Illinois State senior Macee Rivers qualified for the NCAA Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, after setting a school-record time of 13.02 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles at the NCAA West Preliminary Round on May 30.
The performance marked Rivers’ first national championship berth and established her place in Illinois State track and field history. “It means a lot,” said Rivers. “I’m giving all the glory to God. None of this would be possible without Him. I’ve overcame so much this season, and to be able to say that I’ve qualified for my very first national meet is both a blessing and an honor!”
Rivers secured her spot at nationals by finishing among the top three in her heat, posting the tenth-fastest time overall out of 24 competitors from the West region vying for a place at Eugene. Director of Track and Field Jeff Bovee said, “Macee had a clutch performance to earn the auto qualifier and shatter the school record out of the inside lane. Well deserved for Macee!”
Two other Illinois State athletes competed Saturday in Fayetteville: Mattison Plummer finished 36th in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 10:50.78, concluding her Redbird career after winning two conference championships during her senior season; Pauline Schedler ended her freshman year with a nineteenth-place finish in the 1500-meter run with a time of 4:17.93.
According to the official website, Illinois State Redbirds compete in NCAA Division I events across various regions, benefit from support funds like Redbird Athletics Excellence Fund, utilize specialized training centers such as OSF HealthCare Athletics Training Center, are linked to Illinois State University, offer news and resources for fans and athletes alike, and maintain strong performances across sports including men’s basketball.
Rivers will next compete against top hurdlers nationally at the NCAA Championships scheduled from June 10-13. The list of qualifiers from each event will be announced by Sunday evening on May 31; final participants are expected to be confirmed by Tuesday afternoon on June 2.
