By Tyler Wooten
GoSycamores.com
CHARLESTON, Ill. – Indiana State track and field came away with one event win and several other strong performances after the first day of competition at the EIU Big Blue Classic at a windy O'Brien Field on Friday.
Junior Devyn Mikell was ISU's lone event champion on the day, coming away with his first long jump title of the outdoor season. The MVC Indoor long jump runner-up stayed consistent with a winning leap of 7.40m (24-03.50). Just a week ago at NC State, Mikell lept a similar 7.43m (24-04.50), which currently ranks 34th nationally and 20th in the NCAA East Region.
Sophomore Scott Schreiber also made finals with another solid long jump performance at 6.99m (22-11.25).
ISU's next-highest finisher came from the women's hammer, where sophomore Jasmine Noel finished third at a season-best toss of 51.37m (168-06) – narrowly coming within her all-time career-best of 51.61m (169-04) from her freshman season in 2015, the 10th-best throw in Indiana State history.
The ISU throws crew didn't stop there, though, as five total Sycamores made it through to finals in both the men's and women's shot put. Senior and former football tight end Jamar Brown – who recently dazzled at his Pro Day on Wednesday morning – finished fourth with a solid 16.27m (53-04.50). Sophomore Ryan Chestnut was also in the final, finishing sixth at 15.31m (50-02.75).
Three made it to finals in the women's edition of the shot put, led by sophomore Cassaundra Roper. Roper – the fourth-best shot putter in ISU indoor history – finished sixth at 13.52m (43-08.50). Roper was followed by seniors Whitney Walker (13.12m/43-00.50) and Katelyn Rutz (12.81m/42-00.50) in eighth and ninth, respectively.
The Sycamore women also had a top-eight finish in the pole vault from freshman Kim Jackson, who finished tied for eighth at a height of 3.49m (11-05.25).
Indiana State also had several high finishes on the track in the few events the Sycamores were entered into on Friday night. Sophomore Jamie Newsome finished sixth overall in her first-career attempt at the 400-meter hurdles, running 1:05.77 in the effort.
Conversely, on the men's side senior Arqeil Shaw finished sixth in the 400-meter hurdles as well at a season-best time of 55.39.
The Sycamores also received two top-three finishes from its 4x800-meter relays. The Sycamore men's crew of CJ Anyaebunam, Tony Rigoni, Jordan Wright and Blake Kramer finished as the runners-up at 7:45.15. The women's 4x800 of Aleksey Green, Sydney Dickerson, Abigail Grider and Taylor Rogers finished third at a time of 9:17.90.
Competition will resume for a more action-packed Saturday with the women's discus at 10:30 a.m. ET.
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.
