WKU brings back a trio of titles; Isenbarger breaks high jump record again

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – WKU Track & Field won three individual titles at the PNC Bank Bellarmine Classic, highlighted by another record-breaking performance from Katie Isenbarger. In addition to the high jump title, Devon Montgomery won the men’s pole vault as Ajla Basic won first place in the women’s shot put.

Overall, the Hilltoppers earned 15 top-five placings across the entire competition.

“Katie was outstanding again today,” said the cross country/athletics director Brent Chumbley. “Another PR, win, install record, school record and she moved up to eighth on the NCAA performance list. Devon also had a personal best pole vault victory and the fourth best in program history, and Ajla won the shot put. There were other positives, but overall I thought we were a bit flat today. Next week , this will be our last update before the conference.

In her second competition of the season, Isenbarger competed in the high jump with only one other competitor left standing. She eventually cleared 6′ (1.83m) to win the event and claim a new program record for the second week in a row. His new 6-foot collegiate PR brand is tied for eighth on the NCAA’s indoor performance list for this season. Isenbarger is just an inch off his best high school mark at 6-1.

On the men’s side, Devon Montgomery cleared the fourth highest indoor pole vault height in program history to win the event at the Bellarmine Classic. He recorded a height of 4.66m (15′ 3.5″), clearing the bar on his first attempt at that height and the previous two. It is his personal indoor best and his first official height of the season.

Basic managed to win the women’s shot put title after throwing 17.75m (58′ 3″). She holds the sixth best mark in the league with her throw at last week’s Lenny Lyles Invitational. Joining her with best throwing finishes was Aïtana Safont Falomir (third in shot put), Ines Lopez Arias (Fourth in the shot put), Kaison Barton (Second in shot put) and Brett Brannon (third in shot put).

Out of distance group, second year Lucy Rutherford stood out by finishing third in the women’s 3 km with a personal best of 10:09.36. The news marks her place in the top 10 in American Conference times in the 3,000 meters.

“When you see the work someone does on a daily basis, you hope they can put their potential into their performance,” the assistant coach said. Brooks The Count. “It doesn’t always work out, but when it does it’s very rewarding as a coach. Outsiders only see the results, we see the process. Lucy Rutherford is one of the most naturally gifted runners I have ever trained and I know her potential. Today we got to see a preview. I know she is without a doubt one of the best runners in C-USA, and she rode an incredible race today. We had other good performances today, but his stands out.”

The two freshmen Trey Kraimer and Jordan Eddie recorded personal bests in the 800 while Collin Pruitt added his in the men’s 3,000 metres.

In the group of male sprinters, Steven Simmons took second place in the 60 meters and fifth in the 200 while Cedric Johnson notched a personal best in the 60-meter hurdles to place second. Jaden Warner also recorded a PR in the 60 yards to finish sixth.

“C.J. (by Cedric Johnson) PR in the 60-meter hurdles was a positive given what we’ve been able to accomplish with training over the past few weeks in terms of the weather,” assistant coach Tosha Ansely said. “We’re taking a week at a time .”

WKU will have one final tune up before the C-USA Championships. The Hilltoppers are due to travel to Birmingham for the Samford Bulldog Invite at the Crossplex on February 11-12, the same venue for the Championships.

Women results
big jump
1^st – Katie Isenbarger – 1.83m (6′)* – new program record
Pole vault
ten^and – Grace Turner – 3.35m (10′ 11.75″)
12^and – Nikki Ogorek – 3.20m (10′ 6″)
15^and – Allison Ferguson – 3.05m (10′)
Heather Gaughran – NH
Shot put
4^and – Ines Lopez Arias – 11.58m (38′)
Shot put
1^st – Ajla Basic – 17.75m (58′ 3″)
3^rd – Aïtana Safont Falomir – 17.16m (56′ 3.75″)
4^and – Taylor Thrasher-Walker – 16.00m (52′ 6″)
9^and – Marie-Claire Redden – 12.64m (41′ 5.75″)
ten^and – Rachel Flinchum – 12.44m (40′ 9.75″)*
Ilana Anderson – NM
800m
seven^and – Madeleine Powell – 2:22.65*
14^and – Abigail Green – 2:28.79*
Mile
14^and – Jenna Vaughn – 5:24.49*
31^st – Heather Whitelow – 6:31.48
3000m
3^rd – Lucy Rutherford – 10:09.36*
19^and – Mary Dye – 11:08.34
20^and – maddy injured – 11:14.51

Results Men
Pole vault
1^st – Devon Montgomery – 4.66m (15′ 3.5″)* – fourth best in program history
Shot put
2^n/a – Kaison Barton – 16.02m (52′ 6.75″)
5^and – John Elam – 15.17m (49′ 9.25″)
Shot put
3^rd – Brett Brannon – 16.92m (55′ 6.25″)
6^and – John Elam – 15.99m (52′ 5.5″)
seven^and – Joel Ditoe – 15.58m (51′ 1.5″)
11^and – Kaison Barton – 14.40m (47′ 3″)
60m
2^n/a – Steven Simmons– 7.01
6^and – Jaden Warner – 7.05*
60m hurdles
2^n/a – Cedric Johnson – 8.48*
200m
5^and – Steven Simmons – 10:39 p.m.
8^and – Jaden Warner – 22.89
800m
3^rd – Trey Kraimer – 1:58.10*
4^and – Jordan Eddie – 1:58.82*
Mile
12^and – Keegan Barnette – 4:33.83
3000m
17^and – Keegan Barnette – 8:52.87
23^rd – Will Perron – 9:06.38
25^and – Collin Pruitt – 9:10.91*
26^and – Miles Huff – 9:16.28

*denotes collegiate RP