Records fall and top athletes go head-to-head in weekend competition

The previous record of 3 minutes 43 seconds was set in 2010 by both Michl, Weatherford, and ISU national qualifiers Erica Moore and Lauren Martin. 

Set to compete in the NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships, senior Felisha Johnson dueled with Tia Brooks of Oklahoma for the  shot put Tyson Invite crown.  In the end, Brooks was able to edge past Johnson throwing 58 feet, 8 inches, with Johnson at 55 feet , 11.75 inches. Johnson will get her rematch with Brooks next month in Fayetteville.

“It was good for our other group to see top level competition and get into the NCAA facility,” said Angie Martin, head women’s track and field coach. “Johnson did a great job in the shot and the 4x4 took advantage of a good race on a fast track.” 

Senior Brandon Pounds remains as the nation’s number one ranked, 35 pound weight thrower after another competitive weekend, at the Tyson Invite. He won the event with a throw of 69 feet, 3.5 inches; about three and a half feet shy of his number one mark from last weekend at Notre Dame. His teammate, junior Chris Fields finished fifth with a throw of 60 feet, 8.5 inches.

Junior Greggmar Swift finished third in a time of 7.68 seconds. The final contained four of the top six nationally-ranked hurdlers.

“This weekend was a big win for Pounds in the Arena that he will compete in for the Indoor national championships, as well as for Swift who faced two very good hurdlers,” said John McNichols, head men’s track and field coach.

Freshman Adarius Washington clocked an 8.04 second time in the prelims and later an 8.12 seconds in the semi-final, just missing the final.

Michl also ran the 800-meter run and placed sixth with a time of 2:09.58. Weatherford also competed in the hurdles and placed 21st overall in a time of 8.63 seconds, she was joined by sophomore Carmelia Stewart who was 26th in 8.75 seconds.

Senior Dustin Betz finished fourth place in the mile with a time of 4:06.71 and now ranks fourth all time in school history for that event. Freshman John Mascari added a fourth place finish in the 3,000-meters in a time of 8:18.73 for eighth all time in school history.

“Betz ran a great mile that now ranks him among the best ever at ISU and Mascari improved his 3000 meter time despite a slow and tactical race,” McNichols said.

Grand Valley Big Meet

Freshman Katie Wise kept her undefeated season alive in the 60-meter dash. Even though she was second overall her opponent was not a Division I opponent. Wise’s time was 7.42 seconds; she doubled back to place third in the 200-meter dash with 24.19 seconds. Her teammate, sophomore Demetra Camble, placed eighth in the 60-meter dash with 7.7 seconds and was fifth in the 200-meter dash with a time of 24.7 seconds.

“I think we had a lot of women step up at the Grand Valley meet and the pressure is on because we’re getting so close to conference,” Martin said. “Wise, Camble and the young throwers are gaining valuable confidence.” 

Junior Jessica Zangmeister ran the second fastest 5,000-meter in school history in finishing 14th in a time of 17:09.40. 

In the pole vault all three Sycamores cleared 12 feet, 0.5 inches and senior Richelle Kimble placed fifth, junior Lauren Rice was eighth and sophomore Alyssa Markiewicz was 13th due to misses. In the long jump sophomore Kaisha Martin placed sixth after a leap of 17 feet 11.5 inches.

In the throws freshman Whitney Walker placed fifth with a throw of 45 feet, 0.25 inches in the shot put, fellow freshmen Katelyn Rutz was seventh (44 feet, 7 inches) and Dawnielle Passmore was ninth (42 feet, 5.5 inches).  Rutz also placed placed tenth in the weight throw with a toss of 51 feet, 0.25 inches, Passmoore was 13th with a throw of 46 feet, 8.75 inches and Walker finished 15th with a throw of 44 feet, 7 inches.

“Every week this team has ups and downs, but they are learning from each experience and getting better as it goes,” Martin said.

Freshman Connor Curley cleared 16 feet, 2.75 inches in the pole vault to finish fifth and position himself into first place in the MVC rankings. Senior Drew LaMaster finished 17th with a 15 feet, 3 inch jump and sophomore Wes Schenck was 19th with a vault of 15 feet, 3 inches as well.

In the 60-meter dash, junior Sean Smith just missed his personal best in finishing fifth with a time of 6.90 seconds and junior Keith Housley was seventh in 6.93 seconds. Smith came back to finish 13th in the 200 meter dash with a time of 22.06 seconds. In the hurdles, junior Maurice Lyke and Duane Brown advanced to the finals with times of 8.09 seconds and 8.15 seconds respectively, but Lyke withdrew before the final and Brown went on to place second with a time of 8.04 seconds.