KEVIN JENISON
GoSycamores.com
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – A pair of Indiana State hurdlers were honored by the Missouri Valley Conference this week with Max Tuttle named the Men's Track Athlete of the Week and Stacia Weatherford the Women's Track Athlete of the Week. This was the second straight week that two Sycamores received the weekly honors.
Junior Max Tuttle ran a career best 52.28 seconds to win the second heat and finish third overall (second collegian) in the 400 meter hurdles at the Auburn Tiger Track Classic. The time was the sixth fastest in Indiana State history. Tuttle finished just behind former Auburn star and professional athlete Reuben McCoy who won the event in 51.19 with Louisville sophomore Calvin Arsenault (51.90), who entered the competition ranked 19th in the nation, second.
Tuttle leads the Missouri Valley Conference in the event, ranks 14th in the East and 37th in the nation. The junior also ran the second leg of the 4x400 meter relay that finished seventh in 3:15.12 which is the top time in the Valley this season.
Senior Stacia Weatherford had another outstanding hurdles competition at the Auburn Tiger Track Classic as she placed eighth (fourth collegian) in the 100 meter hurdles with a time of 13.80 and fifth (third collegian) in the 400 meter hurdles with a time of 59.11. Clemson's Kendra Harrison, who entered the meet ranked 22nd in the nation for the 100 meter hurdles, won the event (12.87) with Purdue's Ciana Tabb the second collegian (13.67), and West Virginia's Chene Townsend the third collegian (13.75).
Clemson's Kendra Harrison was the top collegian in the 400 meter hurdles (57.20) with Coastal Carolina's Jessica Gelibert the second collegian (58.64). Nigerian Ajoke Odumosu, who placed eighth in the 400 hurdles at the London Olympics, won the event in 56.24.
Weatherford leads the Valley in the 400 meter hurdles, ranks 11th in the East and 22nd in the nation. The senior is second in the Valley for the 100 meter hurdles, 35th in the East, and 63rd nationally.
Weatherford also ran the third leg of the 4x400 meter relay that finished fourth in 3:40.31 which is the third fastest time in school history. The 4x400 relay leads the Valley, ranks 20th in the East and 39th in the nation.
Indiana State's Maurice Lyke and Kimyanna Rudolph were named notable perforrmers for the week.
Junior Maurice Lyke posted a career best distance of 24-feet-4.5-inches (7.43 meters) in placing second in the long jump at the Auburn Tiger Track Classic. The distance is the seventh best in Indiana State history. Lyke finished just behind Clemson's Jameel Abdul-Mateen (25-feet-0.5”/7.63m) who entered the competition ranked 16th in the nation.
Lyke leads the Missouri Valley Conference in the event, ranks 14th in the East, and 26th in the nation. The junior also placed 11th overall (10th collegian) in a highly competitive 110 meter hurdle competition that featured eight runners in the top 50 of the nation with a time of 14.41 seconds. Clemson's Spencer Adams, ranked second in the nation, won the event (13.40).
Freshman Kimyanna Rudolph recorded the second best height in Indiana State pole vault history as she placed third in the event at the Auburn Tiger Track Classic. Rudolph, Auburn's Jessie Johnson, and Clemson's Lauren Terstappen each cleared 13-feet-5.25-inches (4.10 meters) with Johnson judged the winner, Terstappen second and Rudolph third. Terstappen entered the competition ranked 15th in the nation and Johnson 45th.
The Sycamore freshman topped her previous career best by a foot and a half (11-feet-8.5-inches/3.57 meters) during the competition to move atop the Missouri Valley Conference leaderboard. She also ranks seventh in the East and 19th in the nation.
Southern Illinois junior Dougie Palacious was named the Men's Field Athlete of the Week while Wichita State freshman Mariah Garcia was the Women's Field Athlete of the Week.
Past Athletes of the Week
OUTDOOR:
Apr. 9 – Max Tuttle (Men's Track); Stacia Weatherford (Women's Track).
Apr. 2 – Jonathan Jackson (Men's Track); Felisha Johnson (Women's Field).
INDOOR:
Jan. 15: Greggmar Swift (co-Men's Track); Chris Fields (co-Men's field); Leeann Michl (Women's Track).
Jan. 22: Greggmar Swift (Men's Track); Katie Wise (Women's Track).
Jan. 29: Greggmar Swift (Men's Track); Brandon Pounds (Men's Field); Felisha Johnson (Women's Field).
Feb. 6: Greggmar Swift (Men's Track); Brandon Pounds (Men's Field); Felisha Johnson (Women's Field).
Feb. 13: Greggmar Swift (Men's Track); Brandon Pounds (Men's Field); Felisha Johnson (Women's Field).
Feb. 20: Katie Wise (Women's Track); Felisha Johnson (Women's Field).
