By Tyler Wooten
GoSycamores.com

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Indiana State men's and women's track and field hits the road north to in-state foe Notre Dame to participate in the Meyo Invitational at the Loftus Sports Center on Friday and Saturday.

The Sycamores will be among some of the best in the nation at this weekend's competition – which includes three ranked women's teams from the Great Lakes Region in No. 16 Michigan, No. 22 Michigan State and No. 24 Notre Dame, among many other solid teams.

Indiana State will not be outsiders, though, as it owns nine national top-50 marks heading into competition itself. Leading the way for the Sycamore women is defending Missouri Valley Female Track Athlete of the Week, Chidera Obasih, who leads the Valley and ranks in the top-40 in both the 60 (22nd, 7.36 seconds) and 200 (39th, 23.96) meter dashes. Sophomore jumper Jamie Newsome also ranks in the top-50 with her 42nd-best mark in the triple jump of 12.45m (40-10.25) that also ranks No. 1 in the MVC this indoor season.

On the men's side, senior and Terre Haute native Connor Curley is within national meet contention in a tie for 16th nationally in the pole vault at 5.30m (17-04.50). That height ranks second all-time at ISU and leads the MVC by nearly half a foot. The Sycamore men are also a force to be reckoned with in the 60-meter hurdles as well via the dynamic duo of senior All-American Adarius Washington and junior Marcus Neely. Washington leads the Valley and ranks 23rd nationally at his season-best time of 7.86 seconds, and Neely isn't far behind in 34th nationally at a career-best time of 7.91 ran last week at UNI.

Speaking of UNI, the Sycamores are coming off a very solid performance in the five-team Mark Messersmith Invite, where the ISU women emerged victorious and the Sycamore men finished as runners-up.

Competition will begin at 3:45 p.m. Friday afternoon with the unseeded women's pole vault.

Women's National Top-50:

22. Chidera Obasih – 60 Meter Dash – 7.36

39. Chidera Obasih – 200 Meter Dash – 23.96 (converted)

42. Jamie Newsome – Triple Jump – 12.45m (40-10.25)

Men's National Top-50:

16. Connor Curley – Pole Vault – 5.30m (17-04.50)

23. Adarius Washington – 60-Meter Hurdles – 7.86

34. Marcus Neely – 60-Meter Hurdles – 7.91

37. Devyn Mikell – Long Jump – 7.47m (24-06.25)

47. Jamar Brown – Shot Put – 17.87m (58-07.50)

49. David Timlin – 3,000 Meters – 8:08.66

Women's MVC Top-Three:

1. J. Newsome - Triple Jump - 12.45m (40-10.25)

1. Chidera Obasih - 60 Meter - 7.36

1. Chidera Obasih - 200 Meter - 23.96 (converted)

2. J. Newsome - Long Jump - 5.95m (19-06.25)

2. K. Rudolph - Pole Vault - 4.00m (13-01.50)

2. Katelyn Rutz - Shot Put - 15.16m (49-09.00)

3. LeVisa Evans - High Jump - 1.70m (5-07.00)

3. Aleksey Green - 800 Meter - 2:13.07 (conv.)

3. Katie Wise - 60 Meter - 7.52

3. 4x400 Relay - 4:46.85 (converted)

Men's MVC Top-Three:

1. Connor Curley - Pole Vault - 5.30m (17-04.50)

1. David Timlin - 3,000 Meters - 8:08.66

1. Adarius Washington - 60 Hurdles - 7.86

2. Jamar Brown - Shot Put - 17.87m (58-07.50)

2. Devyn Mikell - Long Jump - 7.47m (24-06.25)

2. Marcus Neely - 60 Hurdles - 7.91

3. David Timlin - Mile - 4:09.22 (converted)

For the latest information on the Sycamore Track and Field team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook and Twitter.