Johnson, Quiles sweep MVC weekly track awards

ST. LOUIS – Indiana State's Tahj Johnson and Jocelyn Quiles picked up Misssouri Valley Conference honors Wednesday afternoon, as Johnson was named the MVC Male Track Athlete of the Week and Quiles was selected as the MVC Female Track Athlete of the Week.
 
Johnson cruised to a win in the 400m at the EIU Big Blue Classic last week, running a time of 48.20 to best the field by more than a second. His time was a new personal record, beating his previous outdoor best by 0.26 seconds. Johnson currently owns the top time in the Valley by nearly a half-second. His time also ranks 16th in the Great Lakes region and 79th in the NCAA East region.
 
Quiles broke her personal record in the 5000m by more than 30 seconds last week at the EIU Big Blue Classic, running a time of 16:31.47 to place first in the event. She led nearly wire-to-wire in the race, and was in the top two for the duration of the event. Her final lap was three seconds better than anyone else in the field. Quiles' time ranks third in the Valley, 10th in the Great Lakes region, 33rd in the NCAA East region and 80th in the nation. Her time was also the second-best outdoor 5000m time in program history.
  
Johnson and Quiles join Wyatt Wyman as Sycamores who have earned MVC weekly honors this outdoor season. Indiana State had seven MVC weekly honors during the indoor season, with Selene Weaver, Kevin Krutsch, JaVaughn Moore (twice), Shomari Rogers-Walton, Kamille Gaskin-Griffith and Brittnee James winning those honors.
 
The Sycamores are back in action Friday and Saturday at the Gibson Track & Field Complex, as they host the Pacesetter Sports Invitational.