CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The Indiana State women's track and field team was victorious and the men finished second at the Mark Messersmith Invite after several impressive performances on Saturday.
 
The ISU women claimed victory over UNI by a score of 163-118 and also bested Drake (43.50), South Dakota State (38), Milwaukee (35.50) and Loyola (32). The men fell to UNI, 136.50-133, but defeated South Dakota State (54), Milwaukee (50.33), Loyola (30.33) and Drake (23.83).
 
"We had some solid performances today," head coach Angela Martin said. "The women came ready to compete and even when things didn't go perfectly, they stepped up to the challenges in front of them. It was a very good win. The men had some struggle areas, but we now have a few weeks to work on them. Going to UNI is a good step in our preparation for the MVC Championships in late February."
 
Leading the way for the Sycamore women on the track was Ayanna Morgan. Morgan continued her dominance in the 60-meter hurdles, winning the event and recording another personal-best at 8.43. Her time is now tied for second in ISU history with Stacia Weatherford from 2012. She is tied for the best time in the Valley and 50th in the NCAA.
 
Taylor Austin won the mile run for the third time this season behind another strong performance with a time of 4:51.83. Her converted time of 4:48.23 from the Terre Haute Double Dual is first in the conference and 41st in the nation. Brittany Neeley finished behind her in second-place at 4:56.42 which is fifth in the MVC.
 
Making her return to the track for the first time since the EIU Early Bird, DeAndra Greer won the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.60. Her time of 7.51 from EIU currently sits in third in the conference.
 
In the 800-meter run, Imani Davis came away with a win after crossing the line at 2:12.73, which now pushes her to third in the Missouri Valley Conference.
 
Brooke Moore picked up her first win of the season in the women's 3000-meter run, recording a time of 9:57.92 which vaults her into fourth-place in the MVC.
 
The women's 4X400-meter relay team composed of Oschtisha Jackson, Brittany Neeley, Imani Davis and Rebecca Odusola held off Northern Iowa's team to earn a victory. They recorded a time of 3:48.38, which is third in the Valley.
 
The field athletes produced similar success for the Sycamore women, led by Kim Jackson in the pole vault. Jackson won the pole vault and improved her already Valley-leading mark to 3.75m (12-03.50), which is a new career-best. Emily Brady finished right behind her in second-place after recording a mark of 3.60m (11-09.75). Her mark of 3.67m (12-00.50) from the EIU Early Bird meet sits at third in the conference.
 
Junior Cassaundra Roper brought home another win in the shot put for Indiana State. She earned a mark of 14.55m (47-09.00), which is good enough for second in the MVC.
 
Jasmine Noel earned a win and a new personal-record in the weight throw behind a strong performance that ended with a mark of 18.73m (61-05.50), which is fifth in the conference. Roper finished in second behind Noel, recording a mark of 18.39m (60-04.00). Her mark of 18.77m (61-07.00) from the Terre Haute Double Dual is third in the Valley and 49th in the NCAA.
 
On the men's side, Ryan Cash once again ran a career-best time in the mile, this time crossing the finish line at 4:15.90 for the win. His converted time of 4:13.50 from the Terre Haute Double Dual is fourth in the conference. Akis Medrano challenged Cash, but finished in second with a time of 4:16.15. Medrano's converted time of 4:15.90 from the Terre Haute Double is ninth in the MVC.
 
The 60-meter hurdles saw another Sycamore win with Daley Carter overtaking his competition at 7.91. He recorded a time of 7.87 at the Terre Haute Double Dual which is second in the conference and 22nd in the nation. Stephen Griffith took fourth overall in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.27. He holds a time of 8.20 from the Terre Haute Double Dual which is fifth in the conference.
 
Gino Brown led the way for the men in the field, winning the triple jump with a mark of 14.58m (47-10.00), which is now the best mark in the Missouri Valley.
 
Scott Schreiber made sure that Brown didn't get all of the glory, as he claimed victory in the long jump with a mark of 7.14m (23-05.25), which boosted him to second in the MVC.
 
The Sycamores will be back in action next weekend with split-squad competiton at the Meyo Invitational in South Bend, Ind. on Feb. 2-3 and the Indiana Wesleyan Invitational on Feb. 3.
 
Other Notable Performances:
 
Men's 60-Meter Dash:
2. Jarel Shaw - 6.89, PR, Fifth MVC
4. Tristan Parmley - 6.94
 
Women's 60-Meter Dash:
3. Shana Cooper - 7.79
 
Women's 60-Meter Hurdles:
3. Patrycja Dziekonska - 8.63, Fourth MVC
 
Men's 200-Meter Dash:
2. Tristan Parmley - 22.20
 
Women's 200-Meter Dash:
3. Shana Cooper - 25.76
 
Women's 400-Meter Dash:
2. Oschtisha Jackson - 57.11
 
Women's 800-Meter Run:
4. Jessi Conley - 2:15.85, 9th MVC
 
Women's 3K:
3. Megan Doty - 9:59.56, PR, 5th MVC
 
Men's 3K:
3. Seth Cousins - 8:38.37
5. Cam Trout - 8:42.78, PR
 
Men's Pole Vault:
2. Trey Kennedy - 4.65m (15-03.00)
3. Riley Smith - 4.65m (15-03.00), 7th MVC
4. Antoine Howard - 4.65m (15-03.00)
 
Men's High Jump:
2. Nathan Kiger - 1.95m (6-04.75)
5. Ben Andreatta - 1.95m (6-04.75)
 
Men's Long Jump:
3. Corey DuPriest - 7.05m (23-01.75), PR, 5th MVC
4. Myles Aldridge - 7.04m (23-01.25), PR, 6th MVC
 
Women's Long Jump:
4. Tasjia Thomas - 5.48m (17-11.75)
 
Men's Triple Jump:
2. Dearis Herron - 14.11m (46-03.50), PR, 6th MVC
4. Myles Aldridge - 13.46m (44-02.00)
 
Women's Triple Jump:
5. Tasjia Thomas - 11.55m (37-10.75)
 
Women's Shot Put:
3. Erin Reese - 13.61m (44-08.00)
 
Men's Weight Throw:
2. Hunter Schuman - 18.35m (60-02.50)
 
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.