Men's MVC Track Championships @Indiana State this weekend

[goshox74]

Here's my take on the MVC men's track championship this weekend in Terre Haute ...

The Shocker men, on paper, should finish 3rd or 4th but really there are 4 teams that could win or finish 4th depending on how it goes. UNI is the favorite followed by Indiana State. SIU and WSU will be chasing them.

For the Shocker men to finished 1st or 2nd a lot will have to happen. Mainly they will have to have a great meet and have UNI and Indiana St have a below average meet. UNI is an experienced team so I expect them to not fall apart.

The key athletes for the Shockers ...

Jared Foley - 200m indoor champion will run both the 200 and 400 this weekend, he could score big points and lead the 4x1 and 4x4 relays to high finishes as well. He'll be a busy guy.

Chris Dickman - I heard he won't be doing the decathlon because of a back injury but will be sprinting in the 100 and 200. Hopefully he will be able to replace his decathlon points lost in the sprints.

Speaking of the Decathlon - Justin Taylor and Krzstztof Slupkowski are our big hitters and should finish in the top 3 if they compete well, its been a bit of a struggle for both this outdoor season. Jordan Zerr and Justin Hickey could score well too.

400 guys - After Foley, there are a slew of Shox that could score well in the 400 led by freshman Dylan Hartnett.

Jake Stecklein - scored 4th in both the 800 and mile indoors. I think is battling an injury and is only running the 800, could break up UNI's 800 guys if he runs well.

High Hurdlers - ranked 1-2-4 right now and could sweep if they hit on all cylinders.

Javelin - Like the hurdles ranked 1-2-4, not as likely to sweep because UNI has a good guy but should at worst put 3 in the top 4.

5k, 10k, steeplechase - Scott Reed and Marius Sava need to step up into higher scoring places to give the Shox a chance for an upset. Sava is a newcomer and has shown some talent, Reed is steady and could finish high in the 10k.

Beau Morris - the lone PV'er and defending champ will have a battle with UNI's top guys, hopefully he can repeat his performance from a year ago.

Long and Triple Jump - This group has the chance for more points than any group if they have a good meet. Ian Lindstrom, Josh Crawford, Derrick Sheperd, Patrick Jackson and others. If they jump well they will knock down their rival schools.

Quan Tong - WSU's best chance in the Shot and Discus. The season marks put a lot of people close together and one good throw will make a huge difference in the competition.

[1972Shocker]

Anogther great preview. Thanks, goshox74.

I see the men a picked 4th in the pre-meet poll:

http://www.mvc-sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=36327&SPID=2898&DB_OEM_ID=7600&ATCLID=3737378

Let's hope for a big Shocker surprise from the men.

:goshocks:

[WuDrWu]

WSU programs have consistently "outrun" their predicted path. I have a feeling that will continue this weekend. 3rd place would be a great result.

The men's decathlon gets underway at noon with the first 5 day 1 events (100, LJ, SP, HJ, 400) followed by the Javelin at 6pm and the 10k at 7:45.


Mat Clark (UNI) should win the Decathlon going away and frankly after what happened to him during the indoor meet, he deserves it. I've heard him described as an outstanding young man and you have to want a senior that's as good as he is to go out right. After Mat, there should be several WSU men competing for points. We'll need several good results to expect a better than 4th overall.

The Javelin should bring about our best result of the weekend. Our super soph trio of Brett Trudo, Trent Mazanec and Adam Capps should all finish in the top 5 and a 1-2-3 sweep is a possibility.

The 10k will end what should be a strong day for the men. If Scott Reed can get a top 5 finish, the Shocks will probably exit day 1 with the team lead and good placement in the decathlon.

:wsu_posters: :goshocks: :posterwu: :posterwsu:

[shocksrox]

Taylor 2nd, Slupkowski 3rd after 4 events in the decathlon

[WuDrWu]

Justin Taylor is actually hanging tough with Mat Clark from UNI. Taylor sits in 2nd and Slupkowski is in 3rd.

Jordan Zerr is 8th and Justin Hickey is 9th.


5 events down and 5 more to go. Solid start for the men. Javelin results should be in soon.

:wsu_posters: :goshocks: :posterwu: :posterwsu:

[WuDrWu]

Shocks go 1-2-3 in the javelin with all 3 making the regional mark.

1. Brett Trudo 236-01
2. Trent Mazanec 211-11
3. Adam Capps 203-09


:wsu_posters: :goshocks: :posterwu: :posterwsu:


The UNI thrower that hoped to break up the WSU sweep, fouled and didn't make the finals. Tough start for the predicted champs.

[WuDrWu]

Scott Reed finished 7th and picked up 2 points in the 10k. Not a great finish but not unexpected either.


After day 1 and 2 events scored:


1. SIU 36
2. WSU 26
3. INSU 15
4. UNI 1

:wsu_posters: :goshocks: :posterwu: :posterwsu:

[goshox74]

Awesome stuff! Keep up on the updates if you can!

[WuDrWu]

SIU dominates the hammer, as expected, maybe more so. WSU had no entrant so the 0 points was anticipated.


We fall slightly to 2 and 4 in the decathlon, but I am waiting for the discus update which I think went well for us.

[WuDrWu]

A little disappointing in the decathlon but WSU finishes in 2nd, 5th, 6th, and 8th positions.

Freshman Justin Hickey ran a career best in the 1500 to sneak into 8th spot......that's heart folks.

[WuDrWu]

Shocks put 3 into the finals of the 110 hurdles.

Chris Allen qualified 2nd, Sam Garrison 3rd and Todd McKown 7th.

This trio is certainly being counted on to provide a javelin type finish to boost the Shocks chances at moving up the ladder.

[WuDrWu]

Jared Foley and Justin Smith qualify 7th and 8th in the 400. 3 others missed and that will hurt tomorrow. We needed 3 in the finals.

Jake Steckline sneaks into the final of the 800 (looked to be easier than that).

Todd McKown missed the finals in the 400 hurdles (that hurt).

Jared Foley sneaks into the finals of the 200. Chris Dickman missed. His injury is probably costing them any chance of finishing higher than 4th.

[WuDrWu]

Matt Sittenauer qualifies 7th in the 100.

Tonight's scoring events include the 300 steeple and the long jump.


WSU will send Trace Kendrick, Marius Sava and Tad Eisnehauer out the 3k hoping to get a few points. Sava is a fast deveolping frosh and could surprise.

Josh Crawford, Derick Shephard and Ian Lindstrom go in the long jump. Ian would be our best chance to score.

[WuDrWu]

High Jump: Eddie McClain 7th and Patric Jackson 8th....not as good as expected but close.

Quan Tong 7th in the shot. Pretty much where he expected to be.

Marius Sava 5th and Trace Kendrick 8th in the Steeple.

Ian Lindstrom 3rd and Derrick Shepard 8th in the long jump. Good result.

All in all....not a bad day but not a great day either. Probably on pace to get 4th.

UNI does not seem to be having a great meet but SIU and Indiana State are....not much space to move up.

[WuDrWu]

Standings after day 2:


1 Southern Illinois 81
1 Indiana State 81
3 Wichita State 59
4 Northern Iowa 54
5 Illinois State 32
6 Drake 5


We aren't going to stay ahead of UNI tomorrow. Javelin was our best event and that's over.