By Tyler Wooten
GoSycamores.com
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State is set for a weekend of track action in Terre Haute, as the Sycamores will host the 2016 Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships, which run May 13-15 at the Gibson Track & Field Complex. ESPN3 will carry coverage of all three days of action.
Wichita State, the defending indoor men's champions and outdoor women's champions, have been picked as the favorite in both men's and women's competition this week in the MVC's Pre-Championship Poll. Indiana State, meanwhile, has been tabbed to finish fifth in the men's competition and sixth on the women's side.
As per usual, the Sycamore men will be led by a fearsome top-billing in the 110-meter hurdles in the form of senior All-American Adarius Washington and junior Marcus Neely. The Indianapolis duo rank Nos. 1 and 2 in the Valley this year, Washington at the NCAA's No. 1 time of 13.40 seconds and Neely at the No. 5 time in school history at 13.83 seconds.
Indiana State has not lost in the men's hurdles since 2011 and has won 12 total outdoor 110-meter titles since men's head coach John McNichols took over in 1983-84. Washington is the defending champion, and Neely is also a returning All-MVC finisher as the third-place finisher. ISU's streak dates back to a string of three in a row by Barbadian Olympian Greggmar Swift from 2012-14.
No Valley school has won five-straight men's 110-meter hurdles titles since Oklahoma A&M won what was then the 120-yard hurdles in nine straight championship meets from 1937-48 (there were no contests during the Second World War from 1943-45).
The Sycamore men also enter a strong favorite in the men's pole vault, led by senior and Terre Haute native Connor Curley. The MVC Indoor champion, Curley currently leads the conference by more than two inches at an outdoor PR height of 5.26m (17-03.00), the second-best vault in school history. Curley is also one of a handful of Sycamores in contention for the NCAA East Regional meet, as his height ranks him 13th in the East Region (as well as 28th in all of the NCAA).
Included in that total is sophomore high jumper Jaime Murtagh, who recently put himself back into the qualifying top-48 in the East Region. Murtagh recently cleared an outdoor PR of 2.11m (6-11.00) at IU last week, which pushed him into a tie for 10th all-time at Indiana State and 37th in the NCAA East Region. The high jump could be a lucrative affair for Southern Illinois with the top two heights in the conference, but Murtagh – the 2016 indoor conference runner-up to SIU All-American Kyle Landon – and senior DeSean Prentice – the 2015 outdoor runner-up to Landon – could make it a success for the Sycamore men as well.
Fellow jumpers Devyn Mikell and Scott Schreiber have a similar task against Wichita State freshman phenom Jared Belardo in the long jump, but could still steal away quite a few points for the Sycamores.
Mikell, the indoor runner-up to Belardo and a 2015 NCAA Regional qualifier, is currently one of only five men in the Valley this outdoor season to leap 24 feet or longer – right now sitting fourth in the MVC at 7.50m (24-07.25). Schreiber isn't far off in sixth at 7.27m (23-10.25), just missing being the sixth jumper past the 24-foot mark.
The Sycamore women have been unfortunately ravaged by injuries on what was sure to be a lethal 2016 team, losing All-Americans Alethia Marrero and Katie Wise for much of the season. However, despite the tough luck the Sycamore women still have several bright spots to look forward to this weekend – including the continued comeback of once-injured senior sprinter Chidera Obasih.
In total – with those key losses of Marrero and Wise included – the Sycamores still return 16 outdoor All-MVC honorees this season, including nine individual champions. Seniors Obaish and Demetra Camble return from ISU's winning 4x100-meter relay in 2015, as does the trio of Obaish, Oschtisha Jackson and Jamie Newsome from ISU's championship 4x400-meter relay last year.
Also returning is 2015 pole vault champion and All-American senior Kimyanna Rudolph. The Indianapolis native currently ranks fifth at 3.91m (12-10.00) in what has turned out to be a fairly strong women's vault conference this season. Three vaulters have cleared the 13-foot barrier, while two (Rudolph included) aren't far off at 12-10.
Sophomore Taylor Austin also brings some returning All-MVC honors to the table, as well as one of the top-50 times in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. The Griffith, Ind., native ranks 36th nationally and third in the Valley at 10:18.28 – ISU's school-record in the event. The top three times in the conference all rank within the national top-50, setting the stage for an exciting race Saturday night against Illinois State's Kelly McShea (No. 22, 10:09.56) and defending champion Sidney Hirsch of Wichita State (No. 33, 10:16.71).
As with the men's high jump, the women's high jump could be lucrative for the Sycamore women as well. ISU currently owns two heights in the top-four in the conference – including the No. 2 height from junior and 2014 outdoor runner-up LeVisa Evans.
Evans has cleared an all-time best 1.73m (5-08.00) this outdoor season, which moved her into a tie with teammate Ioanna Koltsidou for eighth all-time at ISU – as well as within striking distance of conference leader and two-time MVC outdoor high jump champion Ashley Petersen of Wichita State (1.75m/5-08.75). Koltsidou, a senior native of Greece, ranks tied for fourth at 1.68m (5-06.00).
Sticking with the field events, ISU's throwers could also help out the Sycamore women this weekend. In an event area normally imbued with Saluki maroon and Wichita State black-and-yellow, Indiana State is currently slated to come away with five scorers across the four events – including two in the shot put.
Senior Whitney Walker will be dual-wielding for the Sycamores in the shot put and the javelin. In the shot, Walker currently ranks fourth at 15.20m (49-10.50) – the 34th-best toss in the East Region right now. Walker is also slated to score in the javelin, ranked seventh at 42.19m (138-05) behind an army of Shocker javelin throwers. However, that didn't slow down Walker last year, who finished as the runner-up in the event for All-MVC honors.
Fellow senior Katelyn Rutz is also tabbed to score in two events, ranked No. 6 in the shot put at 14.76m (48-05.25) and No. 4 in the discus at 49.20m (161-05). That discus toss currently ranks No. 38 in the East Region.
Competition will begin with the beginning of the multi events at 10 a.m. ET on Friday morning.
Admission Prices:
All-Session: $15 adult, $8 child/student
Day One (May 13): $5 adult, $3 child/student
Days Two & Three (May 14-15): $10 adult, $5 child/student
ESPN3 Broadcast Schedule:
Day One (Friday, May 13): 6:50-8:30 p.m.
Day Two (Saturday, May 14): 4:45-7:15 p.m.
Day Three (Sunday, May 15): 12:55-4:15 p.m.
Men's MVC Pre-Championship Poll:
1. Wichita State (6) – 61
2. Southern Illinois (2) – 58
3. Northern Iowa – 43
4. Illinois State – 37
5. Indiana State – 36
6. Drake – 29
7. Bradley – 13
8. Loyola - 11
Women's MVC Pre-Championship Poll:
1. Wichita State (8) – 80
2. Missouri State (1) – 68
3. Southern Illinois – 64
4. Illinois State – 50
4. Northern Iowa – 50
6. Indiana State – 37
7. Drake – 28
8. Bradley – 18
9. Loyola - 10
Men's Projected Finish (per TFRRS):
1. Wichita State – 214
2. Southern Illinois – 139
3. Northern Iowa – 119
4. Illinois State - 94
5. Drake – 90
6. Indiana State – 77.5
7. Bradley – 59
8. Loyola – 28.5
Women's Projected Finish (per TFRRS):
1. Wichita State – 170
2. Missouri State – 121
3. Northern Iowa – 119
4. Southern Illinois – 109
5. Illinois State – 95
6. Drake – 74
7. Indiana State – 61
8. Bradley – 46
9. Loyola - 24
Last Five Men's MVC Outdoor Champions:
2015: Southern Illinois
2014: Indiana State
2013: Indiana State
2012: Indiana State
2011: Indiana State
Last Five Women's MVC Outdoor Champions:
2015: Wichita State
2014: Wichita State
2013: Indiana State
2012: Wichita State
2011: Wichita State
Returning Men's Outdoor All-MVC (13):
2015
David Timlin (800m, first place)
Adarius Washington (110m Hurdles, first place)
Connor Curley (Pole Vault, second place)
DeSean Prentice (High Jump, second place)
David Timlin (1500m, second place)
Marcus Neely (110m Hurdles, third place)
2014
David Timlin (1500m, first place)
David Timlin (800m, second place)
Adarius Washington (110m Hurdles, second place)
Arqeil Shaw (4x400m Relay, second place)
2013
Arqeil Shaw (400m Hurdles, third place)
Arqeil Shaw (4x400m Relay, third place)
2012
Arqeil Shaw (4x400m Relay, third place)
Returning Women's Outdoor All-MVC (16):
2015
Demetra Camble (4x100m Relay, first place)
Oschtisha Jackson (4x400m Relay, first place)
Jamie Newsome (4x400m Relay, first place)
Chidera Obasih (4x100m Relay, first place)
Chidera Obaish (4x400m Relay, first place)
Kimyanna Rudolph (Pole Vault, first place)
Whitney Walker (Javelin, second place)
Taylor Austin (3000m Steeplechase, third place)
Chidera Obasih (100-Meter Dash, third place)
2014
Demetra Camble (4x400m Relay, first place)
Chidera Obasih (4x400m Relay, first place)
LeVisa Evans (High Jump, second place)
Mandy Jones (Long Jump, second place)
Demetra Camble (100-Meter Dash, third place)
Whitney Walker (Shot Put, third place)
2013
Demetra Camble (4x100m Relay, first place)
Men's Outdoor Team Championships (10):
1988, 1990, 1993, 1997, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Women's Outdoor Team Championships (7):
1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2013
Men's National Top-50:
1. Adarius Washington – 110-Meter Hurdles – 13.40
27. Marcus Neely – 110-Meter Hurdles – 13.83
28. Connor Curley – Pole Vault – 5.26m (17-03.00)
Women's National Top-50:
36. Taylor Austin – 3,000-Meter Steeplechase – 10:18.28
Men's NCAA East Region Top-48:
1. Adarius Washington – 110-Meter Hurdles – 13.40
13. Connor Curley – Pole Vault – 5.26m (17-03.00)
15. Marcus Neely – 110-Meter Hurdles – 13.83
37. Jaime Murtagh – High Jump – 2.11m (6-11.00)
38. Devyn Mikell – Long Jump – 7.50m (24-07.25)
44. David Timlin – 800-Meter – 1:49.40
Women's NCAA East Region Top-48:
15. Taylor Austin – 3,000-Meter Steeplechase – 10:18.28
34. Whitney Walker – Shot Put – 15.20m (49-10.50)
38. Katelyn Rutz – Discus – 49.20m (161-05)
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.
