Twelve Valley teams took to competition this past weekend at the Indiana Invitational (Indiana St., Southern Illinois, & Evansville), the Larry Wieczorek Invitational (UNI, Illinois St., & Bradley), the Jack Jannett Invitational hosted by UNI, the Cyclone Open (Drake), the Vanderbilt Invitational (Murray St. & Belmont), the Aurora Grand Prix (UIC), the Washburn Rust Buster (Missouri St.), and the Butler Invitational (Valparaiso). The Valley holds 32 national top 50 spots this season, with 13 top 25 performances, and 6 top 15 performances. Valley student-athletes strive to hold top positions to qualify for the NCAA Indoor National Championship in March.
Men's Regional Rankings - Week 1
Indiana State leads The Valley men at a statement 1st place ranking in the Great Lakes Region. Northern Iowa ranks 9th in the Midwest followed by Illinois State in 14th and Belmont and Valparaiso tied for 16th in their respective regions. Drake ranks 17th in the midwest followed by Evansville's 22nd ranking in the Great Lakes. Southern Illinois, Bradley, and UIC round out the regional rankings for the conference in the Midwest Region.
Women's Regional Rankings - Week 1
Indiana State sets highest in the rankings in the MVC at 8th in the Great Lakes in week 1 followed by Murray State in the Southeast at 10th and Belmont in 11th in the South Region. In the Midwest Bradley leads The Valley followed by Southern Illinois in 17th, Northern Iowa in 22nd, Illinois State 27th, and UIC 19th. Evansville ranks 30th in the Great Lakes followed by Valparaiso and Drake tied for 33rd in their respective regions and Missouri State rounds out the conference rankings at 35th in the Midwest.
TRACK & FIELD ATHLETES OF THE WEEK HONORS
Men's Track Athlete of the Week
Chase Knoche, Junior, UNI - Chase Knoche finished second in the men’s 800-meter in a time of 1:49.61 at the Larry Wieczorek Invitational held in Iowa City at the Iowa Indoor Track Building. Before this past weekend's performance, Knoche Finished third in the 600-meter in a career-best time of 1:18.07 and placed second in the 4x400-meter relay in a time of 3:17.94 at the Hawkeye Invitational. Knoche now sits 13th in the NCAA in the 800m with this time and stands first in MVC ahead of teammates Jayden Dickson and Micaiah Ellis.
Women's Track Athlete of the Week
Chelby Melvin, Sophomore, Murray State [St. Louis, Missouri] - Chelby saw a first-place finish in the 400-meter final at the Vanderbilt Invitational in 54.44 seconds, setting a new personal best and running the third-fastest time in the event in indoor program history. Her time is currently the fastest 400-meter in the Missouri Valley, fifth among all Division I Southeast Region athletes and is among the top-35 fastest times in the country. The Arkansas State transfer shaved over three seconds off her personal best that was previously set in 2022 during her tenure on the Red Wolves’ roster.
Men's Field Athlete of the Week
Adam Phillips, Junior, Drake [Ferndown, England, Canford School] - Phillips had a school record weight throw of 21.61m/70' 10.75" to win the Cyclone Open on Friday, which currently ranks first in MVC and 11th in the NCAA. He is the highest nationally-ranked thrower in MVC. It’s the highest-ever NCAA ranking for a Drake weight thrower.
Women's Field Athlete of the Week
Jenna Pauly, Senior, Murray State [McHenry, Illinois] - Jenna was the Vanderbilt Invitational’s pentathlon winner over the weekend, finishing with a combined score of 3800. She set a new school record and personal best for the event, as well as setting personal records in the shot put (11.28m, 37’ 0.25”) and the 60-meter hurdles (8.60). Pauly saw top-five finishes in three of the five events. She currently leads the Missouri Valley in the pentathlon by 270 points, second in the Southeast Region just 14 points behind the leader and ranks the 11th-best score in the country.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
WOMEN - TRACK
- Rachel Mehringer, Fr., Indiana St.
- Placed second in the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.59 after running a 8.70 in the prelims. She currently ranks first in the MVC and 7th in the Great Lakes Region.
- Trixie Wraith, Fr., Bradley
- Trixie Wraith ran the 3000m at the Larry Wieczorek Invitational in Iowa City, Iowa with a time of 9:27.11, sitting first in the MVC, 47th in the NCAA, and is one of the top 10 freshman in the nation in this event.
WOMEN-FIELD
- Niesha Anderson, So., Indiana State
- Finished third in the weight throw with a mark of 21.36m, marked third in Indiana State program history. Currently ranked 13th in the NCAA, first in the MVC, and third in the Great Lakes Region.
- Tyra Finkeldey, Gr., Belmont
- Tied first in the pole vault with a height of 3.94m. Currently sits 1st in the MVC, tied 87th in the NCAA, and tied at 3rd in the South Region.
nOTABLE PERFORMANCES
MEN- TRACK
- Carter Cheeseman, Gr., Belmont
- Finished second in the mile with a time 4:03.81, ranking him first in the MVC, 6th in the NCAA South, and 43rd in the entire NCAA in the mile.
- Casey Hood Jr., Indiana St.
- Placed first in the 60m with a time of 6.67 for a third-place spot in Indiana St. history. Hood ranks second in the MVC, 4th in the Great Lakes, and 27th in the NCAA.
MEN - FIELD
- William Staggs, Jr., Indiana St.
- Placed 1st in the Pole Vault with a height of 5.25m. Staggs sits first in the MVC, third in the Great Lakes, and 15th in the NCAA.
- Spencer Kessel, Fr., UNI
- Finished 4th in the shot put with a mark of 18.23m sitting second in the MVC and 22nd in the NCAA.