CARBONDALE, Ill. – The Illinois State track & field program wrapped up day one of the 2025 MVC Outdoor Track & Field Championship at the Lew Hartzog Track & Field Complex, Saturday evening.

To open the meet, Senior Zack Loomis captured the Missouri Valley Conference title for the men's 10,000m after running a time of 30:32.37. Senior Nick Doud followed just behind, with a mark of 30:37.76 to secure the top two spots on the podium for the Redbirds.

Senior Windsor Roberts secured a runner-up finish for Illinois State with a clearance of 3.92m (12-10.25). Roberts recorded her fourth career podium finish at the Missouri Valley Conference Championships as well. On the men's side, Junior Charles Cruse and Freshman Heath Hawkins finished tied for sixth after clearing the bar at 4.73m (15-6.25).

Senior Kevyere Mack entered the top-10 list for the men's 110m hurdles after running a time of 14.24. Mack's time saw him qualify for Sunday's final and move to eighth in program history. 

In the women's 100m hurdles, three Redbirds qualified for the final on Sunday. Junior Erin Starks recorded the fastest time of 13.52 as Senior Corrina Courser finished right behind with a mark of 13.73. Sophomore Cambria Geyer was the final Redbird to qualify with a time of 13.80. Along with advancing to the final, Geyer's time saw her move to ninth in program history. Geyer also becomes the fourth Illinois State women's hurdler to enter the top-10 list this season.

To close out night one, five Redbird long jumpers moved to the final flight of jumps. Junior Rob Pulliam was the highest-placing Redbird with a mark of 7.31m (23-11.75). Senior Sean Hopkins finished fifth with a jump of 7.27m (23-10.25). Pulliam and Hopkins' marks saw them enter the top-10 list for men's long jump.

In the women's long jump, Seniors Atleigh Hamilton and Madison Saunders moved on to the final flight. Hamilton recorded a fourth-place finish with a mark of 5.74m (18-10) as Saunders finished seventh with a jump of 5.53m (18-2.25).

Sophomore Garrett Taylor advanced to the final round of the men's discus for the second consecutive year at the Missouri Valley Conference title meet. Taylor finished fourth after recording a throw of 51.07m (167-7). On the women's side, Sophomore Adi Scott and Freshman Brianna Brodie advanced to the final round of throws. Scott finished fifth with a throw of 44.75m (146-10) as Brodie placed one spot behind Scott in sixth with a throw of 44.56m (146-3).

In the women's javelin throw, Freshman Sydney Skarich finished eighth with a throw of 38.14m (125-2). Senior Kiley Sanders tallied a ninth-place finish with a mark of 37.14m (121-10). On the men's side, Senior Ariel Atias secured a fifth-place finish with a throw of 54.63m (192-4).

In the men's decathlon, Sophomore Ryan Schaefer sits in third place through five events with 3673. Senior Ariel Atias sits fifth with 3540 points. Through four events in the women's heptathlon, Senior Kiley Sanders sits in sixth place with 2898 points as Senior Gracie Jessup stands in ninth place. Freshman Sydney Skarich sits in 11th with 2707 points.

Across Saturday's prelim events, the Redbirds saw 14 student-athletes advance to the finals on Sunday. The full list of qualifiers and their events are listed below:

Kane Shields, 1500m

Julian Baker, 1500m

Grace Erb, 1500m

Kevyere Mack, 110m hurdles

Erin Starks, 100m hurdles, 200m 

Corrina Courser, 100m hurdles

Cambria Geyer, 100m hurdles, 400m hurdles

Jake Welch, 400m

Evan Watson, 400m

Zach Paul, 100m

Enyinnaya Nwagwu, Jr., 100m

Colleen Zeibert, 800m

Lindsey Miller, 100m, 200m

Immaculate Daniel, 100m, 200m

Action will resume from Carbondale at 9:00 a.m. Sunday morning with the decathlon 110m hurdles.