FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Indiana State showed it belonged with some of the top talent Division I, going toe-to-toe with elite talent at the Tyson Invitational.
 
Shomari Rogers-Walton produced Indiana State's lone first-place finish of the meet with a season-best mark in the long jump (7.67m/25-02.00), while Will Staggs broke his own school record in the pole vault (5.52m/18-01.25) for a second consecutive weekend. The Trees also got a career-best performance in the 60m from Terrance O'Bannon (6.63), while Niesha Anderson continued her strong season with another high mark in the weight throw (20.51m/67-03.50).
 
Event Winners

• Shomari Rogers-Walton – long jump (7.67m/25-02.00)

 
Top-Three Finishes

• Niesha Anderson – weight throw (third, 20.51m/67-03.50)

 
Other Notable Marks

• Terrance O'Bannon – 60m (6.63 in prelims)
• Will Staggs – pole vault, invitational section (5.52m/18-01.25, school record)

 
Sprints/Hurdles
Indiana State's men's 60m group showed why it entered the week ranked in the top 10 nationally, as Terrance O'Bannon and Casey Hood Jr. put on a show in SEC country. O'Bannon (6.69 qualifying/6.63 prelims) and Hood Jr. (6.71 qualifying/6.72 prelims) both advanced through two qualifying rounds to reach the finals, with Indiana State and national powerhouse LSU the only schools with multiple athletes in the 60m finals in a stacked field.
 
The Trees also got a season-best performance in the women's 60m from Collette Wolfe, who clocked a time of 7.67. Wolfe has gone sub-7.70 three times in the last two meets for the Sycamores. Collin Forrest also clocked his best 60m hurdles time since mid-January at 8.22, while Rachel Mehringer (8.53 qualifying/8.48 prelims) and Shanisa Stinson (8.78 qualifying) continued their strong seasons for the Sycamores.
 
Jumps/Pole Vault
The Will Staggs show kept rolling on in Fayetteville, as the Sycamores' All-American pole vaulter broke his own school record for a second straight weekend. Staggs, the only MVC athlete to clear 18 feet in the event in the last 20 years, cleared a mark of 5.52m (18-01.25) to place fourth in the invitational section, which consisted of multiple All-Americans and professional athletes.
 
Shomari Rogers-Walton put together arguably his best meet of the season on the biggest stage he's been on in the 2023-24 campaign, delivering a first-place finish in the long jump with a career-best mark of 7.67m (25-02.00). Rogers-Walton also delivered a solid showing in a loaded triple jump field, with his mark of 15.10m (49-06.50) nearly matching his season-best in the event.
 
Mitch Conard also had his best showing in the long jump since mid-January, placing inside the top 10 with a mark of 7.06m (23-02.00). Jaden Smith recorded a top mark of 13.99m (45-10.75) in the triple jump for the Trees.
 
Throws
Niesha Anderson continued her stellar season in the weight throw with a top-three finish at 20.51m (67-03.50). Anderson was the only athlete top five in the event from outside the Power Five conferences. She also recorded a mark of 12.59m (41-03.75) in the shot put, with Hannah Redlin (14.14m/46-04.75) pacing the Trees in that event.
 
Noah Bolt also continued his strong season in the weight throw, earning a top-10 finish with a mark of 19.84m (65-01.25), while Ryan Golliher posted a season-best mark of 18.57m (60-11.25) to place in the top 15. Brett Norton led the way for the Blue and White in the shot put with a mark of 16.72m (54-10.25), while Bolt also placed in the top 15 at 16.41m (53-10.25).
 
Up Next
Indiana State returns home for its final meet before the MVC Indoor Championships, playing host to the ISU Open the afternoon of February 17.
 
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