Weekly Notebook (PDF)

Male Track
Jack Anstey, Jr., Illinois State (Newtown Toowoomba, Australia)
Competing in a loaded field at the Iowa State Classic, Anstey accomplished a feat that had only been done once prior in Illinois State track & field history: run a sub-four mile. Racing in the hot heat of the event, Anstey utilized the fastest close of anyone in the pack to climb through the group in the final 400 meters, ultimately placing third in a personal-best 3:59.66. With this time, Anstey joins MVC and Illinois State Athletics Percy Family Hall of Famer Christian Goy as the only Redbirds to ever run a sub-four mile. Anstey’s mark not only ranks second all-time in Redbird track & field history but is currently first in the Valley and 21st in the nation. He also becomes the 68th Australian to achieve this outstanding accomplishment.
 
Notables: Michael Ward, Bradley; Matthew Lewis-Banks, Indiana State; Akhil Ghosh, Loyola; Evan Long, UNI
 
Male Field
Adam Kessler, Sr., Southern Illinois (Lansing, Ill.)
Adam Kessler won the shot put for the third time this season at the Bulldog Invite, hosted by Samford University. The senior from Lansing, Ill. won with a toss of 61’-4.75” (18.71m) and helped SIU nab the top-3 spots in the event. He currently leads the Valley, and is ranked 18th nationally, in the event.
 
Notables: Luke Nelson, Illinois State; Sam Overton, Indiana State; Eric Burns, Loyola; Keegan Tritle, UNI
 
Female Track
Hattie Plumb, Jr., Illinois State (Green Bay, Wis.)
On the second day of Vanderbilt’s Music City Challenge, Plumb recorded a lifetime personal-best in the 800-meter for the second-straight week, climbing Illinois State’s all-time top-10 list and advancing up the Valley ranks. Plumb placed sixth overall among 39 competitors with the second-fastest time in Redbird track & field history (2:08.19). With this time, not only does Plumb sit atop the MVC in the event, but she ranks 44th in all of Division I as well.
 
Notables: Niamh Markham, Bradley; Brooke Moore, Indiana State; Lindsey Brewis, Loyola; Taryn Smiley, Missouri State; Maddie McCalla, UNI; Tyjuana Eason, Southern Illinois
 
Female Field
Cassaundra Roper, RS Sr., Indiana State (Indianapolis, Ind.)
In the field for the Sycamore women at the Music City Challenge, Cassaundra Roper once again led the way for the Trees. Saturday featured her premiere event, the shot put, and the redshirt senior ended up placing fifth out of 42 athletes with a season-best mark of 15.95m (52-04.00). Her mark pushes her back to first in the Valley. In addition to the top throw in the conference, Roper’s mark also moves her up to 30th on the national list.
 
Notables: Nicole Bagwell, Illinois State; Jana Rokitta, Loyola; Jamilah James, Missouri State; Allison Griffin, UNI; A’veun Moore-Jones, Southern Illinois