CHICAGO - The Chicago State women's track and field team jump started its outdoor season on March 27 at the SIU Spring Classic in Carbondale, Ill., with a sixth-place finish. Joining the Cougars in the meet was the host Salukis along with Illinois State, Marquette and Saint Louis.
Freshman Tosin Idowu (McDonough, Ga.) recorded her first top-ten finish of the outdoor season after taking seventh place in the 100-meter dash. In the 400-meter dash, freshman Amber White (Locust Grove, GA/Ola) (Locust Grove, Ga.), junior Jasmine Allen (Chicago, IL/Olive-Harvey Middle College) (Chicago, Ill.) and sophomore Sundra Smiley (Chicago, IL/Gwendolyn Brooks) (Chicago, Ill.) all posted personal-best times in the event. White recorded a time of 1:03.18, Allen crossed the finish line at 1:07.16 and Smiley produced a time of 1:12.76. Sophomore Markesia Taylor (Chicago, IL/Sullivan) (Chicago, Ill.) also recorded a PR time in the 800-meter run after producing a time of 2:47.05.
CSU's 4x400-meter relay team consisting of Smiley, Taylor, and sophomores Lanesha Sutton (Lansing, IL/Thornwood) (Lansing, Ill.) and Trijaye McDowell (Chicago, Ill.) placed ninth. Freshman Essence Wisdom (Joliet, IL/Joliet West) (Joliet, Ill.) posted a personal-best mark in the shot put as her highest toss of the meet was 32.05.75.
The Cougars return to action on Saturday, April 3 at the EIU Big Blue Classic, held at O'Brien Field in Charleston, Ill.
