Ten of the Twelve Valley track and field team took to competition this past weekend at the 2024 Bryan Clay Invitational, Beach Invitational 2024, Jack Shaw, John Jacobs Invitational, Jim Duncan, Tom Jones Memorial Invitational, and Gary Wieneke Memorial.
The Valley holds 19 national top 50 spots this season, with 8 top 25 performances, and 2 top 10. 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 28 events in the top 50 in the East Region and 29 events in the West Region in the top 50, for a total of 57 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
Mathis Chavand, Sr., Illinois St. - Mathis Chavand rewrote history on Saturday night by breaking the school record for the 5,000m run that was held for ten years with 13:48.14. Chavand broke his personal best by 30 total seconds, as he currently sits in 7th place in the region and leads the entire Missouri Valley in the event.
Women's Track Athlete of the Week
Julia Nielsen, Jr., Bradley [Gothenburg, Sweden ] - Nielsen set a historic weekend in the 800m and 1500m at the Bryan Clay Invitational. She set a personal best time in the 800m at 2:02.10 for the Bradley School Record and the MVC All-Time Record, set by her sister Wilma in 2021. Nielsen didn't stop there, she recorded the second fastest 1500m in Bradley history at 4:12.18 resetting the MVC All-Time record previously held by Aisha Praught of Illinois State in 2012 at 4:16.06. Nielsen is 1 of 4 student-athletes in the NCAA to hold the top 15 times in both events and holds the 11th fastest time in the 800m in Swedish history.
Men's Field Athlete of the Week
Shomari Rogers-Walton, Jumps, Sr., Indiana State [Noblesville, Ind.] - Rogers-Walton put together the best weekend of his career in the long jump at the Gary Wieneke Memorial. His top mark of 7.89m (25-10.75) earned him a first-place finish in the event and was also the top long jump mark for a Sycamore and an MVC athlete in 25 years. Rogers-Walton ranks among the top long jumpers in the nation this season. He currently ranks first in both the MVC and Great Lakes region, third in NCAA East Region qualifying and 12th nationally in the event. Additionally, he also ranks first in the MVC, fourth in the Great Lakes region, 29th in NCAA East Region qualifying and 60th nationally in the triple jump.
Women's Field Athlete of the Week
Centaine Noom-Duckworth, Jr., Drake [Auckland, New Zealand] - Centaine Noom-Duckworth secured a hammer throw of 60.59m/198’ 9” in the Beach Invitational. Her throw was a personal record, and it was the best series of her career, as she notched three throws over 60m. Her throw earned her 8th place in the Long Beach Invitational while competing against professionals. It was first in the MVC by 2m/6ft, 10th in the Midwest Region, 21st in the West Qualifying List, 43rd in the NCAA, and 7th All-time in New Zealand.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
WOMEN'S TRACK
- Rachel Anderson, Sr., SIU
- Set a time of 10:00.70 in the 3000m Steeplechase at the Bryan Clay Invitational, for third best in SIU history.
- Rachel Mehringer, Fr. Indiana St.
- Placed 1st in the 100m Hurdles at a time of 13.62 at the Gary Wieneke Memorial.
WOMEN'S FIELD
- Lillian Gibbs, Sr. Indiana St.
- Took 1st in the Javelin with a mark of 45.32m at the Gary Wieneke Memorial, to claim the Indiana State school record.
- Madison Saunders, Sr., Illinois St.
- Took 1st in the shot put at 14.35m and second-place in the discus at 46.00m at the Tennessee Invitational.
- Brooke Jenkins, Gr., Missouri St.
- Took 3nd in the Triple Jump at the John Jacobs College Invitational hosted by Oklahoma with a mark of 11.75m.
nOTABLE PERFORMANCES
MEN'S TRACK
- Jack Sumners, UNI
- Won the 110m Hurdles with a time of 13.89 at the Jim Duncan invitational.
- Carter Cheeseman, RS-JR., Belmont
- Finished 11th in the 5000m at the Bryan Clay Invitational with a time of 13:52.41
- Isiah Thomas, Sr., Indiana St.
- Took 2nd in the 100m with a time of 10.47 at the Gary Wieneke Memorial.
MEN'S FIELD
- Justice Miller, Jr., UNI
- Took first in the Javelin with a mark of 62.14m at the Jim Duncan Invitational.
- Anthony Barmes, Jr., Drake
- Took first in the Long Beach Invitational hammer throw with a mark of 68.59m