Published: May 13, 2008 11:51 pm            

ISU track getting ready for MVC outdoors meet

TERRE HAUTE — John Gartland and John McNichols talked Indiana State track Tuesday at a “Chalk Talk” session at The Holiday Inn.

The two coaches have been on staff at the school for a combined 45 years.

Their teams will compete in the Missouri Valley Conference outdoor track and field championships this week at Southern Illinois.

Gartland is in his 20th year as the women’s coach. Two of his top athletes are Erica Moore and Kylie Hutson; both have competed in NCAA national meets.

Hutson competes in the pole vault and recently recorded a personal best in less-than-good conditions.

Moore is qualified in two hurdles races and the 800-meter run in the regional qualifying meet for the nationals and is a provisional qualifier in the heptathlon.

Gartland says Northern Iowa, Southern Illinois, Wichita State, ISU and Missouri State should be top finishers in the women’s meet that begins Friday at SIU.

McNichols is in his 25th year at ISU. He recently was inducted into the Drake Relays Hall of Fame. “He is in there with the likes of Jesse Owens and Knute Rockne,” noted Gartland.

McNichols says Wichita State, UNI and his team could be the top three in the men’s competition at SIU. “We are strong on the track and not as strong in the field events this year,” the coach said.

He said the outdoor season could be summed up in three words: rain, cold and wind. “It probably has been the worst spring that I can recall for meets. The athletes may bust loose this weekend,” he said.

Three ISU athletes are No. 1 seeds for the conference meet: Steve Daniel in the triple jump, Sean Bowman in the steeplechase and Jeramie Gray in the 100-meter dash. Bowman, Daniel and Sean Wright in the 400 meters are qualified for the regional that will be in Arkansas.

He and Gartland have signed athletes for next year. Women’s track is allowed 18 scholarships; men have 12.6 per school.

Mike Whitson, the women’s golf coach, commented on the season just concluded by his team.

The next Chalk Talk will be June 25 with football coaches featured on the program. A dinner and auction are planned for July 18 with a golf outing scheduled for June 19 at Idle Creek.

        

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