McLean County Times

The Illinois State track and field team is preparing to compete in the NCAA West First Round, which begins on Wednesday, May 28. The event will take place over four days, starting at 10:00 a.m. CST.

Nine athletes from Illinois State will represent the Redbirds during this competition. Junior Charles Cruse will be the first to compete on Wednesday in the men's pole vault at 5:30 p.m. CST. Cruse qualified with a clearance of 5.17m (16-11.5) at the Normal Invite in April, marking his second appearance at this event for the Redbirds.

Later that day, Junior Enyinnaya Nwagwu Jr. will participate in the 200m dash at 8:45 p.m. CST. Nwagwu qualified with a time of 20.82 seconds, achieved during a runner-up finish at the 2025 MVC Outdoor Track & Field Championship. His time ranks as the fifth-fastest in Redbird history.

On Thursday, Senior Corrina Courser and Junior Erin Starks will begin their competition in the 100m hurdles at 6:00 p.m. CST. Both athletes secured their spots by setting regional marks at the Fighting Illini Twilight in late April, with Courser recording a time of 13.36 seconds and Starks finishing closely behind with a mark of 13.41 seconds.

Sophomore Immaculate Daniel will close out Thursday's events for Illinois State by competing in the 100m dash at 7:00 p.m. CST. Daniel set an Illinois State school record with her qualifying time of 11.33 seconds at the Normal Invite in April.

Freshman Victor Byaundaombe will start Friday's events for Illinois State with his participation in the men's triple jump at 2:30 p.m. CST. Byaundaombe qualified with a mark of 15.32m (50-3.25), which he recorded while winning the event at his final home meet of the season.

The men's 4x400m relay team consisting of Zach Paul, Jake Welch, Evan Watson, and Enyinnaya Nwagwu Jr., will compete on Friday evening at 8:45 p.m. CST after securing their spot with a time of 3:06.89 during a runner-up finish at the MVC Outdoor Track & Field Championship.

If any individual competitors advance beyond these rounds, subsequent events are scheduled for Friday for men and Saturday for women.