February 22, 2006
Track and Field
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SYCAMORES HEADING TO MVC INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS

Complete Release (.pdf)

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The following is an exerpt from the MVC Indoor Championship release for Indiana State track and field. For stats and a recap of the 2005 Indoor Championships please see the complete .pdf release. The Indoor Championships will be in Cedar Falls, Iowa on the campus of Northern Iowa this Friday and Saturday.

What to expect...

Indiana State will head into the Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Championships as the No. 2 seed on the men’s side and No. 6 see on the women’s side. Northern Iowa swept all pre-championship first place votes for the men, while Wichita State talled six of eight first place votes on the women’s side.

Both the men’s and women’s teams have faced up against Valley competition throughout the Indoor season with positive results. The women posted a win over Illinois State in the second meet of the season with a 76-67 outcome in Normal, Illinois.

ISU has several athletes that lead the conference in their respective events. Sophomore Kyle Walsh is first in the 3,000-meter run after running 8:19.38 in the event at the Iowa State Invitational. Walsh is also in the top five in the mile after a 4:12.13 finish at the Hoosier Relays. Seniors Nigel Bigbee and Jerry Clopton are second in conference in the 60-meter hurdles and 200-meter dash with times of 8.09 and 21.89, respectively. Indiana State’s men are strong in the distance events after returning several athletes from the MVC cross-country championship team in the fall. Justin Kunz, Blaine Zimmerman and John Nay are two, three and four in the men’s 5,000-meter run and will likely score big for the Sycamores at the championships.

Laura Engle has turned one of the best times for the women all season and holds the second spot in the mile with a time of 4:57.92 at the Purdue Dual meet in January. Engle is also on the distance medley relay team that is second after turning in a 11:51.24 time at the Iowa State Invitational.

Indiana State appears to be strongest in the field events and is in the top-two in the conference in four events. Senior Yolanda Wright leads the conference by just alomst nine inches in the triple jump. Her distance of 40’10.25” at the Iowa State Invitational was the best finish of any conference athlete in the triple jump.

Freshman Curt Sunderland posted the height to beat in the high jump in the first meet of the season with a leap of 6’9.5”. Seniors Drew Traub and Jason Carruthers have consistently placed near the top of the competition in the throwing events. Traub’s distance of 58’6.75” in the shot put is best in the league, while Carruthers’ heave of 67’11.75” is second in the 35 lb. weight throw.