TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Alabama sun and warmth proved no issue for Sycamore track and field on Saturday as several athletes, both men and women, entered the Indiana State top-10 in their respective events.
 
The Indiana State men's sprinters continued to impress against some of the top athletes in the nation. In a loaded field of competition, Jarel Shaw, JaVaughn Moore, Jhivon Wilson and Noah Malone placed fifth with a new season-best time of 40.60, improving their lead in the Missouri Valley Conference and giving them the 22nd-best time in the NCAA East Region in addition to the 48th-best time in the NCAA.
 
Moore didn't end his day there, however, as the outdoor sophomore walked away with a victory in the men's 100-meter dash later in the afternoon. The Marietta, Ga., native ran the third-fastest time in Sycamore history of 10.39 to give him the MVC lead, push him to 19th in the East Region and place him 40th in the nation.
 
Following Moore's strong day, Leroy Russell made sure the momentum would continue to grow on the track for the Trees. The sophomore placed second overall in the 800-meter run by posting the best time in the conference of 1:50.19, also the sixth-best time in ISU history. He now sits at 29th in the NCAA East Region and 56th in the NCAA. Russell and Will Smith are now one-two in the MVC standings.
 
For the third-consecutive week, Noah Malone ran a time faster than the 200-meter dash Para World Record. Saturday saw Malone post a wind-aided (2.5) time of 21.38 to give him a ninth-place finish. His time of 21.07 from the EIU Dual Meet still sits at the top of the Valley.
 
In the men's 400-meter hurdles, freshman Quincy Armstrong had a strong debut in the event for the Sycamores. Armstrong placed ninth overall in the behind a time of 54.44, the fifth-best time in the Missouri Valley Conference currently.
 
The men's 4X400-meter relay squad of Ben Shepard, Will Smith, Mitchell Cline and Tahj Johnson placed fifth in the final event on the track, crossing the line in fifth with the best time in the Valley of 3:15.23.
 
Frankie Young III represented the Blue & White well in the horizontal jumps, jumping his way to a top-10 placement in the men's long jump. Young ended his day in seventh behind a leap of 7.09m (23-03.25), but his mark of 7.21m (23-08.00) from the Ole Miss Classic is first in the MVC.
 
The lone Sycamore to earn a finals appearance in the throws on the men's side came from freshman Wyatt Puff. Puff placed eighth in the men's shot put, recording a throw of 16.68m (54-08.75) on his fifth attempt to secure his position. The freshman is fifth in the conference thanks to his mark of 17.27m (56-08.00) from the EIU Dual Meet.
 
Tossing his way to a top-10 finish was Brett Norton in the men's discus throw. The sophomore recorded a throw of 48.89m (160-04) on his third attempt, good for 10th overall and pushing him to seventh in the MVC.
 
All three Sycamore high jumpers placed within the top-10 in their event, led by Nathan Kiger who claimed sixth with a clearance of 2.05m (6-08.75). Nick Schultz also recorded a mark of 2.05m en route to a seventh-place finish while Kevin Krutsch took 10th at 2.00m (6-06.75). In the conference standings, Schultz still sits at second while Kiger and Krutsch are tied for fourth.
 
In the first event of the day, Jocelyn Quiles opened up in a big way for the Blue & White womens. The O'Fallon, Mo., native claimed victory in the women's 5000-meter run after taking the lead 3800-meters into the race, clocking a final time of 17:06.92. Her late kick gave her a 13 second victory over second-place and now has her sitting at fifth in the Missouri Valley Conference.
 
Reynei Wallace had the best outing of her young season in the 100-meter dash, clocking a season-best time of 12.02 en route to a heat three victory and 14th-place finish overall. She now sits at fifth in the Valley.
 
Freshman Ryann Porter had her best day in a Sycamore uniform at the Crimson Tide Invitational. Porter took fourth in the women's triple behind a personal-best jump of 12.36m (40-06.75), the sixth-best jump in Sycamore history. Her jump propels her to the top of the MVC and gives her the 26th-best mark in the East. The freshman also won heat four of the women's 100-meter hurdles and placed 17th overall with a time of 14.49, the fourth-best time in the conference.
 
Pole vaulter Selene Weaver continued her impressive freshman campaign on Saturday, placing sixth in the pole vault at Alabama. The freshman ended with a clearance of 3.82m (12-06.25) while her clearance of 3.86m (12-08.00) from the Ole Miss Classic is still atop the MVC.
 
The first throwing event of the day saw a top-eight finish for freshman Hannah Redlin in the discus. Redlin took sixth overall behind a toss of 46.51m (152-07) on her fourth attempt of the competition. Her mark of 47.49m (155-10) from the EIU Dual Meet is third in the Valley.
 
Terre Haute native Lauren England also managed to qualify for finals in the throws, securing a top-nine finish in the shot put. The outdoor freshman recorded a season-best toss of 14.48m (47-06.25) to take eighth, her best throw since the 2020 MVC Indoor Championships where she earned a mark of 14.69m (48-02.50). She is now sixth in the Missouri Valley Conference.
 
Indiana State track and field will be back in action next Friday and Saturday (Apr. 16-17) when they return to the Gibson Track & Field Complex to host the Gibson Invitational.
 
Other Notable Performances
Men's 100m Dash
12. Jarel Shaw - 10.72
 
Women's 100m Dash
19. Daija Springer - 12.42
 
Men's 400m Dash
15. Tahj Johnson - 49.79
 
Women's 400m Dash
9. Iyanla Hunter - 56.53
 
Men's 110m Hurdles
12. Matthew Lewis-Banks - 14.50
13. Daryl Black - 14.57
 
Women's 100m Hurdles
20. Zoe Sullivan - 14.74
 
Men's 400m Hurdles
12. Caine Wilson - 56.26
 
Women's 400m Hurdles
14. Riley Tuerff - 1:05.15
16. Ayana Parchman - 1:05.27
 
Men's 5K
10. Ethan Breen - 15:14.68
 
Women's 4X100m Relay
10. Williams, Wallace, Hunter, Springer - 47.45
 
Women's 4X400m Relay
6. Hunter, Long, Odusola, Sullivan - 3:54.55
 
Women's High Jump
13. Kelsey Bowlds - 1.65m (5-05.00)
 
Women's Long Jump
8. Kaitlyn Davis - 5.70m (18-08.50)
 
Men's Shot Put
11. Brett Norton - 16.16m (53-00.25)
13. Joe Barnes - 15.87m (52-00.75)
 
Women's Shot Put
10. Jayla Bynum - 14.01m (45-11.75)
 
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.