TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Indiana State men's track & field team caught fire early at the John Gartland Invitational and never looked back, claiming the meet title in convincing fashion on Saturday. The Sycamore women also finished as champions, defeating Northern Illinois in a neck-and-neck matchup.
 
Indiana State's men tallied an impressive 293 points at the invitational, running away from Valparaiso (102), Evansville (42), Bradley (28) and Northern Kentucky (21). On the women's side, the Sycamores defeated Northern Illinois in a close battle, 182-179, and also defeated Northern Kentucky (66), Valparaiso (51), Evansville (17) and Bradley (2).
 
Sycamore hurdling standout Matthew Lewis-Banks once again earned a victory in the 60-meter hurdles, this time breaking his own meet and facility record in finals with a time of 8.01. The sophomore was followed by teammates Avery Taylor and Daryl Black in second and third with times of 8.32 and 8.34, respectively. Lewis-Banks' time of 7.92 from the Coughlan/Malloy Cup still sits atop the Missouri Valley Conference and is 37th nationally.
 
Lewis-Banks' day wasn't over after hurdles. After earning a victory in the 60-meter hurdles, the sophomore turned around and scored his second win of the day in the 60-meter dash, clocking a time of 6.92 which puts him at sixth in the conference. Freshman Jamal Safo took second right behind him, crossing the line at 7.05.
 
JaVaughn Moore and Jarel Shaw expanded their horizons in the sprinting events, racing in the 400-meter dash at the John Gartland Invite. Moore captured victory with a time of 50.34 and was followed closely by Shaw in second at 50.78. Michael Marling earned bronze in the event, clocking a time of 50.85.
 
Indiana State earned a sweep in the men's 800-meter run with Cale Kilian pacing the Trees, crossing the finish line in first at 1:55.98. Isaac Bentz led the chase pack in second with a time of 1:58.18 while Ben Shepard was right on his tail in third at 1:58.39.
 
In the men's 600-meter run, ISU tallied 14 points behind a two-three-four finish. Caine Wilson was the runner-up, recording a time of 1:28.08 and was followed by W. Trent Wilson in third at 1:29.51. Taking fourth, Garrett Wagner ended his day with a time of 1:30.86.
 
The Trees earned an incredible 30/31 points in the men's 200-meter dash at the John Gartland Invitational. Moore earned his second victory of the day behind a time of 22.29 and he was followed by Jhivon Wilson in second at 22.40. ISU finished-off the perfect top-five finish, as Jarel Shaw, Daryl Black and Xion Russell finished in third, fourth in fifth with times of 22.69, 23.16 and 23.54, respectively.
 
During the 4X400-meter relay competition, the team of Marling, Safo, Lewis-Banks and Shepard claimed another victory for the blue and white, clocking a time of 3:24.86 en route to the victory.
 
The Sycamore high jumpers continued their impressive season on Saturday, sweeping the podium and earning 27 points in the event. Nathan Kiger was the victor, finishing at 2.03m (6-08.00) and was followed by Avery Taylor with the same mark. Junior Nick Schultz took bronze at 1.98m (6-06.00).
 
ISU's long jumpers caught fire inside the Indoor Track & Field Facility. The Sycamores captured first through fourth, led by Frankie Young II in his first career win with a jump of 6.88m (22-07.00). Safo followed behind at 6.84m (22-05.25) for second-place honors, while Dearis Herron and Corey DuPriest took third and fourth with distances of 6.74m (22-01.50) and 6.73m (22-01.00), respectively.
 
Brett Norton claimed the shot put title after struggling in the weight throw, recording a throw of 16.13m (52-11.00) to win. Joe Barnes took silver in the event, recording a mark of 15.23m (49-11.75) while Nick Young took bronze at 14.92m (48-11.50). Colton Yeakley finished the top-four with a toss of 14.86m (48-09.00).
 
Three is now the magic number for Sycamore freshman Emmanuel Odubanjo. Odubanjo claimed his third-consecutive victory in the triple jump, falling just short of his personal-best mark, ending with a jump of 14.45m (47-05.00).
 
It was a two-three finish in the pole vault for the blue and white on Saturday, as Callan Whitehouse captured second place with a vault of 4.66m (15-03.50). He was followed by senior Antoine Howard who cleared 4.51m (14-09.50).
 
Freshman Reynei Wallace had a big day on the track for the Indiana State women. The freshman claimed her first collegiate win, capturing the 60-meter dash title with a time of 7.80. She now sits at sixth in the Valley.
 
Wallace also led the blue and white in the 200-meter dash, taking the runner-up spot while clocking a time of 25.76.
 
A second victory on the track came later in the afternoon from Imani Davis. Davis, a senior, clocked a time of 2:14.73 in the 800-meter run to win the event by over three seconds. Her time on Saturday improved her already Valley-leading time.
 
Alli Workman battled Sycamore-great Taylor Austin in the women's 3000-meter run in what made for an exciting race. Workman outlasted her old teammate, winning the event with a time of 10:08.46, holding off Austin who finished at 10:12.16.
 
The women's 4X400-meter relay team composed of Iyanla Hunter, Rebecca Odusola, Jezel Martin and Davis ran the top-time in the Valley on Saturday afternoon, clocking a time of 3:51.94 for a second-place finish, only behind Northern Illinois who ended at 3:50.54.
 
In the long jump ISU went two-three-four-five and was led by freshman Claire Pittman with a jump of 5.56m (18-03.00). McKendra Barthelme followed Pittman in third at 5.51m (18-01.00), Faith Frye took fourth with a jump of 5.46m (17-11.00) and Kaitlyn Davis rounded out the top-five at 5.39m (17-08.25).
 
The women's high jumpers continued the success in the event for the Sycamores, as freshman Kelsey Bowlds recorded a new personal-best jump of 1.73m (5-08.00) for the runner-up position, falling only to unattached athlete Liz Evans. She is now tied for the best jump in the Missouri Valley.
 
Youth once again shined in the throws group for the Indiana State women, as freshman Lauren England placed second in the shot put with a throw of 13.56m (44-06.00). Her teammates, Jayla Bynum and Megan Lambrecht, took third and fourth with marks of 12.17m (39-11.25) and 12.07m (39-07.25), respectively.
 
Both track & field teams will be back in action next weekend when they travel to Bloomington, Ind. for the IU Relays.
 
Men's Team Scores
1. Indiana State - 293
2. Valparaiso - 102
3. Evansville - 42
4. Bradley - 28
5. Northern Kentucky - 21
 
Women's Team Scores
1. Indiana State - 182
2. Northern Illinois - 179 
3. Northern Kentucky - 66
4. Valparaiso - 51
5. Evansville - 17
6. Bradley - 2
 
Other Notable Performances
Women's 60m Hurdles
3. Allana Ince - 8.63
 
Women's 200m Dash
4. Iyanla Hunter - 25.91
5. Faith Lindsey - 26.01
 
Women's 400m Dash
5. Rebecca Odusola - 59.20
 
Men's Mile
4. Noah Hufnagel - 4:22.08
5. Justin Niederhaus - 4:22.34
 
Women's 3K
4. Maggie Falater - 10:54.57
 
Women's 5K
2. Michaela Ward - 17:46.02
 
Men's High Jump
4. Bryan Keubeng - 1.88m (6-02.00)
 
Women's High Jump
4. Janea Bell - 1.65m (5-05.00)
5. Amiyah James - 1.60m (5-03.00)
 
Women's Triple Jump
3. Chante Johnson - 10.47m (34-04.25)
 
Men's Weight Throw
3. Nick Young - 15.90m (52-02.00)
4. Kannon Sams - 15.87m (52-01.00)
 
Women's Weight Throw
4. Jayla Bynum - 14.59m (47-10.50)
5. Megan Lambrecht - 14.17m (46-06.00)
 
For the latest information on the Sycamore Cross Country and Track & Field teams, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook and Twitter.