Trailblazer Track and Field continues to add National Qualifiers at IWU Midwest Classic

MARION, Ind. – The Vincennes University Men's and Women's Indoor Track and Field teams continued their strong season Saturday at the IWU Midwest Classic hosted by Indiana Wesleyan University.

The Trailblazers men's Indoor teams came into this weekend ranked No. 21 in this week's USTFCCCA National Rankings and continued to build on their already impressive resume Saturday.

VU was led by freshman Desroy Jordan (Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) who came away with a third-place finish in the 600 meters, ending with a time of 1:21.53.

Freshman Isaac Stanford (Flora, Ill.) and sophomore Mathew Keitany (Kenya) both put up scoring finishes in the 1000 meters Saturday, with Stanford ending with a time of 2:32.26, good for fourth, while Keitany crossed the line at 2:35.80 and took home sixth place.

Jordan, Stanford and Keitany all later teamed up with sophomore Trent Faulkner (Wheatland, Ind.) to take part in the men's Distance Medley Relay, with the team placing third with a time of 10:20.59.

"The men got the meet off to a great start in the DMR with a National Qualifying time, which ranks them fourth in the NJCAA," VU Assistant Track and Field Coach Tyler Steigenga said. "Isaac led most of the 1200 leg and handed off the baton in first place. Desroy followed with a great 400 leg and Trent led most of the 800 before fading in the last straightaway. He handed off to Mathew who ran the 1600 leg well enough to finish the DMR with a time that should get us into the fast heat at Nationals. We are in a much better position at this point in the season compared to last year. There are a few things we have to clean up, but we are showing that we're able to contend at the top of the NJCAA."

"Right after the DMR, Ian and Reed both ran PRs in the 5000m," Steigenga added. "Ian ran 25 seconds faster than his mark two weeks ago and broke the 16-minute barrier running 15:54. Ian did a great job of going out smart. He ran a much more even pace than his last 5000m race, which allowed him to have such a big margin of improvement. We won't have another chance to run the 5000m this indoor season, but when he gets a chance outdoors, I'm sure he'll have another breakthrough."

"Desroy came back later in the meet in the 600m for a National Qualifying mark and eighth fastest time in program history," Steigenga said. "Soon after, Isaac completed a National Qualifying double of his own. He ran the fifth fastest 1000m time in school history, which ranks him 11th in the NJCAA."

The VU women's team was represented by sophomore Brittany Page (Freelandville, Ind.) who placed 14th in the 1000 meters, winning her heat with a time of 3:19.12.

Freshman Daisie Kinnett (Wheatland, Ind.) closed out the day for the Trailblazers in the mile, ending with a time of 5:59.55 and taking home 25th place.

The VU Track and Field teams will look to continue to pad their resumes ahead of next month's Nationals when Vincennes looks to compete in another split weekend, with some of the VU runners and throwers competing in the Hoosier Hills meet at Indiana University Friday, Feb. 10 and the rest competing in the Jerry England Invitational at UIndy on Saturday, Feb. 11.

"I'm very happy with where we are at this point in the season," Steigenga said. "Everyone is either PRing or very close. There were a few disappointments after so many great performances last week, but that happens when expectations are raised. Now we have to make the most of the next two weeks and get the rest of our National Qualifiers taken care of."

VINCENNES RESULTS

MEN'S RESULTS

600m

Desroy Jordan – 3, 1:21.53

1000m

Isaac Stanford – 4, 2:32.26

Mathew Keitany – 6, 2:35.80

DMR

Stanford, Jordan, Faulkner, Keitany – 3, 10:20.59

WOMEN'S RESULTS

Brittany Page – 14, 3:19.12

Mile

Daisie Kinnett – 25, 5:59.55