April 6, 2007
Track and Field
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COLD WEATHER DOESN’T STOP SYCAMORES AT EIU CLASSIC

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Temperatures in the low 30s with wind chills in the low 20s didn’t stop the Indiana State University track and field teams from having some outstanding performances at the Eastern Illinois University Big Blue Classic on Friday.

“This may have been the coldest outdoor meet I have ever been involved with,” ISU women’s track coach John Gartland said. “We still had a lot of outstanding performances. You have to give the team credit doing as well as they did in the weather conditions we had.”

Indiana State leads the men’s team standings with 75 points, five points ahead of second place Eastern Illinois. On the women’s side, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is in front with 78 points, just two points ahead of Indiana State who is in second with 76.

Erica Moore got the women’s team off to a flying start by winning the Heptathlon with 4,774 points. Jillian York was seventh for the Sycamores with Dana Sander eighth.

Laura Engle took first in the 3,000 meter steeplechase (11:02.3) while Kayla Alexander won the 10,000 meters (37:39.20) and Myra Bess the 400 meter hurdles (1:04.80). Amanda Jones was fifth in the 400 meter hurdles (1:08.20).

“The 10,000 meters is 25 laps around the outdoor track,” said Gartland. “Even with the cold weather, Alexander dominated the race. Engle just missed a school record with her win in the steeplechase.”

Kylie Hutson competed in her first javelin event and placed sixth (116-feet-5-inches) with Lisa Barrett placing nineth (112-feet-0). Samantha McClendon was second in the long jump (18-feet-11.75) while the hammer, Kristin Gaither took second (145-feet-9), Angel Canada fifth (139-feet-6), and Dominque Sterling sixth (138-feet-2). The 4x800 meter relay team also finished second with a time of 9:44.90.

On the men’s side, Sean Bowman won the 5,000 meter invitational (15:09.10) by 10 seconds over second place Tim Kelly of Illinois. Corey Dowden took first in the long jump (23-feet-4) while Rylen Peterson was fourth (21-feet-9) in that event..

Paladin Jordan finished third in the 400 meter hurdles (55.20), Antonio McDaniel was fourth (32:23.71) and Justin Floyd fifth (32.32.69) in the 10,000, Jeremy Kunz fifth (10:00.9) and Eric Schulz seventh (10:06.5) in the 3,000 meter steeplechase. The 4x800 meter relay team also finished second with a time of 8:03.96.

The competition continues Saturday at Eastern Illinois University.