Track & Field

Illinois State Selected as Favorite in T&F Pre-Championship Poll

ST. LOUIS – Illinois State has been selected unanimously as the favorite in the 2018 Outdoor Pre-Championship poll on the both the men’s and women’s side. The Championship will take place May 11-13th in Terre Haute, Indiana hosted by Indiana State. Check out Championship Central - Here - for more championship details. 

Men’s Track & Field Pre-Championship Poll

Illinois State received nine first-place votes and 100 total points. Derrius Rodgers currently leads the Valley in the 100m with a time of 10.42. Anderson Devonish holds the fastest time in the Valley this season in the 400m. Sophomore, Jaylan McConico leads with a time of 13.81 in the 1100m hurdles. McConico’s time is good enough for 22nd in the NCAA. Jack Anstey and Kyle Mattes lead in the 1,500m and 10,000m runs respectively. In field events, Ryan Ashenbremer and Luke Nelson are tied for the highest mark in pole vault with a height of 16’ 8” (5.08m). James Bradenburg leads the Valley with a score of 6,940 in the decathlon.

Indiana State claimed second with a total of 66 points. The Sycamores were the 2018 MVC Indoor T&F runners-up. Senior Jamie Murtagh’s high jump mark of 7’1.75” (2.18m) has led the Valley since April 6th. Murtagh ranks in the top 20 on the NCAA Outdoor Qualifying List.

Northern Iowa came in a close third, after receiving 65 points. The Panther’s 4x400 Relay team set the top time of 3:08.35 at the Musco Twilight on April 12th. Jacob Smith and Jojo Frost hold the top two times in the 400m hurdles so far this season. Freshman Isaiah Trousil set the top time of 21.03 at the Drake Relays to overtake Illinois State senior, Devonish Anderson’s time of 21.04.

Southern Illinois earned fourth-place in the Pre-Championship poll with 58 points. Luke Horton holds the fastest time in the 800m. The Salukis hold the top spot in four field events. Marcellus Fletcher triple jump mark of 50’6” (15.39m) has been good enough for the top mark since April 12th. Ricky Hurley sits at the top in both the discus throw and hammer throw and holds the No. 2 position behind Jared Kern in shot put. Kern’s throw of 64’6” (19.66m) places him 11th in the NCAA. Ricky Hurley is in the NCAA’s top 50 for shot put, discus, and hammer throw.

Bradley was selected fifth with 41 points. The Braves continue to hold strong in the distance events. Taylor Floyd Mews and Haran Dunderdale sit atop the performance lists for the 5,000m and 3,000m steeplechase, respectively. Dunderdale’s time in the 3,000 steeple has earned 18th on the NCAA list. Two of the top five spots in the 1,500m and 10,000m are held by runners from Bradley.

The Bulldogs from Drake secured 35 total points which earned them sixth place in the coaches’ poll. Drake’s 4x100 relay team of Malik Metivier, Caulin Graves, Kundai Maguranyanga, and Blair Barrow placed third at the Arkansas Spring Invitational on March 24th. Their time of 40.63 leads the Valley this season.

Loyola received 32 points which places them in seventh. Eric Burns leads the long jump with a leap of 24’5.5” (7.45m). Burns earned the silver medal during the Indoor Championship for his performance in the long jump. Rambler, Kevin White holds top five times in the 800m and 1,500m.

Valparaiso was selected to finish eighth in the Pre-Championship poll with 18 total points. Dylan Antonides has held the furthest javelin throw mark of 177’1” (53.97m) since April 6th.

Evansville rounds out the poll in ninth place after receiving nine points in the coaches’ pre-championship poll.
 
Place Team (First-Place Votes) Points
1. Illinois State (9) 81
2. Indiana State 66
3. Northern Iowa 65
4. Southern Illinois 58
5. Bradley 41
6. Drake 35
7. Loyola 32
8. Valparaiso 18
9. Evansville 9
 
Women’s Track & Field Pre-Championship Poll

Illinois State’s women were voted unanimously to finish first and received 100 points. Demetria Anderson leads the 100 hurdles this season with a time of 13.42. The Redbirds hold the top marks in pole vault and shot put. Ariana Cranston holds a strong lead on the MVC leaderboard with her mark of 12’8.25” (3.87m); the next closest height is 12’4”. Junior Brandy Thomas threw 52’6” (16.00m) in shot put to lead the MVC.

Indiana State received 90 points and secured second-place. Brittany Neely holds the fastest times in the 800m and 1,500. Neely is followed closely by teammates Austin Taylor and Brooke Moore who hold the next two fast times in the Valley this season. Austin Taylor leads the Valley in the 3,000 Steeple and ranks 4th on the NCAA Qualifying List. The Sycamores 4x400 Relay team set a top time at the Drake Relays last week.  The Indoor Most Outstanding Field Athlete, Erin Reese’s discus throw mark of 177’1” (53.98m) leads the MVC.

Southern Illinois was picked to finish third in the coaches’ poll. The Salukis hold the top two spots in the 100m dash with Ty’Juana Eason’s time of 11.52 claiming the first spot followed by Bri’Anna Branch. Sophomore Shafiqua Maloney leads the 400m performance list. Eason, Branch, and Maloney ran with teammate Genesis Ewell on the Valley leading 4x100 relay team. Madison Meyer holds the top spot in heptathlon with 5118 points. She leads the second-place athlete by 200 points.

The Northern Iowa Panthers secured fourth with 68 points. Kassidy Sharp leads the high jump with a height of 1.74 (5’8.5”). Sarah Pate’s hammer throw make of 207’2” (63.14m) is ranked 18th in the NCAA and first in the MVC so far this season.

Missouri State was selected to finish fifth and received 63 points in the poll. The Bears have three athletes who lead the Valley so far in their respective events. Asha Cave leads the 200m with a time 23.63. Freshman Rochelle Etienne threw 144’3” (43.97m) in the javelin. Sidne’ Williamson’s long jump mark ranks in the top 50 in the NCAA.

Loyola was voted sixth by the coaches. Lindsey Brewis and Emma Hatch set top Valley times on April 19th. Brewis clocked a time of 16:14.16 in the 5,000m while Hatch ran the 10,000m in 34:41.02.

Drake earned seventh with 41 points. Victoria Coombe earned the top Valley time after crossing the finish line of the 400 hurdles in 1:00.80. Triple jumper, Taryn Rolle, set the mark to beat on April 13th and has maintained the top spot with a leap of 41’8.5” (12.71m).

Bradley received 31 points to finish eighth. The Braves finished in eighth place with 17 points at the Indoor Track & Field Championship.

Valparaiso and Evansville round out the coaches’ pre-championship poll in ninth and tenth place respectively.
 
Place Team (First-Place Votes) Points
1. Illinois State (10) 100
2. Indiana State 90
3. Southern Illinois 79
4. Northern Iowa 68
5. Missouri State 63
6. Loyola 48
7. Drake 41
8. Bradley 31
9. Valparaiso 18
10. Evansville 12