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Indiana State Men & Illinois State Women Selected as Favorite in Outdoor T&F Pre-Championship Poll

St. Louis – The Indiana State men have been tabbed as the favorite in the 2021 Outdoor Track & Field Pre-Championship Poll. On the women’s side, Illinois State was unanimously voted by the league coaches to finish first.

Men’s Pre-Championship Poll-

Indiana State was picked to finish first with 76 total points and five first-place votes.  The Sycamores currently have six of the top-ten times in the 100m with JaVaughn Moore’s mark of 10.39 ranked first in the Valley and 80th nationally. Teammate Matthew Lewis-Banks holds the second-fastest 110m hurdles time in the MVC while also ranking 88th nationally. Indiana State’s 4x400m team of Ben Shepard, Will Smith, Mitchell Cline & Tahj Johnson currently hold the fastest relay time (3:14.74) in the Valley. In the field, Kevin Krutsch, Nick Schultz & Nathan Kiger all hold top-five marks for the high jump and are all nationally ranked. Frankie Young III currently holds the top mark in the MVC and is nationally ranked for the long jump for his mark of 7.52m (24’8.25”). Others to look out for include Emmanuel Odubanjo (triple jump) and Mitch Conard (decathlon) who are both ranked second in their respective events. Indiana State will look for their 11th MVC Championship title with their last being 2014.

Northern Iowa came in a close second with 74 points and three first-place votes. The Panthers will look for their third consecutive MVC Outdoor Championship title next weekend. On the track, UNI’s 4x100 relay squad (Santi, Cooper, Hicks & Blocker) currently hold the fastest time in the Valley at 40.50. Eli Hicks (100m, 200m), Jack Sumners (110m hurdles) and Thai Thompson (400m hurdles) will shine on the track; all rank in the top-five of their respective events for the Valley. In the field, Darius King, Tom Yezek & Kyler Yodts will lead the way. King currently sits with the top spot in the Valley for the shot put and is ranked sixth in the nation with his mark of 20.14m (66’1”). Alongside King is Tom Yezek who is ranked nationally in both the shot put and the discus. Kyler Yodts currently holds the second-best mark in the MVC for the hammer throw and is ranked 46th nationally. The Panthers currently hold four of the top five spots in the Decathlon led by Zack Butcher who is nationally ranked and first in the MVC. 

Coming in third with 66 points and one first place vote is Illinois State. On the track, Kevin Koski will look for some hardware as he currently holds the fastest 10,000m time, and the second fastest 5000m time in the MVC.  Jack Anstey currently ranks second in the Valley and 22nd nationally for the 1500m while teammate Brandon Ratliff ranks nationally and holds the top time in the 110m hurdles. In the field, teammates Kellen Kravik and Eddie Winner will look to stand atop the podium; the duo hold the top-two spots in the MVC for the Pole Vault and are nationally ranked for this event.  Logan Calvin currently holds top-five best marks in the Valley for the shot put, discus and hammer; and is nationally ranked in two of the three events (shot put, hammer). Another to watch for next weekend is Zach Fiser who currently holds the top spot in the MVC for the Javelin. 

Securing fourth with 49 points are the Drake Bulldogs. Adam Fogg, Isaac Basten and David Olowookere will look to dominate the track at the MVC Outdoor Championship. Fogg holds the fastest time in the 1500m (3:38.79) after breaking an all-time MVC record at the Drake Relays while also sitting with the top time in the 5000m. Alongside Fogg is Isaac Basten who currently ranks third in these same events. David Olowookere will look to take the gold in the 400m hurdles as he is ranked first in the Valley and 25th nationally. The Bulldogs will turn to Cloud Masibhera who currently holds the third best mark for the Valley in both the triple jump and long jump, along with Adam Kessler (shot put) and Joey Harkins (hammer) who rank third in the Valley and are nationally ranked for their respective events.

Southern Illinois holds the fifth spot with 45 points. The Salukis will look to Willie Johnson and Omar Rodgers on the track. Johnson currently holds the fastest 400m dash time and Rodgers currently holds the second fastest 400m hurdles time in the Valley this season; both of which are nationally ranked. In the field, Willie Rodgers will look for some hardware as he currently holds the top mark in the Valley for the high jump and triple jump, and the second-best mark for the long jump. Teammate Ricky Hurley continues to dominate his events. The senior thrower recently broke the MVC all-time record in the hammer (55.46m, 181'11"), ranks first in the Valley for the discus and is nationally ranked in both. 

Bradley came in sixth with 36 points. The Braves will look to shine on the track at the upcoming championship. Alec Hartman and Scott Seymour currently hold the top-two times in the 800m for the Valley this season and are both nationally ranked. Another dynamic duo for the Braves include Evan Mitchell and Charlie Parrish who hold the top-two spots in the Valley for the 3000m steeplechase. Others to watch out for include Max Dieterich (1500m), Matt Aho (5000m) and Miguel Agyei (400m, 110m hurdles, 400m hurdles) who sit atop the Bradley leaderboard in their respective events.

Loyola placed seventh with 32 points. On the track, the Ramblers will look to Adam Clayton and Blake Buysse. Buysse holds the second fastest 10,000m time in the Valley alongside five of his teammates all ranked within the top-ten of the MVC for this event. Clayton currently holds the top time in the Valley for the 200m and will look for a spot atop the podium next weekend. Others to look out for include Eran Siboni (400m), Derek Rink (5000m), Nathan Kolbus (10,000m), Chantz Visse (10,000m), Vince DiVenere (400m hurdles) and Riley DeMeulenaere (3000m steeplechase) who all hold top-five best times in the Valley. In the field, Kevin Szczepaniec (long jump) and Tobi Alabi (triple jump) sit atop the Rambler leaderboard.

Valparaiso was picked eighth with 14 points. Dominic Paoletti currently holds the third-best mark in the MVC for the 10,000m and is also ranked in the MVC for the 5000m. Teammate Emanuel Daggett currently holds a top-ten spot in the Valley for the 400m. Will Maidment (high jump), TJ Weinzimmer (triple jump) and Eddie Juszczak (hammer) will highlight the field events as they are all currently ranked top-ten in the MVC standings. 

Evansville received 13 points in the pre-championship poll. The Purple Aces will look JJ Pedersen (10,000m), Trey Riggs (110m hurdles, long jump) Steven Burkhart (400m hurdles) and Justus Donaldson (Javelin) who all rank within the top-ten of their respective events for the Valley.

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Women’s Pre-Championship Poll-

Illinois State received all ten first-place votes in the 2021 Pre-Championship poll. The 4x400m squad (White, Harrod, Ward and Greci) will look to take gold next weekend as they hold the top relay time (3:43.22) in the Valley this season. On the track, Grace Beattie currently holds top times in the Valley for the 5000m, the 3000m steeplechase and the third best time in the 1500m, while being nationally ranked in two of the three events (5000m, 3000m steeplechase).  Teammates Jaclyn Greci and Destiny White hold the second and third best time in the MVC for the 400m, and freshman Seven Hicks holds the third best time in both the 100m and 200m. Mya Robinson and Jordyn Bruce currently hold top-three 100m hurdle times. Bruce also ranks second in the Valley for the 400m hurdles and is first in the MVC while nationally ranked in the heptathlon. Others to watch for in the field include Tayler Weaver (shot put), Myejoi Williams (shot put), Grace Daun (high jump), Kristin Higgins (high jump), Sydney Laufenberg (discus) and Julia Bourke (hammer); all nationally ranked with top-three best marks or higher in the Valley. The Redbirds will look for their third-consecutive and eighth overall championship title next weekend.

Southern Illinois totaled 88 points to finish second in this year’s pre-championship poll. On the track, Savannah Long holds top-five times in the MVC for both the 100m hurdles and 400m hurdles. Teammate Kayla Schiera currently holds the second fastest 3000m steeplechase time in the Valley, which is nationally ranked, and Iaunia Pointer currently sits atop the Saluki leaderboard in the 100m, 200m and 400m events. SIU will make their mark in the field events at the upcoming championship. A’veun Moore-Jones currently holds the best mark in the Valley for the shot put, alongside teammates Kayleigh Conlon and Bri’Yanna Robinson who sit fourth and fifth in the Valley and all rank nationally for this event. Shauniece O’Neal, Elisia Lancaster and Emily Kern all hold top-five marks in the MVC and are nationally ranked for the hammer. In the pole vault, Erin Diemer will look to take home the gold as she currently holds the best mark in the Valley (4.11m, 13’5.75”), while ranking 49th nationally. Southern Illinois has won eight MVC Outdoor Track & Field titles with their last being 2010.

Indiana State was picked to finish third in the poll after receiving 73 points. On the Track, Jocelyn Quiles currently holds top ten times in the Valley for the 3000m steeplechase, 1500m and 5000m. The Sycamores currently have four of the top-10 times in the 400m hurdles with Sierra Long, Grace Quinlan, Riley Tuerff and Ayana Parchman ranking in the MVC standings. Reynei Wallace (100m, 200m), Iyanla Hunter (400m), Rebecca Odusola (800m), Zoe Sullivan (100m hurdles) and Ryann Porter (100m hurdles) all hold top-ten spots in the Valley for their respective events. In addition to the 100m hurdles, Porter also holds the best mark in the MVC for the triple jump (12.36m, 40’6.75”). Others who will stand out in the field events include Selene Weaver (pole vault), Hannah Redlin (discus), Jayla Bynum (javelin), Kamille Griffith-Gaskin (heptathlon) and Mia Mackenzie (heptathlon) who all sit within the top five of their respective events for the Valley.

Securing fourth with 68 points is Missouri State. The Bears will look to Madison Meredith on the track as she currently holds the fastest times in the 100m and 200m and is nationally ranked in both. Alongside Meredith is teammate Calandra Henry who also holds top five times the the MVC for these same events. Missouri State’s 4x100m relay squad (Weaver, Meredith, Jordan, Henry) currently have the fastest time in the Valley this season (45.89) and will look for some hardware next weekend. In the field, expect to see big things from Jessica Haney who currently holds the furthest mark in the Valley for the high jump and is nationally ranked (1.76m, 5’9.25”). Brooke Jenkins holds the furthest mark for the long jump in the MVC alongside teammates Talia Emerson and Jamilah James who also have top five marks in this same event. Rochelle Etienne and Cheyenne White currently hold the second and third furthest marks in the javelin and will look for spots atop the podium at next weekends championship.

Northern Iowa notched the fifth spot in the pre-championship poll with 66 points. On the track, Taylor Raines and Paishence Johnson duo with the second and fourth best times in the 100m, while Jill Bennett (400m) and Hannah Schau (100m hurdles) have top-five times in the MVC for their respective events. Expect to see big things both on and off the track for Aleenah Marcucci. Marcucci currently holds the fastest 100m hurdles time in the Valley (13.60) which is nationally ranked, and holds the fourth furthest mark in the long jump. Others to watch in their events include Cierra Laux (pole vault), Anna Hoyman (Hammer) and Erica Loussaert (heptathlon) who all have top five best marks in the MVC this season.

Loyola came in sixth with 50 points. The Ramblers currently hold five of the top 10 spots in the 5000m with Claire Hengesbaugh leading the pack ranked second in the MVC. Teammates Kathleen Simms and Mimi Reimers sit first and third on the MVC leaderboard and both rank nationally for the 10,000m. Anneka Murrin will look for a spot atop the podium as she currently sits with the fastest 1500m time while nationally ranked. Loyola will turn to Ilhame Tamrouti who leads the Valley and is ranked 39th in the nation for the javelin with her mark of 50.30m. Others to watch in the field include Sarah Olojo (triple Jump) and Jana Rokitta (high jump) who hold top five marks in the Valley.

Bradley secured seventh place with 44 points. The Braves will look to dominate the track next weekend. Sisters Wilma and Julia Nielsen alongside teammate Tiana LoStracco hold the top three times in the 800m and are all nationally ranked in this event. These same three also hold top five times in the MVC for the 1500m. Others to watch on the track include Sophia McDonnell (3000m steeplechase), McKenzie Altmayer (3000m steeplechase, 5000m) Tyler Schwartz (5000m) and Hannah Ivy (400m) who all rank within the top ten on the MVC leaderboard. 

Drake took eighth in the poll with 33 points. The Bulldogs will look to Brooke Mullins, Yinka Mary Ajayi and Busiwa Asinga on the track. Ajayi (400m) and Asinga (400m hurdles) currently hold fastest times in the MVC and are nationally ranked, while Brooke Mullins holds top-10 times in the MVC for the 800m and 3000m steeplechase. In the field, Katelyn Williams (discus, hammer), Chandler Haight (shot put) and Ayana Brown (long jump) all sit on top of the Drake leaderboard.  

Evansville was chosen ninth with 17 points. Anna Lowry currently places first in Evansville's standings for the 800m, 1500m, 5000m and 10,000m events. Lowry is currently ranked nationally in the 10,000m and will look for a spot on the the podium next weekend. In the field, Kylee Peck (high jump), Mariah Schaefer (pole vault), Taiza Alexander (long jump) and Brittany Corley (javelin) place at the top of Evansville’s best list this season.

Valparaiso rounds out the pre-championship poll with 15 total points. Joely Overstreet holds the fourth fastest 10,000m time in the Valley. Field competitors Lauren Mikolajczak (hammer) and Payton Weber (triple jump) hold top-15 marks in the MVC for their respective events.

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Southern Illinois is set to host the 2021 MVC Outdoor Track & Field Championship, May 14 - 16 in Carbondale, Illinois. Check out the Valley’s championship central page HERE – for more championship details.