CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois State Track & Field program wrapped up competition at the Illini Classic, winning eight events, setting three program top-10 marks and notching 24 personal bests on Saturday.
“Today was a day of tremendous breakthroughs for Joe Boyer and several distance runners,” Director of Track & Field/XC said. “The wind died down late in the day, and it allowed our 1500m women and 5000m men and women to push the gas pedal and chase some quality marks.”
The Redbirds went for a 1-2 punch in the women’s 1500m, led by redshirt sophomore Rachel Hickey, who clocked a time of 4:24.72 to win the event for the second week in a row. Junior Maddi Exline finished second in a time of 4:24.96. With their performances, Hickey and Exline now rank fourth and sixth, respectively, on the ISU all-time top-10 list and lead the MVC.
It was an Illinois State sweep of the discus competition, as sophomores Joe Boyer and Macy Byer won the event for the Redbirds. With a throw of 51.70m (169-7 ft.), Boyer now ranks eighth in school history in the event. In addition to winning the discus, Boyer also threw his farthest shot put mark since the 2021 outdoor season at 16.83m (55-2.75) to finish second. Byer tossed a season best of 48.19m (158-1 ft.) to win for the women.
On the track, sophomore Riley Wells won the men’s 800m, clocking a time of 1:50.18, which currently ranks No. 1 in the Valley and No. 18 in the NCAA West Region.
The Redbirds also swept the 5000m races, as sophomore Charlie Wetzel and Ailey Mitchell each notched personal bests in their victories. Closing strong on his final lap, Wetzel ran a time of 14.24.14 for the win, a 43-second personal best. His time currently ranks No. 4 in the MVC.
Mitchell set a 42-second personal best on her way to clocking her first sub-17 5000m race at 16:58.07. Her time ranks ninth in the MVC. Redshirt sophomore Caroline Meyers also ran a personal best in the 5000m at 17:05.87 to finish third.
In the short sprints, Illinois State won both the men’s and women’s 200m dashes. On the men’s side, freshman Edward Watkins captured his first individual event win in a Redbird uniform, as he clocked a 22.08 to place first.
On the women’s side, junior Bri Buggs ran a personal best time of 24.75. In addition to her win in the 200m, Buggs also clocks a wind-legal personal best at 12.24 to finish third in the 100m dash
Making her Illinois State debut in the women’s 3000m steeplechase, sophomore Claire Fuhlhage knocked 28 seconds off her personal best, finishing in a time of 11:02.24 to place second. Sophomore Tyler Polak was the top Redbird finisher on the men’s side, as he set a 26-second personal best to finish fifth at 9:22.74.
“Overall, I am really pleased with how the entire team competed today,” Bovee said. “We competed with a limited squad but all that were here showed up. I was really happy for Joe to get his groove back. The 5000m was a highlight, as well, with several personal bests and also a 1-2 punch with Hickey and Exline was a fun race to watch.”
UP NEXT
The Redbirds are set to return home to host the Redbird Challenge, its final home meet of the season, from April 15-16. Illinois State will honor its graduating seniors at the meet.
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