DES MOINES, Iowa - Senior Honorable Mention All-American Taylor Austin ended her incredible Sycamore career on Thursday at the USA Track & Field Championships after falling short of qualifying for finals in the 3000-meter steeplechase in a loaded field of competition.
 
"Today, Taylor got a taste of racing against world champions at the highest level of American competition and I'm so proud she got to this level," associate head coach for cross country Kyle Walsh said. "She leaves quite a legacy here at Indiana State in cross country and track. She has represented the Sycamores with grit and passion in all four years of competition."
 
It was a consistent race for Austin on Thursday en route to a 10th place finish in her heat and a 21st place finish overall, as she held that 10th position for much of the race and ended with a time of 10:13.81.
 
Austin ends her historic career at Indiana State as one of the best women's distance runners in school history. During the 2018 season alone she captured three Missouri Valley Conference Championship titles, including the steeplechase and 5K title at the outdoor championships and the 3K title at the indoor championships. During the 2017 season, Austin earned a trip to NCAA Championships in the 3000-meter steeplechase where she left with Honorable Mention All-American honors after finishing 18th. In the end, Austin leaves as a five-time MVC Champion with an additional seven All-MVC performances.
 
"While focusing on winning conference titles and appearing at national meets, she also broke six Sycamore school records.* The steeplechase has been her baby and she leaves her college career as the second-fastest steeplechaser in the history of the MVC**. I'm so proud of her as a student-athlete and she has become an amazing young woman. We will remember her outstanding career as a Sycamore, but look forward to her future at the professional ranks as she also works on her social work master's degree," Walsh said.
 
Following Austin's race, Erin Reese took the field for the discus throw with some of the nation's top throwers. On her first throw, Reese recorded a mark of 48.40m (158-09), which would hold as her best toss of the contest and gave her an eighth place finish in her flight and ended 17th overall. She will have another opportunity to compete at the USA Track & Field Championships on Saturday at 3:20 p.m. in the hammer throw.
 
Two former Sycamores also had the opportunity to compete in Des Moines on Thursday. In the 400-meter hurdles, former ISU standout Max Tuttle placed 20th overall and sixth in his heat, crossing the line at 51.74 which is his season-best. Indiana State all-time great David Timlin finished off the day for current and former Sycamores by finishing in 23rd overall and 10th in his heat in the 1500-meter run with a time of 3:46.87.
 
 
*Steeple, Indoor 5K, Outdoor 5K, Indoor 3K, 4X1600-meter relay, Outdoor DMR
 
**Aisha Praught - Illinois State (Commonwealth gold medalist)
 
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.