JONESBORO, Ark. (1/23/25) – Arkansas State track and field travels to Big Ten country Friday and Saturday, competing in the Fighting Illini Challenge in Urbana-Champaign, Ill.

The Red Wolves will compete against athletes from three Big Ten programs in the host Illini as well as Purdue and Wisconsin. A-State will compete in sport sprints, hurdles, pole vault, jumps and throws. Action begins at 1 p.m. Friday with the women’s pole vault, while the first event on the track will be the 60-meter hurdles prelims at 1:30 p.m. Saturday begins at 1 p.m. with the women’s shot put.

TEAMS COMPETING (DIVISION I)
Arkansas State, Eastern Illinois, Illinois (host), Purdue, Southern Illinois, Wisconsin

THREE THINGS TO NOTE:

1. LAST TIME OUT: Arkansas State had several strong performances at the Vanderbilt Invitational last weekend in Nashville, including two moving into the program’s all-time top 10 in their respective events. Kiara Strayhorn jumped 6.25m (20-6.25) to finish as the top collegian in the long jump and move to second in school history, while Noa Isaia won the men’s weight throw with a throw of 19.58m (64-3) that is sixth.
2. EARLY SUN BELT LEADERS: Arkansas State boasts a plethora of athletes atop their respective events in the Sun Belt Conference, with the full list below. One non-league leader – A-State’s women’s DMR, ranks 10^th nationally and second in the Sun Belt with a time of 12:00.73.

   MEN
   3000 meters: Evan Stevens – 8:16.72
   5000 meters: Jacob Pyeatt – 13:55.40
   60-meter Hurdles: Will Glass – 7.86
   Distance Medley Relay: 10:09.20 (#11 NCAA)
   Pole Vault: Bradley Jelmert – 5.47m/17-11.25 (#11 NCAA)
   Shot Put: Willem Coertzen – 18.47m/60-7.25
   Weight Throw: Noa Isaia – 19.58m/64-3
   Heptathlon: Colby Eddowes – 5,717 (#4 NCAA)

   WOMEN
   60 meters: Reneisha Andrews – 7.41
   5000 meters: Olivia Walter – 17:07.48
   High Jump: Miranda Burgett – 1.72m/5-7.75
   Long Jump: Kiara Strayhorn – 6.25m/20-6.25 (#17 NCAA)
   Shot Put: Selase Sampram – 15.95m/52-4
   Weight Throw: Michelle Ogbemudia – 20.59m/67-6.75
   Pentathlon: Miranda Burgett – 3,672 (#20 NCAA)
    

3. TOP-10 MARKS OF THE WEEK: Kiara Strayhorn’s mark last Friday in Nashville was among the nation’s best over the week, tying for seventh in the USTFCCCA’s Top-10 Marks of the Week.

NEXT UP
After competing in Illinois, the Red Wolves return to action in a pair of meets next week. Some athletes will head to Louisville, Ky., for the PNC Lenny Lyles Invitational while others will compete in Texas Tech’s Stan Scott Invitational in Lubbock, Texas.

SOCIAL MEDIA
For the latest on the A-State track and field and cross country programs, follow @AStateTrack on Twitter and @astatetfxc on Instagram, while also liking the team’s Facebook page at Facebook.com/AStateTrackAndField.