CARBONDALE, Ill. – The Illinois State track & field program closed out the 2025 MVC Outdoor Track & Field Championship at the Lew Hartzog Track & Field Complex, Sunday afternoon.

The Redbirds squads each secured runner-up finishes across the two-day event. The men’s team finished with 151 points as the women’s team tallied 116 points.

In the early hours of day two, Freshman Victor Byaundaombe took home the MVC title for the men’s triple jump. Byaundaombe recorded a 14.94m (49-0.25) on his fifth attempt to secure the win and claim his first individual conference championship of his career. 

Junior Lindsey Miller successfully defended her title in the women’s 100m with a time of 11.54. Miller’s time is a new personal best mark and remains fifth in Illinois State history. 

Junior Rob Pulliam secured the top spot in the Valley for the men’s high jump following a clearance at 2.02m (6-7.50). Pulliam’s win marks his first MVC individual title of his career. Freshman Trey Thomas finished on the podium alongside Pulliam after his third-place finish, after he cleared the bar at 1.99m (6-6.25).

Senior Kiley Sanders closed out the heptathlon with a second-place finish with 4923. Sanders’ runner-up effort marks the highest finish at the MVC title meet in her career. Sanders’ point total is also a new personal best and moves her to 10th in Illinois State history for the heptathlon

In the men’s decathlon, Senior Ariel Atias secured his eighth career MVC medal with a runner-up finish after he tallied 6945 points. Sophomore Ryan Schaefer recorded a fourth-place finish and a new personal best point total of 6652. Schaefer’s total also saw him move to seventh all-time in Redbird history for the decathlon.

Sophomore Ava Lawless secured her second career MVC medal after a runner-up finish in the women’s triple jump. Lawless recorded a jump of 12.21m (40-0.75), a top-10 mark and moves her to 10th in Redbird history.

Junior Jake Welch secured a runner-up finish with a time of 46.82 in the men’s 400m. Welch improved on his top-10 mark he set this season in Texas and moved to eighth in program history.

Senior Kevyere Mack earned his first career MVC medal with a runner-up finish in the men’s 110m hurdles. Mack recorded a time of 14.20 and improved on his top-10 mark he set on Saturday.

In the women’s 100m hurdles, Junior Erin Starks and Senior Corrina Courser earned podium finishes after finishing second and third. Starks recorded a time of 13.51 as Courser followed with a mark of 13.62.

Junior Enyinnaya Nwagwu, Jr. tallied a runner-up finish with a time of 20.82 in the men’s 200m. On the women’s side, Junior Erin Starks finished third with a time of 23.86 to secure a podium finish in both the men’s and women’s 200m events for the Redbirds.

In the men’s and women’s 4x100m relays, each team earned a runner-up finish. The men’s team of Reed, Welch, Nwagwu, and Paul finished with a time of 39.91, the second fastest time in program history. The women’s team of Courser, Starks, Miller, and Daniel also finished second with a time of 44.83, the third fastest mark in Redbird history.

Along with the three individual champions and several podium finishes, the Redbirds also had numerous point scores on day two. The full list of point scores is provided below:

Cole Stevens, Weight Throw, 7th

Astor Snaider, Triple Jump, 5th

Rob Pulliam, Triple Jump, 5th

Madison Saunders, Triple Jump, 4th

Adison Scott, Hammer Throw, 6th

Kane Shields, 1500m, 7th

Julian Baker, 1500m, 8th

Grace Erb, 1500m, 8th

Cambria Geyer, 100m hurdles, 5th, 400m hurdles, 4th

Evan Watson, 400m, 6th

Enyinnaya Nwagwu, 100m, 4th, 200m, 2nd

Zach Paul, 100m, 5th

Colleen Zeibert, 800m, 7th

Lindsey Miller, 200m, 5th

Immaculate Daniel, 200m, 8th

Maggie Reed, 5000m, 7th

Nick Doud, 5000m, 7th

UP NEXT

The Redbirds will wait and find out which student-athletes will be representing Illinois State in College Station, Texas for the NCAA Division West First Round, which begins on Wednesday, May 28.

The University of New England, a NCAA Division III member of the Conference of New England (CNE) is accepting applications for the position of Assistant Men’s and Women’s Tennis Coach. This position is a full-time, 12-month assignment with full benefits.

The tennis programs will commence varsity competition beginning in the 2025-26 academic year. The Nor’easters will practice and compete at a newly-renovated, state-of-the art on-campus facility located just minutes from some of the most picturesque beaches in the region.

Reporting to the Head Men’s and Women’s Tennis Coach, the successful candidate will assist in creating and prioritizing a first-class NCAA Division III student-athlete experience. The Assistant Coach will be responsible for on-court coaching and teaching and will assist the head coach with various administrative tasks including planning travel, coordinating meals, maintaining an equipment and uniform inventory, and other duties as assigned.

A bachelor’s degree is required. Preference will be given to those candidates with previous collegiate coaching experience or have an equivalent combination of education and experience that demonstrates comparable knowledge and skills

Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Interested candidates should apply by submitting a cover letter, resume, and list of three references to https://une.peopleadmin.com/postings/21997

Consistent with federal and state law and University policy, the University of New England is committed to the fundamental concept of equal opportunity for all of the members of the University community. The University prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination in employment, the provision of academic services or in any other area of University life based on race, color, sex, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, ethnicity, genetic information, HIV status, or status as a veteran. Prohibited bias factors will not be permitted to have an adverse influence upon decisions regarding students, employees, applicants for admission, applicants for employment, contractors, volunteers or participants in and/or users of institutional programs, services, and activities.

About University of New England

The University of New England is a private NCAA Division III institution located on the beautiful Southern Maine coast. The Nor’easters sponsor 19 varsity sports and are a member of the Conference of New England (CNE) and the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA), with affiliate membership in the Little East Conference for the sport of women’s swimming.

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