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April 5, 2008

Results

CHARLESTON, Ill. - Paced by the efforts of senior Suzy Turner in the 1,500-meter run and senior Alex Straughn in the high jump and triple jump the Illinois State men's and women's track and field teams combined for a total of 23 first and second place finishes at the Eastern Illinois Big Blue Classic held at O'Brien Stadium in Charleston, Ill.

Illinois State track and field head coach Elvis Forde was happy with the performances and efforts put forth by both of his teams.

"Overall for the weekend the women's team really demonstrated their depth," said Forde. "I saw some rapid improvement from last weekend. On the men's side, we are coming along quite well. The throwers, jumpers and distance runners are all showing improvement we just have a lot of work to do in the sprints area."

In day two of competition Turner, in her first outdoor race of the season, took home a title and two personal-best performances. In the 1,500-meter run the Palatine, Ill., native clocked in with a time of 4:34.74 for first place and then turned around and took third in the 800-meter run (2:18.14) behind teammate freshman Michelle Brunk (2:15.85) who took second.

"Suzy had a great double today in 1,500 and 800," said Forde. "I hope that she feels good about her performances especially since this is her first outdoor meet and being that last weekend she was not feeling well."

Straughn took first in both the high jump and triple jump. In the high jump he easily cleared a height of 6-08.75, despite coming off one of his approaches wrong and twisting his ankle slightly. He then went on to win the triple jump with a distance of 49-09.25.

"We have come to expect so much from Alex," said Forde. "He earned two good wins and had a great day. We just hope we can keep him healthy and injury free. Even though he hurt his ankle a little bit he continued to compete, I don't think anything is going to stop him."

Senior Anna Lovell, junior Brianna Officer, Brunk and Clarke proved to be the perfect combination as the quartet won the 4x400-meter relay with a time of 3:50.39. Lovell also took second and was the top collegiate finisher in the 400-meter dash crossing the finish line in 56.48.

Junior Samantha Springer finished second in both the shot put (42-09.50) and discus throw (153-06) with season-best performances. Springer's throw in the discus was only two feet shy from a regional qualifying mark. Teammate Sonja Zoric also fared well in the shot put, throwing a distance of 42-08.25 to take second and also placed 10th in the discus throw (101-00).

On the men's side, the middle distance runners kept pace in the 1,500. Freshman Matt Mroczynski was ISU's top finisher in the race as he paced the `Birds with a third-place and personal-best 3:55.29. Sophomore Scott Krapf (3:57.82), freshmen John Navarro (4:00.91) and Jon Roberts (4:03.13) placed sixth, seventh and tenth, respectively.

"I really have to hand it to our distance kids today," said Forde. "This is the first time that Navarro and Roberts have ever run the 1,500 meters. Navarro really went out slow and it was evident that he had more left by the end of the race and really ran the last 400 meters well. Krapf and Mroczynski also ran a good race. Krapf is not used to running shorter distances; he is more conditioned for the 5,000 and 10,000 so he really had to put forth a good effort. I think that this race will really benefit these guys once they finally start running their longer races."

Senior Nick Chumbley demonstrated both poise and consistency as he placed second in both the discus (155-09) and shot put (51-01.75). Chumbley was the top-collegiate finisher in the shot put, while teammates Joe Painter (48-00.75) and Colin Fane (45-05) placed sixth and seventh in the event, respectively.

Pole vaulters, sophomore Nick Ragusa and senior Jason Field competed well. Ragusa placed second clearing a season-best height of 15-07, while Field placed fourth (15-01).

The men's sprinters were slowed as senior Jeremy Johnson tried to make a comeback after injuring his hip flexor during the indoor season, but came out too strong and may have reinjured himself.

The ISU men's and women's track and field teams will take next weekend off, but will be back in action the following weekend, April 18-19 as split squads travel to the Mt. Sac Relays in Walnut, Calif., and the Vanderbilt Invite in Nashville, Tenn.