KEVIN JENISON
GoSycamores.com
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Some members of the Indiana State track & field team will have one more chance to make the roster for the 2013 Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championship as the Sycamores travel to Indiana University Friday for the 35th Annual Billy Hayes Invitational.
While most of the conference championship roster is set, there are still some slots that have not been determined as men's head coach John McNichols and women's head coach Angie Martin awaits the outcome from this Friday's action.
The event will be held at the Robert C. Haugh Track & Field Complex and begin at 2 p.m. (ET) with the women's hammer throw and men's javelin. Track events begin at 3 p.m. (ET) with the preliminaries of the men's 110 meter hurdles and the women's 100 meter hurdles. Competition is expected to wrap up at 9 p.m. (ET) with the running of the men's 4x400 meter relay. In case of inclement weather, events may be moved inside to the Gladstein Fieldhouse.
Not only are the Sycamore athletes seeking to improve their performances for the MVC Championship, they are also hoping to improve their performances in their quest to qualify for the NCAA East Preliminary Round which will be held May 23-25 at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro, N.C. The top 48 of each event and the top 24 relays according to the East Performance List will be invited to compete in the first two rounds of the NCAA Championship.
Live Results: http://www.iuhoosiers.com/livestats/c-track/BhayesInv13/
LOOKING AT THE EAST PRELIMINARY ROUND
Felisha Johnson currently qualifies in three events (shot put, discus, and hammer throw) with Mary Theisen qualified in two (shot put and discus). Three pole vaulters are also in the top 48 of their event including Nichole Hope, Kimyanna Rudolph, and Richelle Kimble. Stacia Weatherford will be in the 400 meter hurdles while Leeann Michl is in the 800 meters at the present time.
Several others have a chance to qualify for the East Preliminary Round with strong efforts over the next two weeks including Katie Wise in the 100 meters, Weatherford in the 100 hurdles, Ioanna Koltsidou in the high jump, and Carmelia Stewart in the triple jump.
On the men's side, Brandon Pounds has qualified for two events (discus and hammer throw) as has Maurice Lyke (110 hurdles and long jump). The hurdle group currently has several qualifiers for the East Preliminary including Lyke, Greggmar Swift, and Adarius Washington in the 110 hurdles, and Jonathan Jackson and Max Tuttle in the 400 hurdles. John Mascari has qualified for the 10,000 meters along with Dustin Betz in the 3,000 meter steeplechase and Derek Bunch in the shot put.
Among those that are close to breaking into the top 48 are Shaun Smith in the 100 meters, Taylor Head in the 3,000 meter steeplechase, Connor Curley in the pole vault, Chris Fields in the shot put and hammer throw, and Justin Applegate in the hammer throw.
