CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Redshirt senior Ryan Rutherford and freshman Amanda McClain posted Illinois State's first title events of the 2016 Missouri Valley Conference Championships. Rutherford captured his first ever Valley title in the men's 5,000-meter run, while McClain leaped her way to victory in the women's long jump.
Rutherford posted a tremendous race as he picked his way through the bunch from starting off near the back. Rutherford was battling through the final laps with Drake's Reed Fischer and Brady Johnson from Wichita State. Fischer was in the lead for the majority of the race, until Rutherford took over the lead with five laps reminding.