Men’s Team Highlights
The Illinois State men’s track and field team put on a stellar performance at the MVC Outdoor Championship, securing a second-place finish with an impressive total of 152 points.
Raydoffa Braziel stood out with a remarkable victory in the 400-meter race, clocking a personal best time of 46.59 seconds. Following closely behind was teammate Eninnaya Nwagwu, who secured second place with his own personal best time of 47.41 seconds.
Cade Ward exhibited his versatility by claiming first in both the 400-meter decathlon (48.80 seconds) and the 1500-meter decathlon (4:34.45). Ryan Schaefer contributed to the team’s success with a third-place finish in the 1500-meter decathlon, completing the race in 4:50.59.
In field events, Amiri Buchanan delivered a standout performance, achieving a personal record distance of 19.29 meters in the shot put, earning him first place. Jaden Johnson also set a personal best with a time of 52.62 seconds, clinching third place in the 400-meter hurdles.
Other notable finishes included Mathis Chavand’s second place in the 5000-meter (14:23.14), Garrett Taylor’s third place in the discus throw (49.88 meters), and Rob Pulliam’s second place in the high jump (2.05 meters).
The team wrapped up their outstanding performance with strong showings in relays, with Jaiden Reed, Devin Turner, Sean Hopkins, and Eninnaya Nwagwu securing third place in the 4×100-meter relay. Additionally, Caleb-Emmanuel Lerus, Sam Atkinson, Eninnaya Nwagwu, and Raydoffa Braziel clocked a season-best time of 3:08.10 in the 4×400-meter relay.
Women’s Team Highlights
On the women’s side, Illinois State continued their strong showing, finishing third overall with 132.5 points at the MVC Outdoor Championship.
Lindsey Miller shone in the 100-meter event, claiming first place with a personal-best time of 11.57 seconds. Madison Saunders dominated the triple jump, securing first place with a leap of 12.27 meters.
The relay team comprising Sa’mone Winters, Hassy Fashina-Bombata, Madison Saunders, and Lindsey Miller clinched first place in the 4×100-meter relay, setting a season-best time of 44.85 seconds.
Corrina Courser impressed with a personal-best time of 13.73 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles, earning her third place.
In distance events, Mattison Plummer secured second place in the 3000-meter steeplechase (10:20.16) and third place in the 1500-meter run (4:24.45), setting a personal best.
Macy Byer achieved a notable second-place finish in discus with a toss of 50.10 meters, while Batya Butler recorded a season-best toss of 14.93 meters, earning her third place in the shot put.
Overall, Illinois State’s track and field athletes showcased exceptional talent and determination at the MVC Outdoor Championship, exemplifying their prowess in both track events and field disciplines.