CHARLESTON, Ill. – The Sycamore men's and women's track & field teams were both victorious on Friday evening at the EIU Friday Night Special in Charleston, Ill., hosted by Eastern Illinois.
 
Indiana State's men were victorious with 232.5 points, defeating Illinois State (112), Vincennes (47), Eastern Illinois (41.5) and Lincoln College (38) to round out the top-five teams. The Sycamore women ended with 118 points to defeat Illinois State (104), Northern Illinois (75), Eastern Illinois (53) and Ashmore (39) to round out their top-five teams.
 
The Sycamore long jumpers had a strong day in the field at Eastern Illinois, led by sophomore Bryan Keubeng. The Illinois-Chicago transfer recorded a big personal-best jump of 7.29m (23-11.00) to claim victory in the event, pushing him to fourth in the Missouri Valley Conference. His teammate Dearis Herron earned a bronze finish, taking third with a jump of 7.02m (23-00.50).
 
Competing against one of the best throwers in the Valley, Brett Norton held his own in the weight throw. The freshman ended his day in second with a career-best toss of 17.93m (58-10.00), falling only to Southern Illinois' Ricky Hurley. Norton's mark is now the fifth-best toss in the MVC.
 
Norton continued his impressive day in the shot put, claiming victory in the event while recording a big personal-best toss of 17.20m (56-05.25) en route to the win. His new personal-best mark moves him up to ninth in the Valley.
 
Also finishing as a runner-up in the field for the men was Nathan Kiger. Kiger led the Sycamores with his second-place finish, finishing with a jump of 2.00m (6-06.75).
 
On the track for the Sycamore men, Justine Niederhaus got the winning started in the men's mile. Niederhaus earned the top spot in the event, crossing the line with a time of 4:19.10, a win by over three seconds. Freshman Jackson Krieg took third overall with a time of 4:22.68.
 
Indiana State's sprinters once again were dominant on the track, claiming the top-four position in the men's 60-meter dash final. JaVaughn Moore paced the sprinting group, winning the event behind a time of 6.81 and he was followed closely by Jarel Shaw in second at 6.87. Freshman Jhivon Wilson ended his day in third place with a time of 6.91 while Matthew Lewis-Banks rounded out the group in fourth at 6.97.
 
Earning the second victory in the distance events for the men was Cale Kilian. The junior paced the Sycamores with a time of 8:34.38 and ended up winning the event by 15 seconds.
 
The Sycamores picked up two additional wins on the track in the last two events of the evening. The men's 4X400-meter relay squad of Antonio Davis, W. Trent Wilson, Leroy Russell and Garret Wagner were victorious with a time 3:29.78. Then, freshman Will Smith won the men's 1000-meter run at 2:31.23.
 
The duo of Avery Taylor and Daryl Black represented the Trees well in the 60-meter hurdles, both earning top-three finishes in Lantz Fieldhouse. Taylor edged out Black for the silver medal, clocking a time of 8.28, while Black took bronze at 8.30.
 
Davis was the leader in the men's 600-meter run for the Blue & White, earning a second-place finish behind a time of 1:25.02. Wilson took the third position, finishing with a time of 1:28.10.
 
Claiming the first win on the track for the Indiana State women was Rebecca Odusola. Odusola raced her way to victory in the women's 800-meter run, clocking a time of 2:16.28, winning the event by over three seconds.
 
Freshman Iyanla Hunter ensured the Sycamores would earn multiple wins on the track on the women's side, winning the women's 200-meter dash after Odusola's victory. Hunter crossed the line with a time of 25.58 to earn the victory.
 
The momentum continued to build on the women's side, as Jocelyn Quiles picked up a distance win for the Blue & White. Quiles crossed the line ahead of the pack, ending with a time of 9:54.44 which is now sixth in the conference.
 
Building off of a stellar performance at the Hoosier Hills meet a week ago, Allana Ince remained hot for the Trees. The senior hurdler clocked a new career-best and fourth-fastest 60-meter hurdle time of 8.46 en route to placing second in the event, falling only to Sycamore alum Ayanna Morgan.
 
Senior Imani Davis was the top finisher for ISU in women's 400-meter dash on Friday. Davis raced across the finish line in second-place, recording a time of 57.97.
 
Other Top-Five Performances
Women's 60m Dash
4. Claire Pittman - 7.82
5. Daija Springer - 7.82
 
Women's 60m Hurdles
5. Tajaa Fair - 8.86
 
Men's 400m Dash
3. Will Smith - 51.29
 
Men's 800m Run
5. Ben Shepard - 1:58.49
 
Women's Mile Run
4. Michaela Ward - 5:10.74
 
Men's 1000m Run
3. Leroy Russell - 2:32.17
5. Wyatt Wyman - 2:36.96
 
Men's 3000m Run
4. Ethan Breen - 8:50.99
 
Men's High Jump
4. Nick Schultz - 1.95m (6-04.75)
 
Women's High Jump
3. Kelsey Bowlds - 1.65m (5-05.00)
5. Marisa Marshall - 1.60m (5-03.00)
 
Men's Long Jump
5. Corey DuPriest - 6.58m (21-07.25)
 
Women's Long Jump
5. Kaitlyn Davis - 5.46m (17-11.00)
 
Women's Triple Jump
5. Brittney Walker - 11.02m (36-02.00)
 
Men's Pole Vault
4. Callan Whitehouse - 4.75m (15-07.00)
5. Antoine Howard - 4.60m (15-01.00)
 
Men's Shot Put
5. Nick Young - 15.72m (51-07.00)
 
Women's Shot Put
5. Lauren England - 13.88m (45-06.50)
 
Men's Weight Throw
4. Nick Young - 16.89m (55-05.00)
 
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.