By Tyler Wooten
GoSycamores.com
CHARLESTON, Ill. – The Sycamore men edged out a win over Eastern Illinois, 119-116, at the EIU Friday Night Special, while the Sycamore women fell as the runner-up in an equally close race against the Panthers, 136-125.
ISU's men's squad was helped greatly by four event wins and a handful of other runner-up finishes.
The best news for the Sycamore men on Friday, though, was the return of a healthy Adarius Washington. The senior All-American returned with a vengeance, too, using his extra rest to explode to a season-best 7.82 in finals of the 60-meter hurdles for the win. Washington is still just outside the bubble for the national meet though, as he is currently in a tie for 24th nationally (top-16 in each event earn NCAA berths).
Right behind him, as always, was junior hurdler Marcus Neely, who stayed steady under the eight-second mark with a 7.99 finals time and a 7.96 in prelims.
Senior Terre Haute native Connor Curley was an event winner yet again in the men's pole vault, continuing his excellent indoor campaign. Curley – who leads the Valley this season by a wide margin at 5.30m (17-04.50) – stayed consistent with a winning height of 5.17m (16-11.50). That winning height today would still lead the MVC this season by a half-inch.
Also maintaining the course was senior shot putter Jamar Brown. The former football tight end won his second shot put title of the season on Friday night with another solid toss of 17.27m (56-08.00). Brown's season and career best – 17.87m (58-07.50) – ranks No. 2 in the MVC behind All-American Josh Freeman of Southern Illinois and No. 1 in the nation among football players. Also putting together a season-best was Ryan Chestnut, scoring in fifth place at 15.79m (51-09.75).
Sophomore high jumper Jamie Murtagh is also hitting his stride at just the right time before the conference meet, as tonight he won his fourth high jump title this season at a solid clearance of 2.08m (6-09.75). DeSean Prentice is also starting to peak, as he hit a season-best height for the second time in three weeks in second place at 2.03m (6-08.00).
The Sycamore women also had a handful wins on their end tonight. Senior Kaisha Martin had a very strong night in the women's 60 meter dash, winning the event on a career-best time of 7.60 seconds that improves upon her place in ninth all-time at Indiana State. Also making it to finals were Demetra Camble – who ran a season-best 7.66 in second place – and Arielle Borders, who finished fifth at 7.87.
Sophomore Jamie Newsome had the night off from her signature triple jump, but she went and had some fun in the long jump on Friday night anyway. Newsome came away the victor at a solid leap of 5.78m (18-11.75), and was immediately followed by Mandy Jones in second at 5.54m (18-02.25).
ISU's women's hurdlers had another strong outing following an impressive performance at IU last week. Sophomore Patrycja Dziekonska stayed consistent at 8.72 for second place, and fellow sophomore Micaela McLean followed in third while tying her career-best of 8.78, improving on her place in seventh all-time at ISU. Also having a strong day was Dezha Moore, who finish sixth overall at 8.90 – 0.01 seconds off of her career-best that ranks 10th all-time.
Indiana State also had a very solid day in the throws. Former Sycamore NCAA Champion and professional thrower Felisha Johnson won and broke her own facility records in both the shot put (17.76m/58-03.25) and weight throw (23.00m/75-05.50). In the shot, Whitney Walker was the second-best collegian in third place at 14.78m (48-06.00), and in the weight, Katelyn Rutz excelled for a solid season-best at 19.09m (62-07.75) – the fourth-best toss in the Valley this season.
The Sycamores will put it all on the line next week at the MVC Indoor Championships, hosted in Cedar Falls, Iowa by UNI. Indiana State is both the defending men's and women's indoor champions, and both were picked to finish second in the Preseason Poll.
Men's Team Scores:
1. Indiana State – 119
2. Eastern Illinois – 116
3. Southern Illinois – 70
4. Bradley – 55
5. Butler - 36
Women's Team Scores:
1. Eastern Illinois – 136
2. Indiana State – 125
3. Southern Illinois – 86
4. Bradley – 70
5. Butler – 29
Other Men's Scorers:
Men's 60 Meter Dash:
5. Scott Schreiber – 6.86f – 6.91p (4th) – Both season-bests, team-best, T-4th in the MVC
6. Jaynard Keys – 6.89f – 6.98p (5th)
Men's 400:
2. Terry McGee – 50.51
Men's 800:
3. Blake Kramer – 1:56.13
6. Tony Rigoni – 1:56.46
Men's 3K:
7. Austin Stewart – 8:56.35 – 17-second PR
11. Ryan Cash – 9:02.74
Men's Pole Vault:
6. Riley Smith – 4.72m (15-05.75)
Men's Triple Jump:
2. Gino Brown – 14.32m (46-11.75)
4. Malik Jenkins – 14.09m (46-02.75) - PR
Men's Weight Throw:
2. Ryan Chestnut – 17.84m (58-06.50)
5. Sam Overton – 16.10m (52-10.00)
Other Women's Scorers:
Women's 200 Meter Dash:
4. Brittany Montemayer – 27.13
Women's 600:
2. Aleksey Green – 1:36.69
Women's Mile:
2. Taylor Rogers – 5:07.88 – 11-second PR
6. Megan Doty – 5:14.77 – 5-second PR
Women's High Jump:
2. LeVisa Evans – 1.67m (5-05.75)
4. Ioanna Koltsidou – 1.62m (5-03.75)
Women's Pole Vault:
3. Kimyanna Rudolph – 3.79m (12-05.25)
5. Kim Jackson – 3.64m (11-11.25) – PR
6. Jessica Melchi – 3.64m (11-11.25) – Indoor PR
Women's Triple Jump:
3. Veronica Pierce – 10.95m (35-11.25) - PR
Women's Shot Put:
4. Cassaundra Roper – 14.75m (48-04.75)
7. Jasmine Noel – 13.38m (43-10.75)
Women's Weight Throw:
5. Jasmine Noel – 17.45m (57-03.00)
For the latest information on the Sycamore Track and Field team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook and Twitter.
