TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State track and field makes its second trek to the Windy City Saturday, when the Sycamores compete in the DePaul Alumni Classic at Gately Park.
 
Saturday's field events will start at noon, with the first events on the track slated for 2 p.m.
 
Last Time Out
Five Indiana State track and field athletes picked up first-place finishes against top competition at the Dr. Rick McGuire Invitational inside the Hearnes Center.
 
Sprinters Casey Hood Jr. (60m) and Daunte Majors (200m), hurdler Rachel Mehringer (60m hurdles), high jumper Kevin Krutsch and thrower Niesha Anderson (weight throw) all took home top spot in their respective events.
 
Indiana State also produced program top-10 marks across all of its event groups during their time in the Show-Me State. Hood Jr. (60m and 200m), Majors (200m), Ivan Weaver (400m), Emma Gresham (3000m), Hadley Gradolf (5000m), Peyton Smith (5000m), Jahnel Bowman (triple jump), Wyatt Puff (shot put) and Jake Ottersbach (heptathlon) all rose up the program ranks over the course of the weekend.
 
Weekly Winner
Indiana State sophomore sprinter Casey Hood Jr. was named the MVC Men's Track Athlete of the Week following a career-best weekend at the Dr. Rick McGuire Invitational.
 
Hood Jr. set career-best marks in both the 60m and 200m in the Show-Me State, with his blistering 60 time of 6.61 breaking Missouri's facility record which had stood for a decade. Hood Jr. paced Indiana State's sprinters in a sweep of the top three spots in the 60m, while his 200m of 21.22 placed him second behind only teammate Daunte Majors.
 
In addition to being career-best times, Hood Jr.'s times also placed him third in program history in the 60m and fourth in program history in the 200m. He ranks second in the MVC in both events, behind only fellow Sycamores Terrance O'Bannon in the 60m and Majors in the 200m. Hood Jr. also ranks second in the Great Lakes Region and 21st nationally in the 60m, while his 200m time also ranks in the top 10 in the Great Lakes Region and the top 100 nationally.
 
Sycamores Surging
Indiana State rose two spots in the USTFCCCA Men's Great Lakes Region rankings this week, with the Sycamores moving up to No. 3 in the region behind only Wisconsin and Purdue. The Trees also remained at No. 11 in the USTFCCCA Women's Great Lakes Region rankings.
 
The Sycamores have become a constant in the region rankings, with the men in the top 10 and the women in the top 15 of every region ranking for the last three seasons. Indiana State's run in the rankings has also coincided with the Sycamores' championship run, as the Blue and White have won five of the six conference championships during that span.
 
Moving Up The Ranks
Indiana State produced program top-10 marks across all of its event groups at the Crossroads of America Invitational, with multiple top marks coming from both the sprinters and distance crew.
 
Casey Hood Jr. (60m, 6.61; 200m, 21.22), Daunte Majors (200m, 21.20) and Ivan Weaver (400m, 48.00) all moved into the top five in program history in sprints events, while Emma Gresham climbed into the top three in program history in the 3000m (9:27.10). Hadley Gradolf (17:16.72) and Peyton Smith (17:20.67) also cracked the program charts in the 5000m.
 
Jahnel Bowman (triple jump, 12.21m/40-0.75), Wyatt Puff (shot put, 18.48m/60-7.75) and Jake Ottersbach (heptathlon, 4816) also added their names to the program top-10 lists, with Puff's mark in the shot put ranking second in school history.
 
Trees At The Top
Indiana State enters the weekend with the top athlete in the MVC in nine different events. The Sycamores' 10 No. 1 rankings in the MVC are the most among any school in the conference.
 
The nine Sycamores who currently hold top marks in the MVC are:

• Terrance O'Bannon – 60m (6.60)
• Daunte Majors – 200m (21.20)
• Erica Barker – 5000m (16:56.23)
• Rachel Mehringer – 60m hurdles (8.19)
• Ryan York, Tahj Johnson, Caden Emmert, Jason Dworak – distance medley relay (10:01.80)
• Brooklyn Pfaff – pole vault (4.00m/13-1.5)
• Noah Bolt – weight throw (20.32m/66-8)
• Niesha Anderson – weight throw (19.75m/64-9.75)

 
In addition to the top conference rankings, Indiana State owns the top two spots in both the men's 60m (O'Bannon and Casey Hood Jr.) and the men's 200m (Majors and Hood Jr.).
 
Top-Tier Trees
Indiana State currently features eight athletes who rank in the top 50 in the NCAA in an event, with the Sycamores looking to place athletes in the NCAA Indoor National Championships for a third consecutive season.
 
Indiana State's nationally-ranked athletes through the Sycamores' first three meets of the season are:

• Terrance O'Bannon – 60m (16th, 6.60)
• Niesha Anderson – weight throw (16th, 21.28m/69-9.75)
• Casey Hood Jr. – 60m (21st, 6.61)
• Rachel Mehringer – 60m hurdles (25th, 8.19)
• Will Staggs – pole vault (29th, 5.39m/17-8.25)
• Wyatt Puff – shot put (38th, 18.48m/60-7.75)
• Ryan York, Tahj Johnson, Caden Emmert, Jason Dworak – distance medley relay (40th, 10:01.80)
• Noah Bolt – weight throw (49th, 20.32m/66-8)

 
Up Next
Indiana State plays host to its first of two home meets during the indoor season February 15 when it welcomes athletes to the Indoor Track and Field Facility for the Blue-White Classic.
 
The Sycamores will also have a contingent of athletes at both the GVSU Big Meet in Allendale, Michigan, and the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas, with those meets taking place February 14-15.
 
Follow the Sycamores
For the latest information on the Sycamore Track & Field and Cross Country teams, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook and Twitter. Fans can also receive updates on Sycamore Athletics by downloading the March On App from the both the App Store and the Google Play Store.