St Louis – Illinois State Men and Women tabbed at to take first in the 2023 Missouri Valley Indoor Track and Field Season. The Redbirds shoot for their fourteenth women’s indoor team title and their tenth men’s indoor team title in program history. The MVC Indoor Track and Field Championships are co- hosted by UIC and Valparaiso. Set to take place at Dr. Conrad Worrill Track and Field Center at Gately Park in Chicago, Illinois on February 26th and 27th.

Women:
Illinois State tabbed to win it all in the 2023 indoor season with a point total of 137 out of 144 points, the Redbirds aim to regain their champion status, after earning runner-up honors in the indoor 2022 season. Leading the Redbirds include returner multi-event sophomore Gracie Jessup, after placing fourth in the pentathlon in the 2022 indoor championships. Maddi Exline is set to return after her third-place finish in the 800-meter run, with a time of 23:10.25. Senior Rachel Hickey placed second in the mile last year with a time of 4:50.46, Hickey also aided in the champion status of the distance medley in the 2021-22 MVC Championship. Sophomore Arianna Walker is set to return in the sprints after her second-place finish in the women’s 200-meter dash and sixth in the 60-meter dash at the 2022 MVC Indoor Championships. Sophomore Kenzie Klink is set to compete for the Redbirds this season after her fourth-place finish in the high jump with a height of 1.69m in the MVC indoor championships.
 
At 128 points Indiana State tabs runner-up after a Championship title indoors in 2022 and a runner-up finish outdoors. The Sycamores are led by sophomore Ryann Porter who single handedly earn the 28 points from her work in the long jump, triple jump, and 60 hurdles. Selene Weaver took champion status in the pole vault in 2022 with her jump of 3.91 meters last year, tying teammate Landis Brandon who placed second in the pole vault. Iyanla Hunter also gains momentum for the Sycamores after her All-conference honor in the 400m dash with a 55.81 time. Indiana State aims to return 23 all-conference honors and scoring spots alongside 2 all-conference relays.
 
At a tie for third place between Murray State and Southern Illinois at 104 points the 2022 OVC indoor Champions, Murray State, bring new competition to the Valley. Led by Junior Jenna Pauly, the multi-event athlete took second in the pentathlon with 3377 points, first in high jump at 1.69m, and fourth in pole vault at 3.75m in the OVC. Rachel Hagans also shows dominance for the racers after finishing first in the long jump at 5.94m, first in the 60m with a time of 7.58 seconds, and fourth in the 200m with a time of 24.50m. Brooke Misukonis took second in the OVC in the pole vault with a height of 3.75m.
 
Southern Illinois returns a strong field of throwers led by Shauniece O’Neal, the MVC Champions earned All-American honors in the weight throw at the 2021 indoor national championships with her personal best toss of 23.11m. Senior Matisen Ingle returns to the ring after her third-place finish in the MVC indoor championship with a personal best toss of 20.50m in the weight throw. Iaunia Pointer returns for the Salukis with her MVC champion status from the 200m run and runner-up status in the 60m dash, Pointer stopped the clock at 23.60 seconds and 7.50 seconds, respectively.  
 
At 94 point the Bradley program earns the coaches votes after coming off a MVC Cross Country Championship win and high finish in at the NCAA Midwest Regional meet. Sophomore Nicola Jansen aims to earn her 3^rd MVC champion title alongside her Cross-Country title, 5000-meter title, and 3000-meter title earned in the 2022 MVC indoor championship. Sophia McDonnell also set to return for the Braves after a second-place finish in the MVC indoor championships in the 3000-meter run, McDonnell also earned points for the Braves in the 5000-meter run for the Braves. In the distance medley the Braves return all four runners that aided to the third-place finish and time of 11:45.72.
 
In sixth Northern Iowa is tabbed at 84 points returning standouts including, 2022 MVC Indoor Champion in the 800m Sophia Jungling. With her underdog finish in the indoor championship last year the sophomore stopped the clock at 2:08.23. The Panthers also return sprints stand out Paishence Johnson after her all-conference finishes in the 60m dash and 200m dash. Johnson stopped the clock at 7.54 and 24.54 respectively. The Panthers round out their team in the field with outdoor MVC Champion in the high jump Rylee Todd, and throwing standouts Katie Fare in the shot put, and weight throw stand out Mari Shavers.
 
For their MVC debut Belmont tabbed 82 points in the polls. Second in the OVC in 2021-22 season, the Bruins are led by Emory Moore placing second in the 60m and the 200m. Moore stopped the clock at 7.60 and 24.29 in each respective event. The Bruins also earned points in the 800-meter run from junior Lily Hallum’s time of 2:12.07. Brooke Garter earned third place in the mile at the OVC championship with a time of 5:01.52 and sophomore Grace Litzinger earned second in the 3000-meter run and 5000-meter run. Belmont also returns all four runners in their distance medley after clocking a time of 12:01.86 collectively.
 
Missouri State comes in eighth with 68 points. The Bears return sophomore DaeLin Switzer, the high jumper finished runner-up honors in the indoor championship last year with a height if 1.72m. Edna Dar also returns for the Bears after scoring 19 points for her third-place finish in the mile, second place aid in the distance medley, and her work in the 4x400 relay. The Bears also return sophomore standout Sierra Williams in distances races and junior Calandra Henry in the sprints.  
 
After coming off a third place 2022 MVC Cross Country finish Drake tabs ninth with 57 points. The Bulldogs return junior Brooke Mullins after placing second in the MVC Cross Country Championships. Mullins finished runner-up in the 5000 meter in the 2021-22 Indoor MVC Championship and seventh in the 3000-meter run. The Bulldogs also return standouts Busiwa Asinga and Briandrias Rhodes after placing first and second, respectively, in the 400-meter run at the 21-22 Indoor championships. Drake also returns notable field athletes Chandler Haight in the shot put and Ayana Brown in the triple and long jumps.
 
Entering the Valley for their first season UIC gains 41 points in the polls. UIC finished 7^th at the Horizon League Championships in 2021-22. The Flames bring junior Bailey Moran to the Valley after her third-place finish in the 2021 Horizon League Championship 400-meter run with a time of 56.52. Standout Lia Skoufos enters with an 800m time of 2:18.32 time clocked in the Horizon League.  Teresa Mejia also brings competition to the Valley after her fourth-place finishes in the 3000- and 5000-meter runs, clocking times of 10:08.35 and 17:28.13 respectively.
 
Projected for eleventh and twelfth, Valparaiso tabs 21 points in the polls for eleventh and Evansville tabs 16 for twelfth. The Beacons are set to return a roster with experience in the Valley after graduating three from their previous indoor roster. The Aces welcome grad transfer Melanie Helder from Michigan State in long distance after coming off an MVC all-conference honor in the 2022 cross country championship. Helder qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the 1,500-meter run to finish 34^th in the East Region in 2022.
 
 
 
Men:

Polling 93 points out of 100 for the men Illinois State is tabbed to win it all in the 2023 indoor season.
The Redbirds are led by 2022 MVC indoor 800m champion Riley Wells, the sophomore stopped the clock at 1:49.86 alongside teammate Joe Morrison, who finished second in the 800m as a freshman. Muti-event athletes Ariel Atias and Caleb Miedema are set to return, both earning champion status and MVC all-conference honors, respectively, in the Heptathlon in the 2022 MVC Indoor Championship. The Redbirds expecting to return 16 indoor MVC All-Conference or point scoring spots to the 2023 season with two MVC Champion relays.
 
After coming off back-to-back championship titles in the 2022 indoor and outdoor seasons Indiana State sits behind the Redbirds by 2 points with a total 91 points. The Sycamores are led by senior JaVaughn Moore, a three-time 60m MVC champion holds the school record holder in the 60m dash with a time of 6.63 seconds. Moore also holds the second fastest time in school history in the 200m dash with a time 21.11. The reigning indoor and outdoor MVC pole vault champion William Stagg marked a school history mark in sixth place with a height of 5.15m. Shomari Rogers-Walton holds the indoor and outdoor triple jump champion status and holds a third place in school history in the long jump at 7.55m. The Sycamores expecting to return 27 indoor MVC all-conference honor and point scoring spots, alongside two MVC all-conference relays.
 
Northern Iowa places third in the polls with 77 points, the Panthers look to gain momentum off a third-place finish in the 2022 season. Senior Isaiah Trousil returns for a final season after finishing second in the 60m dash at the MVC Indoor Championships alongside setting the MVC record in the 200m at 20.72, earning the Panther a trip to the NCAA Division 1 indoor National Championship in 2022. Multi-event athlete Carter Morton set to compete after earning runner-up honors in the Heptathlon and sixth in the high jump. MVC 60m hurdles champion Jack Sumners is set to return after posting a time of 8.06 seconds in the 2022 championship. Panthers look to also gain momentum from sophomore Parker Kiewiet earning third place in the 200m indoors alongside the Panther earning 40 points in the outdoor championships after winning the long jump, 200m, 400m, and 4x400.
 
In a runner-up finish in the 2022 MVC Cross Country Championship Drake tabs 60 points in the polls. The Bulldogs look to gain momentum from MVC Cross Country Champion Isaac Basten, where he aided in the all-conference honors of the distance medley. Sophomore Caleb Lerus also set to return after posting a personal best in the 400m indoors at 48.79 at the MVC Championships earning a fourth-place finish. The Bulldogs also grow their field in the throws with the men’s weight throw after earning spots 1-4 in the men’s hammer throw at the MVC outdoor championship. Anthony Barmes returns for the Bulldogs coming off an appearance in the 2022 NCAA Division 1 outdoor National Championship.
 
Southern Illinois is slated for fifth with a point total of 59 in the polls. The Salukis are led by returners Dawson Smith and Ethan Senti, the distance runners finished sixth and eighth in the 3000m run respectively. The pair also finished sixth and ninth in the 5000m to earn the Salukis a total of 7 points among the distance races in the 2022 indoor championship. Sophomore Jeremiah Hamilton slated to return for the Salukis after a sixth-place finish in the 200 meter-dash.

With a 2022 MVC Cross Country Championship under their belt Bradley comes in sixth with 58 points in the polls. MVC record holder Michael Rebello set his champion time in the 3000 meters at 8:02.78 in the 2022 MVC Championships. Rebello also took first in the 5000m run as a freshman setting a time of 14:14.62. Alongside Rebello, teammate George Watson and Charlie Parrish return to the track after their third and fifth place finishes in the 3000m. In the 5000-meter race Watson and Parrish then place second and forth. In these two events the Braves picked up a total of 46 points for the squad.
 
Slated for seventh Belmont earns 51 points in the polls coming off a third-place finish in the OVC indoor 2021-22 season. The Bruins bring the lead by Qua’Jon Fuller, the sophomore finished eighth in the 200m-dash and third in 400m-dash with a 400 time of 49.15 seconds. Kevin Vanderkolk earned the Bruin’s a third-place finish in the mile at the OVC Championships with a time of 4:11.96. Ethan Hammer earned third place in the 5000m with a time of 14:40.82 and Knox Perry earned runner-up honors in the pole vault with a height of 4.68m at the 2022 OVC Indoor Championships.
 
UIC makes their debut in the Valley with 30 points after finishing 7^th at the Horizon League Championships in 2021-22. The team looks to earn points from a younger squad with their 4x400 relay earned the Flames third place with a time of 3:18.41, alongside their distance medley relay where they finished second with a time of 10:15.87 in the Horizon League.

In ninth Valparaiso earns 21 points in the polls with Ignacio Veloz Bonilla returning for a final year, the senior finished ninth in the 800 with a time of 1:54.59 at the 2022 MVC indoor Championships. The senior also aided in the Beacon’s seventh place finish in the 4x400 and eighth place finish in the distance medley.
 
With 10 points in the polls Evansville is slated for tenth place in the Valley. Sprinters Giovanni Purser and Geordan Blades return after being part of UE’s 4x100-meter relay team which earned a podium finish at last year’s outdoor championships.  Senior thrower Zach Dove returns with his, holds school records in the indoor weight throw, discus, and hammer.