The Illinois State track and field team concluded its regular season at the Illini Last Chance meet in Champaign on Friday. The squad achieved several event wins, with athletes setting personal and season-best marks.
In mid-distance events, senior Maggie Reed secured first place in the mile race with a season-best time of 4:57.62. Sophomore Astrid Van Breedam finished third, while freshman Cameron Crump recorded a personal best to place eighth.
For sprints and hurdles, sophomore Sydney Skarich was the only competitor in the women’s 60m hurdles, finishing in 9.50 seconds. Sophomore Kristyn Johnson ran solo in the women’s 60m dash, clocking a time of 7.86 seconds. In the men’s 60m dash, Aidan Wyzard earned bronze with a season-best time of 7.04 seconds; sophomores Loris Tonella and Trey Thomas followed in fourth and fifth place.
Field events saw strong performances from Redbird athletes. Senior Isabelle Hemmen cleared a personal record of 3.85 meters in women’s pole vault to tie for seventh all-time at Illinois State University, with junior Joycelyn Crum matching that mark for eighth place.
The men swept the top four spots in long jump: freshman Aidan Wyzard led with a season-best jump of 7.16 meters, followed by freshman Brody Rigdon (personal best), freshman Rex Hallam (season best), and junior Ryan Schaefer (season best). On the women’s side, seniors Abby Milott and sophomore Laney Nelson finished among the top five in long jump.
Freshman Voldy Makabu was the sole participant in men’s high jump, clearing 2.05 meters for first place.
In triple jump events, junior Ava Lawless took first on the women’s side; sophomore Laney Nelson was runner-up. For men, sophomore Victor Byaundaombe won with a mark of 14.62 meters.
Junior Cole Stevens placed third in men’s weight throw with a season-best distance of 18.46 meters; junior transfer Isaias Lopez set a personal record for fourth place at 16.74 meters. On the women’s side, sophomores Brianna Brodie, Morgan Foes and Chidiogo Odeluga placed second through fourth respectively.
Shot put results included three Redbird women and three men finishing among the top five; Kiera Fax led women with a runner-up finish at 14.06 meters while Jacob Klink did so for men at 17.70 meters.
Event winners from Illinois State included Kristyn Johnson (women’s 60m), Sydney Skarich (women’s 60m hurdles), Maggie Reed (women’s mile), Ava Lawless (women’s triple jump), Voldy Makabu (men’s high jump), Aidan Wyzard (men’s long jump) and Victor Byaundaombe (men’s triple jump).
The Redbirds will begin postseason competition at the Missouri Valley Conference Championships scheduled for March 1-2 in Indianapolis.
Illinois State Redbirds compete across NCAA Division I events nationwide according to their official website. The program is connected to Illinois State University and benefits from resources like fan engagement platforms, training facilities such as OSF HealthCare Athletics Training Center and support funds aimed at enhancing competitiveness.
