Taylor Johnson Turns in Big Blue Top 10 Time

The Millikin University men’s and women’s track team opened its Indoor season competing in Grand Valley’s State’s Bob Eubanks Invite.  The Millikin men finished in seventh place and the Big Blue women were 10th.  The field included both NCAA Division II and Division III programs.

Several Millikin freshmen made impressive debuts for the Big Blue.  In the men’s competition KJ King (Pembroke Township, Bishop McNamara H.S.) won the Long Jump with a jump of 6.80 meters (22-3.75), which was the sixth best jump in school history.  King was 12th in the 60 Meters in 7.33 seconds.

Freshman Dalton Collins (Decatur, Meridian H.S.) was fifth in the 600 Meters in 1:28.01, which ranks him eighth all-time on the Big Blue Indoor Performance list.  Fellow freshman Trey Wade (Mode, Shelbyville H.S.) was sixth in 1:30.19.  Collins turned in Millikin’s sixth all-time quickest 60 Meter Hurdles time in 9.58 second.  Collins was 16th in the event.

Millikin senior Timee McElroy (Mt. Zion, H.S.) was fifth in the 1 Mile Run in 4:31.71, which was seventh all-time for the Big Blue.  McElroy ran Millikin’s ninth best 800 Meters in 2:02.51.  McElroy was 14th in the event.

Vesper Young (Bellwood, Providence St. Mel H.S.) was eighth in the 800 Meters in 55.91.

Freshman Ethan Meyer (Vandalia, H.S.) ran Millikin’s eighth all-time best 300 Meters in 38.26 finishing in 15th in the event.  Tommy O’Brien (Taylorville, H.S.) was 13th in the 800 Meters in 2:02.19, eighth all-time on the Big Blue Indoor Performance chart.    

In the women’s competition, Millikin sophomore Erin Lukens (Johnston City, Herrin H.S.) set a school record in the 300 Meters in 42.71 seconds.  Lukens was 12th in the event.  Lukens was also 12th in the 60 Meter Hurdles in 10.13 seconds, which was Millikin’s fourth all-time best time.

Freshman Isabella Newingham (Decatur, Meridian H.S.) finished in seventh in the Triple Jump with a leap of 9.70 Meters (31-10.00), which was eighth all-time on the Millikin Performance List.   Newingham turned in Millikin’s sixth fastest 60 Meters in 8.31 seconds finishing 12th in the race.

Two Millikin freshmen turned in Big Blue Top 10 times in the 300 Meters.

Taylor Johnson (Newton, H.S.) ran the eighth all-time best time of 45.67 and Claire Caldwell (Monticello, H.S.) had the 10th all-time best time of 46.52.  Taylor Johnson was 19th in the event and Caldwell was 21st.

Amber Johnson (Decatur, St. Teresa H.S.) made strong debut in the 600 Meters with Millikin’s sixth all-time best time of 1:47.38.  She was 10th in the event.  Amber Johnson was 12th in the 800 Meters in 2:35.22.

Freshman Natalie Krol (New Lenox, Lincoln Way West H.S.) has Millikin’s eighth all-time best 600 meters in 1:48.17.  She was 11th in the race.

Senior Emma Hoyer (Champaign, University H.S.) was eighth in the Shot Put in 11.76 meters (38-7.00).  Her performance was eighth all-time at Millikin.