Millikin University was the host for the 2016 Big Blue Invite Track Meet on April 9 in Decatur, Ill. The event featured athletes from 10 competing schools. The men's competition had a special guest attraction with 2006 Millikin graduate and 2012 Olympian Lance Brooks competing in the discus.
Brooks' appearance was part of Millikin's Alumni Track and Field Day on April 9, put together by new Millikin Head Track and Field Coach Andrew Craycraft.
In 2012, Brooks won the U.S. Olympic Trials and competed as a member of the U.S. Olympic Team at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. After suffering a serious injury in 2015, Brooks is back training in hopes of competing at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Brooks won the Discus on April 9 throwing 61.81 meters (202-9).
"That was the best opening meet of my life," Brooks said. "I was happy with how the day turned out. I think this year's going to be good. I'm excited."
More than 20 former Big Blue athletes made the trip as part of Millikin's Alumni Track and Field Day.
"One of the big things I wanted to do when I first started the job was to reconnect with our track and field alumni because they are incredible people in our history," said Craycraft.
Brooks was inducted into the Millikin Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012. A standout on the Big Blue track and field team, Brooks was named most valuable thrower in 2005 and 2006. He set the Millikin record for discus in May 2006 with a throw of 57.85 meters, breaking his own record. In 2006, he was named an outdoor track and field NCAA Division III All-American, placing fourth in the nation in discus that year.
Brooks was the discus champion for the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) in both 2005 and 2006. He also received All-CCIW honors at the conference meet all four years, placing first in 2005 and 2006, second in 2004 and fifth in 2003.
During the meet on April 9, Millikin's Jamie Michl won the 800 Meters at 2:17.99. The Big Blue's Sarah Bradley was second in the 5000 Meters at 17:52.48, and Millikin freshman Erin Owens was third in the 100 Meters at 12.54 seconds, which was fourth fastest in school history.
Owens finished in fourth place in the 200 Meters at 26.39. Her time was the seventh fastest all-time for the Big Blue.
The Millikin men recorded three fourth place finishes in individual events. R.J. O'Connor was fourth in the 200 meters at 22.98, Jordan McCall was fourth in the 400 Meters at 50.85 and Jesse Blair was fourth in the Javelin at 46.65 (153-1).
Click here to read more about Lance Brooks' return to Millikin in an article from the Herald & Review.