Illinois State Track & Field Dominates MVC Indoor Championships with Record-Breaking Performances

INDIANAPOLIS – The Illinois State Redbirds delivered a stellar performance at the Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Championships, held at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, securing multiple individual titles and setting new program records. The team crowned three individual champions on the first day of competition, showcasing their strength and determination.

Record-Breaking Performances Highlight Day One

Seth Nelson led the charge, clearing 5.30m in the men’s pole vault to win an individual conference title. This victory marks Illinois State’s first championship in the men’s pole vault since 2020. Nelson’s performance continues a strong season for the Redbirds’ standout athlete, who previously set a school record at the Larry Wieczorek Invitational.

The Redbirds also swept the indoor 5000m race for the third time in conference championship history, and the first time since 1997. Julian Baker claimed gold on the men’s side with a career-record time of 14:09.54, while Mattison Plummer won the MVC title in the women’s division with a career-best time of 16:28.42, moving her into sixth all-time in school history. Baker is the Redbirds’ first title winner in the men’s event since 2016, and Plummer is the women’s first champion since 2020.

Sprints, Hurdles, and Qualifying Rounds

Macee Rivers, Erin Starks, and Nya Browne demonstrated their speed and skill in the 60m hurdles, placing third through fifth and qualifying for the finals. Rivers improved her career-best time to 8.38 seconds in the preliminary round.

Lindsey Miller advanced to the finals of the 60m dash with a time of 7.42 seconds and also qualified for the 200m finals, clocking the second-fastest time in program history at 23.86 seconds. Starks also qualified for the 200m finals.

On the men’s side, Zach Paul, Reece Curtis, Jaiden Reed, and Enyinnaya Nwagwu all qualified for the 60m dash finals. Nwagwu led the way in the men’s 200m prelims, breaking the school record with a time of 20.91 seconds, surpassing the previous record of 20.97 seconds set in 1997. Curtis finished second in 21.18 seconds, moving into third in school history, while Paul’s time of 21.23 seconds placed him sixth on the all-time performers list.

Mid-Distance, Distance, and Relays

Cayde de Waal qualified for the men’s mile finals, while Becca Heitzig, Pauline Schedler, and Astrid Van Breedam secured their spots in the women’s mile finals. Logan Scott qualified for the 800m finals with a time of 1:51.66. Heitzig, Colleen Zeibert, and Brooke Zeibert also qualified for the women’s 800m finals, finishing first, second, and fifth, respectively.

The women’s distance medley relay team, featuring Maggie Reed, Schedler, Colleen Zeibert, and Brooke Zeibert, earned a silver medal with a time of 11:45.24, which ranks as the ninth-fastest time in program history.

Field Events and Multi-Events

Heath Hawkins joined Nelson on the podium, taking bronze in the men’s pole vault with a clearance of 4.90m. Isabelle Hemmen and Joycelyn Crum tied for fourth in the women’s pole vault with clearances of 3.78m.

Ryan Schaefer currently holds second place in the men’s heptathlon with 3,010 total points through the first four events, highlighted by a career-best throw of 12.28m in the shot put. Trey Thomas is in seventh place with 2,732 points. Sydney Skarich finished fourth in the women’s pentathlon with 3,564 points, decent for sixth all-time in school history, and also took bronze in the women’s high jump with a mark of 1.69m.

Voldy Makabu earned silver in the men’s high jump with a mark of 2.09m, while Kaden Stewart finished fifth with a jump of 1.98m. Brody Rigdon placed third in the long jump with a leap of 7.36m, tied for sixth in program history. Abby Milott took fourth in the women’s long jump with a career-best mark of 5.87m, moving her into ninth in the school record books.

Throws Competition

Cole Stevens recorded a mark of 18.81m to place sixth in the men’s weight throw, and Brianna Brodie took fifth on the women’s side with a throw of 18.12m.

MVC Title Winners

• Men’s Pole Vault – Seth Nelson, 5.30m
• Men’s 5000m – Julian Baker, 14:09.54
• Women’s 5000m – Mattison Plummer, 16:28.42

Looking Ahead

The Redbirds will conclude the MVC Indoor Championships on Monday, with competition beginning at 8:30 a.m. At the Indiana State Fairgrounds.