INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The Southeast Missouri Track and Field team returns to the Hoosier State to compete in the Heartland Invitational Friday and Saturday.

The meet will take place Friday with field events starting at 12:15 p.m. with the women's weight throw before the running events starting at 2:30 p.m. with the 60-meter hurdles.

The Redhawks will be competing against 25 teams from all NCAA divisions. OVC foes Eastern Illinois will be competing along with the University of Michigan, the University of Nebraska, Notre Dame, Butler University, the University of Louisville and Southern Illinois. 

Record Update

For the fifth time this season a member of the SEMO track program reached an indoor school record. At the last meet, Sullivan Gleason matched the school record in the pole vault clearing 17-0.75 (2.50m) to place his name a top of the record books. He matched Christian Locke's mark from 2016.

Last Time Out

The Redhawks participated in the Missouri Invitational hosted by the University of Missouri. Four Redhawks won events, which were Gleason in the pole vault, Clara Billing won the women's pole vault, Madelyn Gray won the 3000-meters and Brianna Dixon in the high jump. 

SEMO added several runner-up and third-place performances throughout the meet. Jake Cannon finished second and Colin Beers placed third in the men's pole vault to join Gleason on the podium. Luke Busateri earned second in the men's triple jump, while Trenton Braswell took third in the men's weight throw. In the women's weight throw, Andreese Ortiz took second and Baylee Beard took third.

On the track, Cole Reinders placed third in the men's 800 meters, Marcus Gordon finished third in the men's 60-meter hurdles, Nova Ojutkangas earned third in the women's mile, Garrett Dumke secured third in the men's 3,000 meters, and Anna Thomason added a third-place finish in the women's long jump. To wrap up the meet, the men's 4x400-meter relay which included Tyler Anderson, Cole Reinders, Trey Mygatt and Micah Grawer placed second. 

OVC Athletes of the Week

The Redhawks swept the OVC Field Athletes of the Week again with both pole vaulters taking home awards. Clara Billing earned the honor after winning the pole vault by setting a new season best mark of 13-5.25. Sullivan Gleason earned Co-Male Field Athlete of the Week after his personal best mark, and he shared the award with Deshawn Roberts from Little Rock. 

National Rankings

The SEMO track team is well represented on the individual event national rankings. Marshall Swadley's shot put mark of 62-2.5 now sits at No. 21 in the nation. Trenton Braswell's weight throw of 68-1.75 sits No. 46 nationally. 

On the women's side Brianna Dixon is on the national list in the high jump, sitting in a tie for 50^th in the nation with a maximum height of 5-10. Anna Thomason is the final Redhawk on the national lists as she now sits 26^th.

OVC Rankings

Along with having a presence on the national lists the SEMO track teams are well represented on the OVC rankings, three weeks out from the indoor conference championship meet the Redhawks have 12 athletes at the top of events. The women have 10 athletes leading the lists, while the men have two. 

Leading the lists on the women's team includes Nova Ojutkangas in the 3000-meters and 5000-meters, Anna Thomason in the pentathlon and the 60-meter hurdles, Andreese Ortiz in the shot put and weight throw, Clara Billing in the pole vault, Brianna Dixon in the high jump, Madelyn Gray in the mile and Sydney Burdine in the 400-meters. For the men, the distance medley relay and Marshall Swadley, in the shot put, lead the way. 

Along with the event winners SEMO has eight men in the top three of events and the women add 10 others in the top three as well. 

Up Next

SEMO will host its second home meet of the season, and last regular season indoor meet of the schedule, the Redhawks Open Friday February 20^th with events starting at 4 p.m.