Twelve Valley track and field team took to competition this past weekend at the Drake Relays, Penn Relays, Outdoor Music City Challenge, 2024 Kip Janvrin Open, GVSU Extra Weekend Meet, KSU Ward Haylett Invite 2024, Rick Erdmann Twilight, and Sycamore Open.
The Valley holds 21 national top 50 spots this season, with 9 top 25 performances, and 4 top 15. Valley student-athletes look to secure qualifying marks in their respective East or West region to qualify for the 2024 NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Track and Field Regional Preliminary Rounds, held May 22nd-25th, 2024. Currently, The Valley has 29 events in the top 50 in the East Region and 29 events in the West Region in the top 50, for a total of 58 events in potential standings for the postseason.
USTFCCCA EVENT SQUAD RANKINGS
USTFCCCA Regional Rankings
TRACK & FIELD ATHLETES OF THE WEEK HONORS
Men's Track Athlete of the Week
Jack Crull, Jr., Bradley [Jefferson City, Mo] - Won the Drake Relays 1500M in a time of 3:42.76. Crull also anchored the distance medley relay to a Drake Relays Champions title, at a time of 9:43.65. He led the Braves to the first Drake Relays title in the history of Bradley University. Crull sits 39th in the NCAA in the 1500m and 14th in the West Qualifying Region.
Women's Track Athlete of the Week
Julia Nielsen, Jr., Bradley [Gothenburg, Sweden] - ran the 800M at the Drake Relays in 2:00.99, setting a new MVC All-Time record. Nielsen replaces her previous record of 2:02.10 set at the Bryant Clay Invitational. Nielsen is currently 6th in the NCAA (2nd in the West Qualifying Region), 8th in Swedish History, owns the Bradley School Record, and earns runner-up honors in the Drake Relays World Athletics Continental Tour in the 800M.
Men's Field Athlete of the Week
Anthony Barmes, Jr., Drake [Auckland, New Zealand] - Barmes had a top hammer throw of 69.28m/227’ 3”, four throws over 68m, and two over 69m to finish in 7th place in the Drake Relays Elite Hammer section competing amongst professionals. He beat an Olympian, was 1st in MVC by nearly 9m/30ft, 13th in the NCAA, 10th in the West Qualifying List, 4th in the Midwest Region, and 4th in All-Time New Zealand.
Women's Field Athlete of the Week
Centaine Noom-Duckworth, Jr., Drake [Auckland, New Zealand] - Noom-Duckworth had a personal record hammer throw of 62.21m/204’ 1”, four throws over 59m, and two over 60m in the Drake Relays. She was the runner-up at the Drake Relays Open Hammer section, which was the highest-ever finish for a Drake women’s hammer thrower at Drake Relays. She was 1st in MVC by 2m/6ft, 10th in the Midwest Region, 19th in the West Qualifying List, 35th in the NCAA, and 7th in all-time New Zealand.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
WOMEN'S TRACK
- Rachel Mehringer, Fr., Indiana State
- Finished 3rd and 2nd at the Drake Relays in the 100m hurdles at a time of 13.34 and aided the shuttle hurdles to a time of 57.35.
- Madison Plummer, Jr., Illinois State
- Won the Drake Relays in the 3000m steeplechase with a personal best time of 10:12.83.
WOMEN'S FIELD
- Brooklyn Giertz-Pfaff, Jr., Indiana State
- Won the pole vault at the Sycamore Open with a height of 4.15m.
- Logan Gray, Jr., Belmont
- Took 1st in the shot put at the Outdoor Music City Challenge with a mark of 16.42m
nOTABLE PERFORMANCES
MEN'S TRACK
- Austin Belle, Fr., Belmont
- Finished 7th in the Outdoor Music City Classic in the 100m with a time of 10.47 and place first in the 200m with a time of 20.67.
- Dewyayne Johsnon, So., Illinois State
- Finished fifth at the Drake Relays in the 110m hurdles with a timr of 13.87.
- Terrance O’Bannon, So., Indiana State
- Won the Sycamore Open in the 100m with a time of 10.46.
MEN'S FIELD
- Elias Foor, Sr., Indiana State
- Won the discus at a mark of 59.30m and in the hammer with a mark of 62.29m at the Sycamore Open.
- Charles Cruse, So., Illinois State
- Won the Drake Relays in the Pole Vault with a height of 5.27m.