Leatherneck Track and Field to Run at Ichabod Invite

Thursday, February 08, 2024

MACOMB – The Western Illinois men's and women's indoor track and field team is back in action this weekend, heading to Topeka, Kansas to participate in the Ichabod Invitational, hosted by Washburn University.

Events begin at 2 p.m. on Friday, then continue on Saturday at 11 a.m. The meet will be streamed here. The event is only a few weeks ahead of the Ohio Valley Conference Indoor Championships, held February 21 and 22 in Birmingham, Alabama.

"This is the best we have looked as a track & field program in many decades," Western Illinois coach Trey Brokaw said. "I'm torn; happy for how far we've come as a program, yet knowing we need to improve more to win a championship, which is our goal.
"On paper right now, Southeast Missouri State is projected to win on the women's side and Arkansas Little Rock is projected to win on the men's side. Of course, a lot can change in the last few weeks of the season. We are healthy. The motivation level of our student-athletes is extremely high. They can sense a conference team championship opportunity right around the corner."

The Leathernecks are coming off a big weekend at the PNC Bank Invitational in Louisville. A trio of Leathernecks, Arnie Grunert, Aliyah Adams, and Jaiden Young were all recognized by the OVC as Athletes of the Week.

Adams led the way, winning a pair of events.

"Aliyah Adams had an incredible start to her sophomore year, long jumping 6.10 (20' 0.25") and running 8.64 in the 60-meter hurdles," coach Trey Brokaw said. "Both were school records and some of the best marks in the entire NCAA. Both of those marks, although from December, still lead the conference. She's also made some major improvements in the triple jump, a new event for her as of last year.

"Coach Rob Tarpley has done a great job preparing the entire horizontal jumps group and that is a major strength of our program right now. Those jumpers get so hyped for competitions and I absolutely love that energy - it's contagious."

Young also had a big day in the sprints.

"Jaiden Young has had an awesome freshman campaign; 48.36 so far this indoor season and last year as a high school senior he didn't even break 50.0," Brokaw said. "He's a fighter, literally, because his main focus in high school was a boxing career. He didn't even try track and field until his senior year last spring. Having young leaders like Jaiden, who will fight hard for the win, is extremely important for team culture and team success. I wouldn't be surprised at all if he runs 47 indoors and drops a 46 outdoors. He's that talented and has the work ethic to back it up. Coach Alena Hrusoci did a superb job recruiting him to Western Illinois University."

Grunert set a new program record, winning the pole vault.

"Arnie has had a fantastic start to his indoor season," Brokaw said. "He's the first Western Illinois University pole vaulter ever over 17 feet, which is a major accomplishment for such a historically successful program. I think he will jump close to 18 feet before his sophomore year is over. Just recently he got back on a full approach and his confidence is really high. His goal is hitting an NCAA national qualifying mark and I wouldn't be surprised at all if he puts it together these last few meets. Coach Tom Unruh has done a fantastic job with Arnie and the rest of our pole vault crew."

Western Illinois is at Iowa next week before turning focus to the OVC Championships.

"Collectively as a team, we need to put our best foot forward this weekend down in Kansas," Brokaw said. "Momentum is important in any sport. We need more people in scoring positions (top-8). We want to come into the conference championships hot, with many personal bests, and the confidence that comes with those."

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