Women’s and men’s track and field teams have made great strides for the Titan’s senior day and two-day Keck DIII Select, the Titan’s largest home meet of the season, at the Shirk Center, Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, and Saturday, Feb. 8.
Illinois Wesleyan University men’s junior Ashtin Elder started the home meet right with his performance in the men’s heptathlon on Friday night. Earning second place in the 60-meter dash, he earned a personal best of 7.39 seconds. Elder then earned two second place finishes in the men’s hept. long jump, shot put and a fourth place finish in the men’s hept. high jump. The junior was seeded third with 2191 points by the end of the first night. Elder finished with 3344 points by the end of the meet and maintained his third place ranking for the men’s heptathlon.
On day two of the Keck Select and the Titan’s senior night, many athletes’ performances put them at the top of the charts. Sophomore Matt Lindberg scored a new career best in the men’s high jump with a clearance of 2.04m. The height is ranked fifth at IWU, 15th in Division III for the season and second for the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin.
Sophomore Imani Ogunribido had an immediate win for the women’s triple jump event with an 11.89m on her first attempt. She kept an over two foot advantage from the rest of the field for the remainder of the competition.
Sophomore Alex Reinhart finished 2:18.4 in women’s 800m, earning a new personal best making ninth place on IWU’s top-ten list. Reinhart obtained the CCIW’s second-best time for the season. First-year Jack Thomas finished in second-place for the men’s 5000m with a time of 15:49.21.
Junior Adriana Crabtree ran the fastest time in the conference this season in the women’s 3,000m, and ranked second in program history with a 10:15.19 finish. Crabtree also finished the mile in a time of 5:03.07, a season-best and finishing in third-place.
Many seniors scored high for senior night, especially Carlyssa King, who set a new school record for women’s weight throw. King’s throw of 17.62m earned her a second-place finish and 15th place in Division III for this season. King also threw the eighth-best of all-time for IWU in shot put with an 11.29m mark.
Senior Alex Harvey finished fifth in the field for the men’s 60m dash with a 7.04 time in the finals, and also tied for fifth-fastest for IWU all-time. Fellow senior Nick Fisch won the men’s 5000m with a time of 15:20.06, moving him to sixth all-time in IWU history. With a time of 4:21.19 in the men’s mile, senior Ernie Waterson finished fourth in the field and moved up to fifth all-time.
The next home meet is set for Feb. 21 at 5 p.m. for the Friday Night Meet inside of the Shirk Center. They will be running against CCIW rivals North Park University and Millikin University.