Feb. 16, 2008

AMES, IOWA - (Saturday, February 16, 2008) In a showdown of the top-two 400 meter collegiate runners in the nation Redhawks All-American Miles Smith and Oral Robert's quarter-miler Andretti Bain resolved nothing as both left the Iowa State Classic tying each other with a nation's best time of 46.13. However the time guaranteed a rematch down the line at the NCAA Indoor Championships as their time automatically qualified them for the event.

Bain entered the meet with the nation's best time of 46.52 with Smith second with a time of 46.61 that he set the previous weekend at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational. Now they will share the honor of fastest 400 meter runner for at least the next week. The time set a new career-best in the indoor 400 for Smith easily crushing his previous best of 46.28 set during his 2006 NCAA Indoor Championships.

Smith would return later in the meet and anchor the Redhawks 4X400 meter relay team to a sixth place finish with a season's best time of 3:09.68 propelling the team into a top-15 ranking in the nation and keeping the hopes alive for fellow quarter-milers Chris Gill, Ryan Criglar, Chris Poindexter and Robert Delaria of joining Smith as All-Americans.

Florida's 4X400 team finished first with a nation's-best time of 3:06.48.

Meanwhile in Bloomington, Indiana the Redhawks men's and women's team put on quite the show at the Hoosier Hills Invitational hosted by Indiana University. Competing for the second time this season at Harry Gladstein Fieldhouse the Redhawks used their familiarity of the track to lead them to many top finishes and season best times and distances.

Sophomore Brandon Colbert was the top Redhawk as he earned a title in the weight throw with a toss of 17.96 and finished the runner-up in the shot put with a throw of 17.01 meters.

The Redhawks throwers were huge throughout as three other Redhawks joined Colbert in the top-14 of the weight throw. Andy Croxford finished ninth followed by Josh Uchtman and Richard Martin at 12th and 14th respectively. Andy Glass finished 10th in the shot put to put the finishing touches on outstanding day for the "Big Men".

Senior John Berry won his fourth long-jump title in five meets with a winning jump of 7.55 meters. The win completed his sweep of meets hosted by Indiana schools after winning titles at both the Indiana Relays and the Gene Edmonds Cup.

Freshman Tyler Terry showed signs of thhe future as he finished second in the triple jump with a leap of 14.38 meters.

On the track it was the distance runners that led the way. The 3,000 meter event featured four Redhawks that finished in the top-25 led by Dustin Davis and his 13th place time of 8:42.42, a new season's best. Brandon Karcher finished 20th (8:45.07) followed by Brandon Funderburk (8:56.93) and Jason Lumpkin (8:57.33) at 24th and 25th respectively.

The 800 meters had three runners in the top-15 with Jamie Lee finishing eighth with a season's best time of 1:59.42. He was followed by Mark McNamara in 11th with a time of 2:01.53 and Tom Kinder at 15th with a time of 2:01.90.

Lee added a 12th place finish in the mile with another season best time of 4:24.11.

Sprinter Myron Pettigrew took advantage of the team's main sprinters competing at the Iowa State Classic to show he can run with the best himself. He tied Lee for the best finish on the track with an eighth place showing in the 400 meter with a time of 49.99. He then added a ninth place showing in the 200 meter dash with a time of 22.50.

The women's team had 13 top-10 finishes at the Hoosier Hills Invitational led by the 4X400 relay team's second place showing. Lashonda Conley, Kelley Good, Rachel Kahle and Jerica Hamm finished just behind Indiana with a time of 3:55.01.

Conley, Hamm and Good had earlier set season's best in the open 400 meters. Conley finished second with a time of 57.94 followed by Hamm in third with a time of 58.54. Good finished sixth with a time of 59.63.

In the 60 meter hurdles junior Whitney Thomas finished third with a time of 8.89. She would later add an 11th place finish in the 200 meters with a time of 25.64.

Freshman Rachel Kahle had two top-10 finishes in sprinting events. She finished eighth in the 200 meter with a time of 25.44 and ninth in the 60 meter dash with a time of 7.89.

Senior Juli Koenegstein led the distance runners finishing seventh in the mile. She just missed setting a new career-high and came closer to the elusive four minute mile with a time of 5:03.65.

Danielle Henry finished ninth in the 800 meters with a season's best 2:21.28 and Brandi Gervais finished 11th in the 3,000 meters with a time of 10:36.85 to wrap-up the top finishers in the distance events for the Redhawks.

The field events yielded four of the 13 top-10 finishers for the Redhawks led by Brianna Egbuka. She finished fourth in the shot put with a throw of 12.16 meters and seventh in the weight throw with a toss of 15.36 meters.

Freshman Cara Harbstreet finished fifth in the high jump clearing 1.50 meters and Audrey Hardwood finished seventh in the pole vault with a leap of 3.20 meters.

Both teams return back to Cape Girardeau to host the Broadway Prescription Invitational at the Student Recreation Center on Friday, February 22. Check back on gosoutheast.com for the meet start time.