
Four Spartans Score Points on Day Two of the B1G Track & Field Championships
5/15/2021 9:22:00 PM | Track and Field
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - On the second day of the Big Ten Track & Field Championships, four different Spartans earned points for the Michigan State track & field teams at Demirjian Park in Champaign, Illinois.Â
After two days of action, the Michigan State women are fourth with 24 points, while the men are 10th with 12.
"I thought that we saw some really positives things today from both genders," Interim Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Lisa Breznau said. "Antonio (Postell) was a really nice surprise today in the 100m. He came into the meet ranked 18th, so to advance was really huge. Jerimiah (Evans) coming in fourth was another individual that out-did his seed. I know he wants more, but that is still good progress for him from a scoring standpoint."
Field Events
For the third-straight season, Jerimiah Evans had a top five finish in the discus, taking fourth place with a throw of 55.80m. He reached the 55.80m mark with his first throw of the competition. In the 2019 Big Ten Championship, Evans finished second with at throw of 57.05m, while taking third in 2018 (60.58m).Â
Track Events
Antonio Postell will compete in the final of the men's 100m on Sunday. He finished second in the fourth heat with a personal-best time of 10.51 to qualify eighth overall. Postell topped his previous personal best time of 10.62 at the Big Ten Indiana Invite #4 on May 1. Joseph McCarthy also had a career best with a time of 10.94.
Another Spartan reached the finals on Sunday when Jaiden Paris, who continued her strong season in the women's 100m hurdles. With a new personal best time of 13.60, she qualified seventh to move on. Despite not reaching the final, Kaia Scheffler crossed the line in 13.87, destroying her previous best of  14.40. Paris' previous personal best was 13.78 at the Big Ten Indiana Invite #4.
In the women's 3000m steeplechase, both Casey Mossholder and Aimee Piercy scored points for the Spartans. Mossholder used a personal best time of 10:07.62 to finish fifth. Piercy followed right behind to take eighth, crossing the line with a PR time of 10:23.28.
"If everyone had the time of mentality that Casey has along with athletes like Antonio (Postell) and Wade (Walder), it would make it so enjoyable because we would be so unbelievably competitive. Casey's story is unique, and to finish fifth in a very competitive conference was so significant, and I am so proud of her," Breznau added.Â
In the prelims of the men's 400m, Zach DiStefano finished 21st with a time of 49.17. Jalen Smith added a PR in the 800m (1:50.68) with John Gove not far behind (1:50.86). While not reaching the final, Lauren Freeland also had a career best in the women's 800m, crossing in 2:09.40.
Decathlon
Wade Walder had a huge day two of the decathlon to take seventh (7,421 points) after ending the first day of competition in ninth. After earning 824 points in the 100m with a time of 15.21, the senior took second in the discus with a throw of 42.43m for 714 points. Walder also finished second in the pole vault, clearing 4.90m just shy of his PR. He went on to register personal bests in the final two events of the competition. Walder added 692 points with a javelin throw of 56.93m, while adding 659 points with a time of 4:43.36 in the 1500m.
"Wade was just really tough today in the multis. He was really impressive all weekend. In that event, you are sometimes going to run into a dilemma, and I was impressed with how he kept going at it. He did a really nice job today," Breznau said.
Championship Sunday begins at 12 p.m. with the women's discus, women's pole vault and the women's high jump.Â
"I just want them to show up tomorrow with the intention to compete and problem solve. Everyone may be tired and a little bit banged up. It is natural at this time of year. We just want them to come out and support one another, which is something that they have done so well this year," Breznau said.
Â
After two days of action, the Michigan State women are fourth with 24 points, while the men are 10th with 12.
"I thought that we saw some really positives things today from both genders," Interim Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Lisa Breznau said. "Antonio (Postell) was a really nice surprise today in the 100m. He came into the meet ranked 18th, so to advance was really huge. Jerimiah (Evans) coming in fourth was another individual that out-did his seed. I know he wants more, but that is still good progress for him from a scoring standpoint."
Field Events
For the third-straight season, Jerimiah Evans had a top five finish in the discus, taking fourth place with a throw of 55.80m. He reached the 55.80m mark with his first throw of the competition. In the 2019 Big Ten Championship, Evans finished second with at throw of 57.05m, while taking third in 2018 (60.58m).Â
Track Events
Antonio Postell will compete in the final of the men's 100m on Sunday. He finished second in the fourth heat with a personal-best time of 10.51 to qualify eighth overall. Postell topped his previous personal best time of 10.62 at the Big Ten Indiana Invite #4 on May 1. Joseph McCarthy also had a career best with a time of 10.94.
Another Spartan reached the finals on Sunday when Jaiden Paris, who continued her strong season in the women's 100m hurdles. With a new personal best time of 13.60, she qualified seventh to move on. Despite not reaching the final, Kaia Scheffler crossed the line in 13.87, destroying her previous best of  14.40. Paris' previous personal best was 13.78 at the Big Ten Indiana Invite #4.
In the women's 3000m steeplechase, both Casey Mossholder and Aimee Piercy scored points for the Spartans. Mossholder used a personal best time of 10:07.62 to finish fifth. Piercy followed right behind to take eighth, crossing the line with a PR time of 10:23.28.
"If everyone had the time of mentality that Casey has along with athletes like Antonio (Postell) and Wade (Walder), it would make it so enjoyable because we would be so unbelievably competitive. Casey's story is unique, and to finish fifth in a very competitive conference was so significant, and I am so proud of her," Breznau added.Â
In the prelims of the men's 400m, Zach DiStefano finished 21st with a time of 49.17. Jalen Smith added a PR in the 800m (1:50.68) with John Gove not far behind (1:50.86). While not reaching the final, Lauren Freeland also had a career best in the women's 800m, crossing in 2:09.40.
Decathlon
Wade Walder had a huge day two of the decathlon to take seventh (7,421 points) after ending the first day of competition in ninth. After earning 824 points in the 100m with a time of 15.21, the senior took second in the discus with a throw of 42.43m for 714 points. Walder also finished second in the pole vault, clearing 4.90m just shy of his PR. He went on to register personal bests in the final two events of the competition. Walder added 692 points with a javelin throw of 56.93m, while adding 659 points with a time of 4:43.36 in the 1500m.
"Wade was just really tough today in the multis. He was really impressive all weekend. In that event, you are sometimes going to run into a dilemma, and I was impressed with how he kept going at it. He did a really nice job today," Breznau said.
Championship Sunday begins at 12 p.m. with the women's discus, women's pole vault and the women's high jump.Â
"I just want them to show up tomorrow with the intention to compete and problem solve. Everyone may be tired and a little bit banged up. It is natural at this time of year. We just want them to come out and support one another, which is something that they have done so well this year," Breznau said.
Â
Players Mentioned
Process Oriented | Spartans All-Access
Wednesday, April 02
Track & Field | Big Ten Outdoor Championship recap
Monday, May 13
Track & Field | Big Ten Outdoor Championships highlights
Saturday, May 11
Track & Field | Big Ten Outdoor Championships | Day 2
Saturday, May 11