BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Sycamore track and field teams had several strong performances on Friday at the Billy Hayes Invitational, with the women's hurdlers and Akis Medrano looking dominant once again.
                                            
"We had mixed results today at IU," head coach Angela Martin said. "It definitely was a tune-up meet for some and we got to see who is physically and mentally ready to compete. If we can be positive going into next week, good things will happen."
 
Leading the way for the ISU women on the track was Patrycja Dziekonska who set the track ablaze in the 100-meter hurdles prelims and finals. Dziekonska won her heat in prelims with a time of 13.81, but upped her game going into finals, clocking career-best time of 13.67. Her puts her third all-time in school history behind only Stacia Weatherford and Carmelia Stewart, and keeps her in second in the MVC.
 
Allana Ince and Caitlyn Redmon followed Dziekonska closely in finals, taking second and third overall to ensure that the top-three finishers were all Sycamores. Ince finished with a time of 14.06, just .02 away from her lifetime-best and Redmon finished at 14.33. They currently sit at sixth and seventh in the conference, respectively.
 
Elsewhere on the track, freshman Emily Robertson took home a victory in her heat of the 400-meter hurdles, crossing the line at 1:04.09 which is one second away from her personal-best. Robertson's time of 1:03.05 from the Gibson Invite is seventh in the Valley.
 
In the field for the women, Redmon kept her momentum going, taking third overall in the women's long jump with a season-best jump of 5.95m (19-06.25) which moves her to second in the Missouri Valley. Her teammate, Ayanna Morgan finished right behind her in fourth with a mark of 5.80m (19-00.25).
 
After a week of rest, the Sycamore throwers came out ready to compete. Cassaundra Roper earned the highest finish of the day for the women, taking second in the shot put with a throw of 15.29m (50-02.00). Roper's mark of 15.55m (51-00.25) from Auburn is sitting in second in the MVC and 29th in the NCAA East Region.
 
The hammer throw saw Erin Reese add another top-five finish to her season, taking fourth with a mark of 58.02m (190-04). Reese's mark of 62.34m (204-06) from Ole Miss is second in the MVC, 8th in the East and 26th in the nation. Jasmine Noel recorded a lifetime-best throw of 54.91m (180-02) en route to a sixth place finish.
 
Last weekend at the Drake Relays, Akis Medrano entered the ISU top-five in the men's 5K, and on Friday at IU Medrano entered the top-five in the men's 1500-meter run. Running in the fast section, he finished third overall with the fourth-best time in school history at 3:45.24 which is also third in the conference and right outside of the regional top-48 at 51st.
 
Freshman Stephen Griffith had a career-day in the men's 400-meter hurdles, taking home the runner-up position with a lifetime-best time of 52.73 and he is now fifth in the Missouri Valley.
 
Avery Taylor was the lone victor in the field for the Sycamore men, claiming a win in the high jump with a career-best jump of 2.06m (6-09.00). Taylor owns the fifth overall mark in the conference.
 
It was a big day in the long jump for Corey DuPriest, who finished with a personal-record mark of 7.17m (23-06.25) and a third place finish. He is now right behind teammate Scott Schreiber in the conference standings at third place. Schreiber finished in fourth place in the long jump with a mark of 7.13m (23-04.75).
 
Throwing to a new personal-best mark in the shot put was senior Hunter Schuman. Placing fifth overall, Schuman unleashed a throw of 17.30m (56-09.25) which moves him into scoring position in the conference, with the eight-best mark overall.
 
Up next for the Sycamore track and field teams is the MVC Championships, which will be held in Terre Haute, Ind. at the Gibson Track and Field Complex from May 11-13.
 
Other Notable Performances (Top-5):
 
Women's 100-Meter Dash:
5. Oschtisha Jackson - 12.38
 
Men's 110-Meter Dash:
5. Avery Taylor - 14.90
 
Women's 100-Meter Hurdles:
5. Tajaa Fair - 14.40
 
Men's 400-Meter Dash:
4. Liam McGrath - 49.93
 
Men's 400-Meter Hurdles:
4. Kaleb Budde - 55.51
 
Women's 1500-Meter Run:
4. Alli Workman - 4:41.37
 
Men's 4X100-Meter Relay:
3. Shaw, Parmley, Schreiber, Carter - 41.25
 
Women's 4X100-Meter Relay:
3. Cooper, Greer, Lindsey, Jackson - 46.17
 
Men's High Jump:
2. Nick Schultz - 1.96m (6-05.00)
 
Men's Triple Jump:
3. Gino Brown - 14.09m (46-02.75)
 
Women's Triple Jump:
3. Jamie Newsome - 11.43m (37-06.00)
 
Women's Pole Vault:
4. Kim Jackson - 3.60m (11-09.75)
 
Men's Discus Throw:
5. Grant Harris - 47.75m (156-08)
 
Women's Shot Put:
4. Erin Reese - 14.78m (48-06.00)
 
Women's Javelin Throw:
5. Kailyn Hutson - 32.56m (106-10)
 
For the latest information on the Sycamore Track & Field teams, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook and Twitter.