Staggs, Norton win gold on opening day of MVC Indoor Championships

William Staggs | Indiana State University Athletics

By Press release submission

Mar 3, 2023

Staggs, Norton win gold on opening day of MVC Indoor Championships

William Staggs broke the Indiana State school record in the pole vault Sunday, headlining the opening day for the Sycamores at the MVC Indoor Championships. The Sycamores currently sit in first place on the men's side with 44 points and are in second on the women's side with 40 points.

Staggs cleared 5.41m (17-09.25), breaking Tony Mescall's record that had stood since 1996 in the process. He was not the only winner on the opening day for the Trees, though. Brett Norton put down a career-best mark of 20.55m (67-05.25) to win the weight throw, and was one of four Sycamores to score points in the event.

Among the other notable performances on the first day at Gately Park were JaVaughn Moore breaking his own 60m record for a second time this season, along with Claire Pittman (long jump) and Selene Weaver (pole vault) picking up all-conference honors.

MVC Champions

• William Staggs – pole vault (5.41m/17-09.00, school record)

• Brett Norton – weight throw (20.55m/67-07.25, fourth in program history)

All-Conference

• Selene Weaver – pole vault (second, 3.95m/12-11.50)

• Claire Pittman – long jump (third, 5.77m/18-11.25)

Scoring for the Sycamores

• Cael Light, Quincy Armstrong, Jocqael Thorpe, Ethan Breen – distance medley relay (fourth, 10:10.26)

• Landis Brandon – pole vault (fourth, 3.95m/12-11.50)

• Noah Bolt – weight throw (fourth, 19.63m/64-05.00)

• Eva Grace Quinlan – pentathlon (fourth, 3375)

• Daniel O'Laughlin – pole vault (fifth, 4.60m/15-01.00)

• Mitch Conard – long jump (fifth, 7.07m/23-02.50)

• Brittney Walker – long jump (fifth, 5.71m/18-08.75)

• Frankie Young III – long jump (sixth, 7.03m/23-00.75)

• Niesha Anderson – weight throw (sixth, 18.56m/60-10.75)

• Erica Barker – 5000m (seventh, 17:01.48)

• Cassidy Bagby, Iyanla Hunter, Maria Biskopstoe, Sara Skaff – distance medley relay (seventh, 12:14.12)

• Ryann Porter – long jump (seventh, 5.58m/18-03.75)

• Ryan Golliher – weight throw (seventh, 18.83m/61-09.50)

• Kamille Gaskin-Griffith – pentathlon (seventh, 3235)

• Brooklyn Giertz – pole vault (eighth, 3.85m/12-07.50)

• Faith Frye – long jump (eighth, 5.57m/18-03.25)

• Elias Foor – weight throw (eighth, 18.77m/61-07.00)

Sprints/Hurdles

On a day consisting of only prelims for the sprinters and hurdlers, Indiana State made sure its presence was still felt. The Sycamore men qualified 10 sprinters for Monday finals, putting through multiple qualifiers in every event. The Sycamores also sent three women to finals.

JaVaughn Moore had the headline performance from the group, breaking his own school record in the 60m by running a time of 6.61 in the prelims. Moore also had the top 200m prelims time of 21.14. Joining Moore in the 60m finals will be Noah Malone (6.80), Terrance O'Bannon (6.81) and Isiah Thomas (6.88). Malone also qualified for the 200m finals with a time of 21.60.

Indiana State also had a pair advance in the 400m finals, with Tahj Johnson finishing third in the prelims at 47.76 and Cameron Stevens earning the final qualifying spot with a time of 48.95.

The 60m hurdles will have multiple Sycamores in both the men's and women's finals. On the men's side, Quincy Armstong ran a career-best 8.09, while Daryl Black clocked a time of 8.30 to qualify. Ryann Porter (8.48) and Riley Tuerff (8.76) ran career-best times on the women's side to qualify for finals, and the duo will also be joined by Zoe Sullivan (8.49).

Collette Wolfe tied her season-best of 7.65 in the 60m prelims, while Nyla Jones (25.36, 200m) and Iyanla Hunter (56.91, 400m) rounded out Indiana State's competitors in the women's sprints events.

Distance

Indiana State put points on the board on both the men's and women's side in the distance medley relay, with the men's quartet of Cael Light, Armstrong, Jocqael Thorpe and Ethan Breen placing fourth in 10:10.26, and the women's team of Cassidy Bagby, Hunter, Maria Biskopstoe and Sara Skaff finishing seventh in 12:14.12. Breen was also one of two Sycamores to qualify for the finals in the mile (4:11.80), along with Jackson Krieg (4:11.73).

Indiana State also qualified a pair of runners for the 800m finals, with Wyatt Wyman (1:51.68) and Napoleon Hernandez (1:52.52) both advancing through prelims. Jocqael Thorpe ran a career-best 1:53.09 and came less than one-tenth of a second from reaching the finals. In the women's 800m, Biskopstoe ran a time of 2:17.82 to place ninth.

The Sycamores got a pair of points in the 5000m from Erica Barker, who placed seventh with a time of 17:01.48. Logan Pietrzak was the lone entry for the Trees in the men's 5000m, placing 12th with a time of 14:48.61.

Jumps/Pole Vault

William Staggs stole the show for the Sycamore jumps and pole vault group with a double PR and school record performance in the pole vault. Staggs cleared 5.41m (17-09.00) to break the program record which had stood since 1996. In addition to Staggs, Daniel O'Laughlin earned a fifth-place finish after clearing 4.60m (15-01.00).

The Trees also had a trio of women score in the pole vault, with Selene Weaver clearing 3.95m (12-11.50) to earn runner-up honors. Landis Brandon also cleared 3.95m (12-11.50) and placed fourth, while Brooklyn Giertz cleared 3.85m (12-07.50) to finish eighth.

Indiana State had four women score in the long jump, with Claire Pittman earning all-conference honors after a mark of 5.77m (18-11.25) saw her finish third. Brittney Walker (5.71m/18-08.75) placed fifth for the Trees, with Porter (5.58m/18-03.75) and Faith Frye (5.57m/18-03.25) finishing in seventh and eighth, respectively. The Sycamores also had a pair of scorers in the men's long jump, with Mitch Conard (7.07m/23-02.50) finishing in fifth and Frankie Young III (7.03m/23-00.75) placing sixth.

Throws

Brett Norton led the charge for a Sycamore throws group that scored 18 points on the men's side and three on the women's side on the opening day. Norton's mark of 20.55m (67-05.25) earned him the top spot, while Noah Bolt finished fourth with a top mark of 19.63m (64-05.00). Also scoring in the event for the Trees were Ryan Golliher, who placed seventh with a top throw of 18.83m (61-09.50), and Elias Foor, who finished in eighth with a top throw of 18.77m (61-07.00).

Indiana State also picked up points in the women's weight throw, with Niesha Anderson finishing sixth with a top mark of 18.56m (60-10.75). Josie Hapack placed ninth with a top mark of 17.4m (57-02.75).

Multis

Indiana State had a pair of scorers in the pentathlon. Eva Grace Quinlan used a strong mark in the high jump (1.66m/5-05.25) on her way to a fourth-place finish with 3375 points. Kamille Gaskin-Griffith placed seventh with 3235 points, in part due to a strong showing in the 60m hurdles (8.83). Chloe Rolen finished ninth with 3130 points, with her best event being the 800m (2:34.54).

Team Scores

MEN

1. Indiana State – 44

2. Northern Iowa – 36

3. Bradley – 31

4. Drake – 30

5. Illinois State – 27

6. Southern Illinois – 12

7. Belmont – 7

8. Valparaiso – 5

9. UIC – 3

WOMEN