TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Indiana State Track & Field teams earned four more All-MVC honorees despite heavy rain on day two of the Missouri Valley Conference Championships.
 
After two days of competition, it's a tight race on the men's side. Northern Iowa leads with 85.25 points while Indiana State sits in second at 75.25 in front of Illinois State (72.25), Southern Illinois (64.50), Bradley (25), Loyola (17), Drake (11.25), Valparaiso (.5) and Evansville (0). The women sit in fifth with 27.5 points and trail Loyola (30), Northern Iowa (43), Southern Illinois (51) and Illinois State (77). They lead Missouri State (15), Bradley (15), Drake (13), Valparaiso (.5) and Evansville (0).
 
Rain wreaked havoc on the track on Saturday and forced the high jumpers to not only move inside, but also delay their event until 8:20 p.m. That didn't faze sophomore Nick as he took advantage of the situation and make his way to the podium for the first time in his young career. Schultz recorded a lifetime-best jump of 6.08m (6-09.75) to secure a third place finish and earn All-MVC honors.
 
An additional three points was gathered thanks to teammate Nathan Kiger, who cleared a bar of 2.02m (6-07.50) to place sixth overall in the men's high jump.
 
Another All-MVC performance came from Ryan Cash in the 3000-meter steeplechase. The senior finally broke through the barrier and got to the podium after taking part in a great race that ended with a second place finish and time of 9:01.65 for All-MVC honors.
 
Multi-event specialist Richard Griffith complete a grueling 10 events throughout Friday and Saturday, but ultimately the senior was rewarded with his first outdoor All-MVC honor by placing third with 6666 points. It was a strong end to his season, as his score is sixth in Sycamore history and ends at 27th in the NCAA East Region.
 
Griffith's teammate, Joshua Perry, fought through a downpour in the 1500-meter run of the decathlon to earn a seventh place finish with 5671 points, which gave the Sycamores two additional points in the decathlon.   
 
The lone other Sycamore to earn All-MVC honors on Saturday was Cassaundra Roper. The redshirt senior placed third in the event behind a mark of 15.41m (50-06.75) to give her the honor yet again. Her season is not over, however, as she has secured a spot in the NCAA East Prelim Round later on in May.
 
Also in the shot put, Erin Reese continued to put points on the board for Indiana State. Reese threw to a solid mark of 15.16m (49-09.00) en route to a sixth place finish, earning an additional three points for ISU.
 
Dearis Herron was the leader of the ISU jumpers on day two. Herron earned five points for the Trees despite the wet conditions by posting a season-best jump of 7.22m (23-08.75), which was good enough for fourth place.
 
Two women high jumpers brought home points for the blue and white as well. Amiyah James came up with a huge performance in the women's high jump with a lifetime-best performance of 1.67m (5-05.75) for fifth place. Kara Cooke also brought home points in eighth place at 1.61m (5-03.25).
 
The first official completed event of Saturday was the women's heptathlon. After a tough seven event marathon, Grider ended up in seventh with 4052 points to earn a point for the two points for the Trees.
 
In the men's shot put Vince Laconi led the way by earning a point for the blue and white. The senior ended his ISU career with a season-best toss of 16.54m (54-03.25) which gave him an eighth place finish overall.
 
Hurdles were perhaps the strongest preliminary event on the track for ISU, as five Indiana State athletes qualified for finals. On the men's side, Matthew Lewis-Banks won his heat of prelims to automatically advance with a time of 14.21. Fellow freshman Tremaine Gonzalez earned a time qualifier spot at 14.80, as did Avery Taylor with a time of 14.87.
 
On the women's side, Ayanna Morgan and Caitlyn Redmon both left nothing to chance after claiming automatic qualifier positions in the 100-meter hurdles. Morgan won heat one after clocking a time of 14.05 while Redmon took third at 14.54.
 
Once the finals concluded, two more women punched their tickets to Championship Sunday, this time in the 400-meter dash. First, Jezel Martin pushed herself to a second place finish in heat two, earning an automatic qualifier spot with a time of 56.62. Imani Davis followed that performance up with a victory in her heat and time of 56.63 to advance.
 
A trio of athletes also qualified for the 100-meter dash finals. Jarel Shaw will represent the men as he was the lone qualifier. The sophomore claimed victory in heat one of the preliminary round with a time of 10.67 to automatically qualify.
 
Similarly to Shaw, DeAndra Greer automatically advanced to the next round in the 100-meter dash. Greer claimed victory in heat one with a time of 11.75.

Both Rebecca Odusola and Brooke Moore were victorious in their heats of the 800-meter run, giving them an opportunity to compete in the final tomorrow. Odusola recorded the top prelim time of 2:12.81, while Moore clocked a time of 2:15.53.
 
Three Sycamores also qualified for finals in the 400-meter hurdles in the pouring rain late in the afternoon. Kaleb Budde continued to show the difference that a single year can make as he was an auto qualifier with a time of 54.87. Richard Griffith earned a time qualifier spot after recording a time of 56.58.
 
Emily Robertson will be the lone ISU runner on the women's side of the 400-meter hurdles in the final round after moving on with a time of 1:05.55 during the preliminary round.
 
Due to the heavy rain on Saturday, events will now begin at 10 a.m. ET on Sunday morning with the women's long jump. Track action will start promptly at 1 p.m. with the 4x100-meter relays.
 
Men's Day Two Team Scores:
1. Northern Iowa - 85.25
2. Indiana State - 75.25
3. Illinois State - 72.75
4. Southern Illinois - 64.50
5. Bradley - 25
6. Loyola - 17
7. Drake - 11.25
8. Valparaiso - .5
9. Evansville - 0
 
Women's Day Two Team Scores:
1. Illinois State - 77
2. Southern Illinois - 51
3. Northern Iowa - 43
4. Loyola - 30
5. Indiana State - 27.5
6. Missouri State - 15
6. Bradley - 15
8. Drake - 13
9. Valparaiso - .5
10. Evansville - 0
 
Men's Day Two All-MVC:
Ryan Cash - 3000-Meter Steeplechase, second place
Richard Griffith - Decathlon, third place
Nick Schultz - High Jump, second place
 
Women's Day Two All-MVC:
Cassaundra Roper - Shot Put, third place
 
Men's Day Two Scorers:
Dearis Herron - Long Jump, fourth place
Nathan Kiger - High Jump, sixth place
Josh Perry - Decathlon, seventh place
Vince Laconi - Shot Put, eighth place
 
Women's Day Two Scorers:
Amiyah James - High Jump, fifth place
Erin Reese - Shot Put, sixth place
Alexis Grider - Heptathlon, seventh place
Kara Cooke - High Jump, eighth place
 
Men's Day Two Finals Qualifiers:
Kaleb Budde - 400-Meter Hurdles
Tremaine Gonzalez - 110-Meter Hurdles
Richard Griffith - 400-Meter Hurdles
Matthew Lewis-Banks - 110-Meter Hurdles
Jarel Shaw - 100-Meter Dash
Avery Taylor - 110-Meter Hurdles
 
Women's Day Two Finals Qualifiers:
Imani Davis - 400-Meter Dash
DeAndra Greer - 100-Meter Dash
Faith Lindsey - 100-Meter Dash
Jezel Martin - 400-Meter Dash
Brooke Moore - 800-Meter Run
Ayanna Morgan - 100-Meter Hurdles
Rebecca Odusola - 800-Meter Run
Caitlyn Redmon - 100-Meter Hurdles
Emily Robertson - 400-Meter Hurdles
 
Men's Day One Team Scores:
1. Illinois State - 45
2. Indiana State - 44
3. Northern Iowa - 26
4. Southern Illinois - 22.5
5. Bradley - 13
6. Drake - 5
7. Valparaiso - .5
8. Evansville - 0
9. Loyola - 0
 
Women's Day One Team Scores
1. Northern Iowa - 28
2. Loyola - 25
3. Illinois State - 19
4. Indiana State - 12
5. Bradley - 10
5. Southern Illinois - 10
7. Drake - 8
8. Missouri State - 5
9. Evansville - 0
10. Valparaiso - 0
 
Men's Day One Champions
Sam Overton - Javelin Throw
Riley Smith - Pole Vault
 
Women's Day One Champions
Erin Reese - Hammer Throw
 
Men's Day One All-MVC
Akis Medrano - 10K, second place
Callan Whitehouse - Pole Vault, second place
 
Men's Day One Scorers
Antoine Howard - Pole Vault, fifth place
Sam Overton - Hammer Throw, sixth place
 
Women's Day One Scorers
Cassaundra Roper - Hammer Throw, seventh place
 
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.