

Several members of the Indiana State men's track & field team have posted marks which put them in the top 50 of the nation and several are among the best in the Valley this indoor season.

Brandon Pounds set a school record in the weight throw with a distance of 73-feet-11.75-inches (22.55 meters) at the Meyo Invitational (Feb. 1) which moved him to the top spot in the nation. He also leads the Missouri Valley and the Great Lakes Region.

Greggmar Swift ranks fifth in the nation but leads the Valley and Great Lakes Region in the 60 meter hurdles. Swift ran a career best 7.68 seconds in the 60 meter hurdle finals at the Tyson Invite (Feb. 8). Swift also leads the Valley, ranks third in the Great Lakes Region, and 88th nationally in the 60 meter dash with a time of 6.81 seconds at the EIU Early Bird (Dec. 7).

Chris Fields ranks fourth in the Valley, seventh in the Great Lakes Region, and 27th in the nation with a distance of 64-feet-5-inches (19.63 meters) in the weight throw at the Meyo Invitational (Feb. 1).

Robert Webb set a school record in the Heptathlon at the Jack Jennett Invitational by scoring 5,221 points (converted to 5,246 points) which ranks seventh in the Missouri Valley Conference, eighth in the Great Lakes Region, and 34th in the nation.

Justin Baxtron leads the Valley, is eighth in the Great Lakes Region, and 143rd nationally after running a converted time of 21.68 seconds in the 200 meters at the Edmonds Cup (Jan. 19).

John Mascari leads the Valley and ranks 97th nationally in the 5,000 meters with a time of 14:27.65 at the Meyo Invitational (Feb. 2).

Connor Curley leads the Valley and ranks 107th nationally in the pole vault after clearing a career best  height of 16-feet-2.75-inches (4.95 meters) at the Grand Valley State Big Meet (Feb. 8).

Maurice Lyke leads the Valley, ranks fourth in the Great Lakes Region and 58th nationally in the long jump with a distance of 23-feet-11.50-inches (7.30 meters) at the Meyo Invitational (Feb. 1).