By Tyler Wooten
GoSycamores.com
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State men's and women's track and field came away with five total point scorers following a light first day of the 2016 Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships at home at the Gibson Track & Field Complex.
Currently, both the Indiana State men and women stand in sixth place in the team scores. Pre-Championship favorite Wichita State holds a commanding lead in both team races after the first day, mainly due to their expected high volume in the men's and women's javelin.
ISU's top finisher of the day was senior All-American pole vaulter Kimyanna Rudolph. The Indianapolis native was the fifth place finisher in an exciting vault competition, topping out at 3.91m (12-10.00) and just barely missing at the next bar of 4.01m (13-01.75).
Fellow senior and pole vaulter Connor Curley didn't have to vault on Friday, but was still helpful to the Sycamores in the javelin. For the second straight week, Curley set a new career-best – this time tossing 56.46m (185-03) for sixth place overall. That throw improves on his place in eighth all-time at Indiana State, and is also one spot higher than his projected finish from the conference performance list entering the meet.
ISU had a fairly successful day in both the men's and women's hammer throws as well. Two Sycamores were able to score in the women's edition in sophomore Jasmine Noel and senior Katelyn Rutz. Noel finished sixth overall at a new PR of 54.34m (178-03), which improves on her place in eighth all-time. Rutz, meanwhile, will join Noel on the all-time top-10 list following an eighth-place finish at a new PR of 52.61m (172-07) – which ranks behind Noel in ninth all-time.
In the men's hammer, sophomore Ryan Chestnut made it to finals in a very exciting hammer competition and came away as the eighth-place finisher at 52.03m (170-08).
The Sycamore men also had two qualify for finals for events on the track on Sunday. Jaynard Keys flew to a very fast (but wind-aided) PR of 21.31 in the 200-meter dash, finishing sixth overall in the prelims to secure a spot in Sunday's final. Tristan Parmley almost joined Keys in the final, missing out by four hundredths of a second in ninth at a wind-aided PR of 21.37 seconds.
Junior All-American and Chicago native David Timlin also got the job done in the 1500 meter prelims on Friday night. Timlin took the eighth-fastest qualifying spot at 3:55.96, saving himself for a potentially busy weekend in the 1500, 800 and possibly the 5K.
Competition will resume at the Gibson Track & Field Complex at 10:30 a.m. ET on Saturday with the resumption of the women's heptathlon.
Men's Day One Team Scores (through three events scored):
1. Wichita State – 55
2. Southern Illinois – 25
3. Illinois State – 12
4. Northern Iowa – 11
5. Drake – 6
6. Bradley – 4
6. Indiana State - 4
Women's Day One Team Scores (through four events scored):
1. Wichita State – 49
2. Southern Illinois – 27
3. Northern Iowa – 26
4. Bradley – 19
5. Illinois State – 10
6. Indiana State – 8
6. Loyola – 8
8. Drake – 5
9. Missouri State - 4
Day One Scorers:
Kimyanna Rudolph – Pole Vault, Fifth Place
Connor Curley – Javelin, Sixth Place
Jasmine Noel – Hammer, Sixth Place
Katelyn Rutz – Hammer, Eighth Place
Ryan Chestnut – Hammer, Eighth Place
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.
