Distance Crew Performances Highlight Day 1 at Ole Miss
Friday, April 7 2023 - Joe Walker Invite
Top-five program marks headline opening day of Joe Walker Invitational
OXFORD, Miss. – A trio of Indiana State track and field athletes recorded top-five marks in program history Friday, leading the way for the Sycamores on the opening day of the Joe Walker Invitational at the Ole Miss Track and Field Complex.
Erica Barker (5000m), Logan Pietrzak (5000m) and William Staggs (pole vault) all moved into fourth in program history in their respective events with their performances on Friday. In addition, JaVaughn Moore won the 200m while 11 outdoor PRs were set on the opening day of competition. Volunteer assistant coach and former Sycamore great Erin Reese also recorded the world-leading mark in the hammer throw.
Event Winners
Top-Three Finishes
Other Notable Marks
Sprints/Hurdles
Indiana State's lone event win of the opening day came from the sprints squad, as JaVaughn Moore took home top spot in the 200m. Moore's time of 20.93 was the lone time under 21 seconds in the field, and he was joined in the top five by Noah Malone (21.40).
On the women's side, Michelle McDonald had the top 200m time for the Sycamores at 25.00, while Nyla Jones ran a time of 25.42.
Distance
Two of Indiana State's three top-five program marks from the opening day of competition came from the distance crew in the final events of the day.
Logan Pietrzak led a strong Sycamore contingent in the men's 5000m with a time of 14:17.21, moving up to fourth in program history in the event. Pietrzak placed third in the event, and was joined in the top 10 in the field by Jackson Krieg (14:33.57) and Jason Dworak (14:38.20), who both set PRs in the event.
Indiana State also had a top-five program mark set in the women's 5000m, as Erica Barker climbed all the way to fourth in program history with a time of 16:48.33. It was Barker's first-ever 5000m run under 17 minutes. Chloe Loftus also set an outdoor PR in the event at 18:24.14.
The Sycamores also had strong performances in the other distance events on the opening day, as Ethan Breen set a PR by more than five seconds in the 3000m steeplechase at 9:13.43 and Wyatt Wyman recorded a top-five finish in the invite section of the 800m at 1:51.04.
Jumps/Pole Vault
Reigning MVC pole vault champion William Staggs continued his ascent upp the program charts in the event, setting an outdoor PR of 5.18m (17-00.00) and moving into a tie for fourth in program history in the event. Staggs placed third in the event, while Selene Weaver earned a top-five finish on the women's side after clearing 3.92m (12-10.25).
Indiana State also had top-10 finishes from each of its long jump competitors, including season-best marks from Mitch Conard (7.09m/23-03.25) and Frankie Young III (6.29m/22-08.50). On the women's side, Claire Pittman matched her best career wind-legal mark of 5.80m (19-00.50).
Throws
The biggest result from the throws group came from a former Sycamore, as current volunteer assistant coach Erin Reese won the invite section of the women's hammer throw with a world-leading mark of 73.47m (241-00). Reese had each of the top six throws in the event.
Three of Indiana State's five competitors in the men's hammer throw set personal records in the event Friday. Noah Bolt had the top mark for the Trees at 57.65m (189-01), while Ryan Golliher (56.72m/186-01), Elias Foor (56.69m/186-00) and Brett Norton (54.78m/179-08) all had personal-best marks in the event. On the women's side, Josie Hapack had a top throw of 40.36m (132-05).
Indiana State also had a season-best mark in the javelin from Justin Miller, who had a throw of 51.98m (170-06) to earn a top-10 finish in the event. Cloe Clark was the lone Sycamore in the women's javelin, finishing with a top mark of 33.76m (110-09).
Up Next
Indiana State continues competition at the Joe Walker Invitational Saturday, with the first field events set for 11:30 a.m. and the first track events starting at 3 p.m.
Erica Barker (5000m), Logan Pietrzak (5000m) and William Staggs (pole vault) all moved into fourth in program history in their respective events with their performances on Friday. In addition, JaVaughn Moore won the 200m while 11 outdoor PRs were set on the opening day of competition. Volunteer assistant coach and former Sycamore great Erin Reese also recorded the world-leading mark in the hammer throw.
Event Winners
- JaVaughn Moore – 200m (20.93)
Top-Three Finishes
- Logan Pietrzak – 5000m (third, 14:17.21, fourth in program history)
- William Staggs – pole vault (third, 5.18m/17-00.00, T-fourth in program history)
Other Notable Marks
- Erica Barker – 5000m (sixth, 16:48.33, fourth in program history)
- Volunteer Assistant Coach Erin Reese – hammer throw (73.47m/241-00, world-leading mark in 2023)
Sprints/Hurdles
Indiana State's lone event win of the opening day came from the sprints squad, as JaVaughn Moore took home top spot in the 200m. Moore's time of 20.93 was the lone time under 21 seconds in the field, and he was joined in the top five by Noah Malone (21.40).
On the women's side, Michelle McDonald had the top 200m time for the Sycamores at 25.00, while Nyla Jones ran a time of 25.42.
Distance
Two of Indiana State's three top-five program marks from the opening day of competition came from the distance crew in the final events of the day.
Logan Pietrzak led a strong Sycamore contingent in the men's 5000m with a time of 14:17.21, moving up to fourth in program history in the event. Pietrzak placed third in the event, and was joined in the top 10 in the field by Jackson Krieg (14:33.57) and Jason Dworak (14:38.20), who both set PRs in the event.
Indiana State also had a top-five program mark set in the women's 5000m, as Erica Barker climbed all the way to fourth in program history with a time of 16:48.33. It was Barker's first-ever 5000m run under 17 minutes. Chloe Loftus also set an outdoor PR in the event at 18:24.14.
The Sycamores also had strong performances in the other distance events on the opening day, as Ethan Breen set a PR by more than five seconds in the 3000m steeplechase at 9:13.43 and Wyatt Wyman recorded a top-five finish in the invite section of the 800m at 1:51.04.
Jumps/Pole Vault
Reigning MVC pole vault champion William Staggs continued his ascent upp the program charts in the event, setting an outdoor PR of 5.18m (17-00.00) and moving into a tie for fourth in program history in the event. Staggs placed third in the event, while Selene Weaver earned a top-five finish on the women's side after clearing 3.92m (12-10.25).
Indiana State also had top-10 finishes from each of its long jump competitors, including season-best marks from Mitch Conard (7.09m/23-03.25) and Frankie Young III (6.29m/22-08.50). On the women's side, Claire Pittman matched her best career wind-legal mark of 5.80m (19-00.50).
Throws
The biggest result from the throws group came from a former Sycamore, as current volunteer assistant coach Erin Reese won the invite section of the women's hammer throw with a world-leading mark of 73.47m (241-00). Reese had each of the top six throws in the event.
Three of Indiana State's five competitors in the men's hammer throw set personal records in the event Friday. Noah Bolt had the top mark for the Trees at 57.65m (189-01), while Ryan Golliher (56.72m/186-01), Elias Foor (56.69m/186-00) and Brett Norton (54.78m/179-08) all had personal-best marks in the event. On the women's side, Josie Hapack had a top throw of 40.36m (132-05).
Indiana State also had a season-best mark in the javelin from Justin Miller, who had a throw of 51.98m (170-06) to earn a top-10 finish in the event. Cloe Clark was the lone Sycamore in the women's javelin, finishing with a top mark of 33.76m (110-09).
Up Next
Indiana State continues competition at the Joe Walker Invitational Saturday, with the first field events set for 11:30 a.m. and the first track events starting at 3 p.m.