Sycamores sweep pole vault titles on opening day of MVC Outdoor Championships
Friday, May 13 2022 - Missouri Valley Conference Championships
Track & Field Kieran Intemann | GoSycamores.com
DES MOINES, Iowa – A pair of conference champions and four all-conference honorees highlighted Indiana State's opening day of the 2022 MVC Outdoor Track & Field Championships Friday at Drake Stadium.
William Staggs and Selene Weaver swept the men's and women's pole vault titles for the Trees, in a mirror image of the MVC Indoor Championships. Landis Brandon and Thomas Hickerson earned All-MVC honors in the women's pole vault and men's javelin respectively, while Brooklyn Giertz, Elias Foor, Noah Bolt, Erica Barker and Cloe Clark all scored points on the first day of competition.
As a team, Indiana State currently sits third on the men's and women's side. The Sycamore women have 27 points through four events, while Indiana State has 25 points through four events on the men's side.
MVC Champions
All-Conference
Scoring for the Sycamores
Team Scores
Men
1. Illinois State – 45
2. Drake – 38
3. Indiana State – 25
4. Bradley – 17
5. Northern Iowa – 9
6. Loyola Chicago – 8
7. Southern Illinois – 7
8. Evansville – 3
9. Valparaiso – 1
Women
1. Illinois State – 39
2. Southern Illinois – 29
T3. Indiana State – 27
T3. Missouri State – 27
5. Northern Iowa – 15
6. Loyola Chicago – 14
7. Drake – 5
Bradley, Evansville, Valparaiso - 0
Sprints/Hurdles
Friday's opening day saw just one event for the sprinters, the 200m prelims, but the Sycamores made a statement in it.
Indiana State advanced three to the finals on the men's side, with JaVaughn Moore clocking a personal-best 20.98 to lead the way for the Trees. Noah Malone followed with a time of 21.10, which set a new Paralympic record, while Jarel Shaw advanced with the top time in his heat at 21.52. Ejiroghene Biokoro and Jhivon Wilson narrowly missed out on advancing to Sunday's finals.
On the women's side, Reynei Wallace and Mirlege Castor just missed out on advancing to finals, finishing in ninth and 10th, respectively. Wallace ran a time of 24.90, while Castor clocked a season-best mark of 25.06.
Mid/Distance
Indiana State got off to a strong start in the distance events, as all three Sycamores in the men's 1500m prelims advanced to finals. Ethan Breen led the way for the Sycamores at 3:57.56, while Cale Kilian ran a time of 3:57.90. Jackson Krieg earned the last spot in the 12-man final at 3:59.60.
Cael Light earned a ninth-place finish in the 10,000m in his MVC Championships debut at 31:05.64. On the women's side, Erica Barker earned a point in the 10,000m with a time of 37:46.76 to place eighth. Chloe Loftus finished 10th in 38:29.69.
Jumps/Pole Vault
Indiana State's first two champions of the weekend came in the pole vault, as a pair of familiar faces took the top spots.
In a repeat of the MVC Indoor Championships, William Staggs (4.90m16-00.75) won the men's pole vault championship, while Selene Weaver (3.90m/12-09.50) took home the title in the women's pole vault.
Weaver was joined on the podium by Landis Brandon, who also cleared 3.90m (12-09.50) to finish second. Brooklyn Giertz had a career-best mark of 3.80m (12-05.50) to place fourth, while Maddie Welsh cleared 3.60m (11-09.75) to place ninth.
Throws
Indiana State had five athletes score points in the throws events, including one all-conference honor.
Thomas Hickerson had the top result for the Sycamore throwers with a second-place finish in the men's javelin at 59.50m (195-02). Hickerson was joined on the scoreboard by Elias Foor, who finished fifth with a top throw of 52.22m (171-04). On the women's side, Brooklyn Giertz followed her fourth-place pole vault finish with a seventh-place result at 38.96m (127-10). The Sycamores also got a point from Cloe Clark, who placed eighth at 34.88m (114-05), while Jayla Bynum just missed out on scoring at 33.84m (111-00).
In the men's hammer throw, Noah Bolt set a new personal record of 57.83m (189-08) to place sixth.
Multis
Through four events of the heptathlon, the Sycamores are in a favorable position. Indiana State had the first-place finishers in three of the four events contested and is currently in each of the top three spots.
Eva Grace Quinlan currently leads the field with 2808 points. Quinlan placed first in the high jump at 1.60m (5-03.00) and second in the 200m at 25.59. Mia Mackenzie earned top-five finishes in the shot put (second, 11.38m/37-04.00) high jump (fourth, 1.57m/5-01.75) and 200m (fifth, 27.20), putting herself in second place with 2714 points. Kamille Gaskin-Griffith placed first in the 100m hurdles (14.69) and 200m (24.95) and is currently third overall with 2711 points.
Up Next
The MVC Outdoor Championships continue Saturday, with the first events for Indiana State slated for 11:30 a.m.
William Staggs and Selene Weaver swept the men's and women's pole vault titles for the Trees, in a mirror image of the MVC Indoor Championships. Landis Brandon and Thomas Hickerson earned All-MVC honors in the women's pole vault and men's javelin respectively, while Brooklyn Giertz, Elias Foor, Noah Bolt, Erica Barker and Cloe Clark all scored points on the first day of competition.
As a team, Indiana State currently sits third on the men's and women's side. The Sycamore women have 27 points through four events, while Indiana State has 25 points through four events on the men's side.
MVC Champions
- William Staggs – men's pole vault (4.90m/16-00.75)
- Selene Weaver – women's pole vault (3.90m/12-09.50)
All-Conference
- Landis Brandon – women's pole vault (2nd, 3.90m/12-09.50)
- Thomas Hickerson – men's javelin (2nd, 59.50m/195-02)
Scoring for the Sycamores
- Brooklyn Giertz – women's pole vault (4th, 3.80m/12-05.50), women's javelin (7th, 38.96m/127-10)
- Elias Foor – men's javelin (5th, 52.22m/171-04)
- Noah Bolt – men's hammer throw (6th, 57.83m/189-08)
- Erica Barker – women's 10,000m (8th, 37:46.76)
- Cloe Clark – women's javelin (8th, 34.88m/114-05)
Team Scores
Men
1. Illinois State – 45
2. Drake – 38
3. Indiana State – 25
4. Bradley – 17
5. Northern Iowa – 9
6. Loyola Chicago – 8
7. Southern Illinois – 7
8. Evansville – 3
9. Valparaiso – 1
Women
1. Illinois State – 39
2. Southern Illinois – 29
T3. Indiana State – 27
T3. Missouri State – 27
5. Northern Iowa – 15
6. Loyola Chicago – 14
7. Drake – 5
Bradley, Evansville, Valparaiso - 0
Sprints/Hurdles
Friday's opening day saw just one event for the sprinters, the 200m prelims, but the Sycamores made a statement in it.
Indiana State advanced three to the finals on the men's side, with JaVaughn Moore clocking a personal-best 20.98 to lead the way for the Trees. Noah Malone followed with a time of 21.10, which set a new Paralympic record, while Jarel Shaw advanced with the top time in his heat at 21.52. Ejiroghene Biokoro and Jhivon Wilson narrowly missed out on advancing to Sunday's finals.
On the women's side, Reynei Wallace and Mirlege Castor just missed out on advancing to finals, finishing in ninth and 10th, respectively. Wallace ran a time of 24.90, while Castor clocked a season-best mark of 25.06.
Mid/Distance
Indiana State got off to a strong start in the distance events, as all three Sycamores in the men's 1500m prelims advanced to finals. Ethan Breen led the way for the Sycamores at 3:57.56, while Cale Kilian ran a time of 3:57.90. Jackson Krieg earned the last spot in the 12-man final at 3:59.60.
Cael Light earned a ninth-place finish in the 10,000m in his MVC Championships debut at 31:05.64. On the women's side, Erica Barker earned a point in the 10,000m with a time of 37:46.76 to place eighth. Chloe Loftus finished 10th in 38:29.69.
Jumps/Pole Vault
Indiana State's first two champions of the weekend came in the pole vault, as a pair of familiar faces took the top spots.
In a repeat of the MVC Indoor Championships, William Staggs (4.90m16-00.75) won the men's pole vault championship, while Selene Weaver (3.90m/12-09.50) took home the title in the women's pole vault.
Weaver was joined on the podium by Landis Brandon, who also cleared 3.90m (12-09.50) to finish second. Brooklyn Giertz had a career-best mark of 3.80m (12-05.50) to place fourth, while Maddie Welsh cleared 3.60m (11-09.75) to place ninth.
Throws
Indiana State had five athletes score points in the throws events, including one all-conference honor.
Thomas Hickerson had the top result for the Sycamore throwers with a second-place finish in the men's javelin at 59.50m (195-02). Hickerson was joined on the scoreboard by Elias Foor, who finished fifth with a top throw of 52.22m (171-04). On the women's side, Brooklyn Giertz followed her fourth-place pole vault finish with a seventh-place result at 38.96m (127-10). The Sycamores also got a point from Cloe Clark, who placed eighth at 34.88m (114-05), while Jayla Bynum just missed out on scoring at 33.84m (111-00).
In the men's hammer throw, Noah Bolt set a new personal record of 57.83m (189-08) to place sixth.
Multis
Through four events of the heptathlon, the Sycamores are in a favorable position. Indiana State had the first-place finishers in three of the four events contested and is currently in each of the top three spots.
Eva Grace Quinlan currently leads the field with 2808 points. Quinlan placed first in the high jump at 1.60m (5-03.00) and second in the 200m at 25.59. Mia Mackenzie earned top-five finishes in the shot put (second, 11.38m/37-04.00) high jump (fourth, 1.57m/5-01.75) and 200m (fifth, 27.20), putting herself in second place with 2714 points. Kamille Gaskin-Griffith placed first in the 100m hurdles (14.69) and 200m (24.95) and is currently third overall with 2711 points.
Up Next
The MVC Outdoor Championships continue Saturday, with the first events for Indiana State slated for 11:30 a.m.