By Tyler Wooten
GoSycamores.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana State men's and women's track and field came away with three event wins on a solid final day of the regular season at IU's Billy Hayes Invite on Friday evening.
Senior and Terre Haute native Connor Curley had a fine day to prepare for his final MVC meet at home next week in both of his signature events. First, Curley took home yet another pole vault title, clearing a very strong 5.20m (17-00.75) in the process. In meets that he has made a height, Curley has either won or been the top-collegiate finisher in the pole vault.
Curley then went on to have a career day in the men's javelin. Curley was the third-place finisher at a new PR toss of 56.25m (184-06). Today's throw moves him up to eighth all-time at Indiana State and improves upon his place in seventh in the Missouri Valley this season.
Junior Devyn Mikell had another consistent performance in the long jump, winning his fourth title of the season. Mikell won at 7.48m (24-06.50), nearly topping his season-best of 7.50m (24-07.25) that currently ranks fourth in the MVC. Mikell has only jumped below 24 feet once this outdoor season, and that came last week in the cold and rain at the Drake Relays, where he barely missed the plateau at 7.28m (23-10.75).
Like Curley, sophomore thrower Jasmine Noel had a strong day across multiple events for the Sycamore women. Noel came away the victor in the women's discus at 45.07m (147-10), this coming after a career performance in the hammer. Noel was the sixth-place finisher in the hammer throw at a PR of 53.11m (174-03), which moves her up to eighth all-time at Indiana State.
Senior All-American hurdler Adarius Washington got the week off following an epic performance at the Drake Relays, but junior Marcus Neely did well as the leader in the 110-meter hurdles for the Sycamores. Neely had the top prelim time of 13.94 seconds and still ran a solid 13.99 in finals, but finished second after a surprise PR by SIU's Kemar Jones, who ran 13.86.
Grant Stamm – also a member of ISU's Drake Relays-winning shuttle hurdle relay team last week –made finals too, finishing fifth at 14.73 and running a season-best 14.66 in prelims.
The Sycamore women had two finalists make it in the 100-meter hurdles as well. Sophomore Micaela McLean tied her PR of 14.27 in finials to finish fifth overall, which improves upon her place in 10th all-time at Indiana State. Freshman and Barbados native Ayanna Morgan finished not far behind in seventh, running a PR time of 14.74 seconds.
ISU's women's squad came up with three runner-up finishes, the most impressive coming from jumper Darian Mehne. The sophomore was the runner-up at a new PR leap of 5.77m (18-11.25), an outdoor team-best for the Sycamore women that also now ranks in scoring contention in the MVC at eighth overall.
Other runners-up included freshman Ahmanah Woods in the 200 (24.83, PR) and senior Whitney Walker in the javelin (39.02m/128-00).
Also moving up lists was sophomore high jumper Jaime Murtagh. The Ireland native cleared an outdoor PR height of 2.11m (6-11.00) to finish third overall in the high jump competition, pushing him onto ISU's all-time top-10 list into a tie for 10th place. It also pushed him into contention for the NCAA East Regional meet in a tie for 35th, as well as moving him into sole possession of second place in the Valley this outdoor season.
Similarly, senior hurdler Arqeil Shaw shaved two seconds off his season-best in the 400-meter hurdles en route to a third-place finish. Shaw clocked in at 53.89 seconds, which currently ranks tied for seventh in the Valley.
The Sycamores return home to host its biggest meet of the year to-date: the 2016 Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships. You can find more information on the championships HERE.
Other Notable Performances:
Men's 400 Meter:
3. CJ Anyaebunam – 49.11
4. Terry McGee – 49.33
Men's 1500 Meter:
3. Logan Hambrock – 3:56.65 –PR
Women's High Jump:
3. LeVisa Evans – 1.69m (5-06.50)
4. Ioanna Koltsidou – 1.64m (5-04.50)
Women's Pole Vault:
6. Kimyanna Rudolph – 3.90m (12-09.50)
Men's Shot Put:
5. Jamar Brown – 16.74m (54-11.25)
7. Vince Laconi – 16.09m (52-09.50) – PR, T-8th MVC
8. Ryan Chestnut – 15.85m (52-00.00) – SB
Women's Shot Put:
3. Cassaundra Roper – 14.39m (47-02.50) – Outdoor PR
4. Whitney Walker – 14.34m (47-00.75)
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.
