On Saturday, the ISU high jumpers were the best in the building.

Gina Curtis-Rickert won the women’s high jump, and Gil Ridenour took the men’s competition, leading the ISU track team in the Illini Classic indoor track meet.

Though there were no other individual winners for the Cyclones, several other athletes turned in strong performances. Competing schools included Kansas, Wisconsin, Southern Illinois and Illinois, the host school.

Curtis-Rickert’s winning jump was 6-0 3/4, 4 inches higher than the second place jumper.

“She had a great meet,” women’s head coach Dick Lee said. “She was jumping for a facility record. I think she tied it.”

Fellow Cyclone Jo Legg placed sixth in the high jump, clearing 4-11. Former ISU standout Barbara Szlendakova, competing unattached, took third with 5-5.

In the mile, Jessica Huff and Cara Van Eck placed second and third, with respective times of 4:57.51 and 4:59.88. At the Panther Classic meet one week earlier, neither of them ran under five minutes.

Freshman Sarah Klein was the runner-up in the 600 meter run, finishing in 1:33.71. “1:33 is a very good time for a freshman, especially someone who was running mostly 400s in high school,” Lee said.

Iowa State’s women also placed in the 60 meter hurdles.

“Ardith Johnson ran very well there. Rebecca Williams had the fastest time in the preliminaries, but just caught a hurdle in the finals,” Lee said.

Johnson’s time was 8.94. Williams ran 8.77 in the preliminaries.

Christina Peterson, Klein, Stephanie Suntken and Williams teamed to place second in the 4×400, the only relay of the meet. Their time was 3:48.69.

Men’s coach Steve Lynn was particularly pleased with Ridenour’s win in the high jump.

“I was really happy for Gil,” he said. “That’s his first win in a big college meet. He’s trying to become the 13th [Cyclone] to clear 7 feet.”

Ridenour’s winning jump was 6-9 3/4.

Lynn recently decided not to redshirt freshmen Dan Taylor, Kristjan Hunter and Eric Dasso. Saturday marked their first meet since this decision.

“They can help us, and they need the experience,” Lynn explained.

Taylor made the most of his opportunity. His mile time of 4:13.45, good for third, was around five seconds faster than his previous best.

“That’s obviously considerably faster,” Lynn said. “It’s hard to run as fast indoors.”

Though he started the season as a redshirt, Taylor is glad to be running.

“The season doesn’t really get in full swing until about now. I haven’t missed too much,” he said.

Taylor usually runs longer races. “I probably won’t run [the mile] indoors again. Hopefully I’ll run it at least once outdoors,” he said.

The men’s team also has several members dealing with injuries. Stellar long-jumper Daniel Kaczmarczyk will redshirt the indoor season. Abraham Rotich and Ryan Wilson returned from injuries to compete on Saturday.

Rotich, who has been battling stress fractures, placed eighth in the 800 with a time of 1:56.04.

“He’s very talented,” Lynn said. “We need to get him on the track.”

Wilson placed sixth in the pole vault by clearing 15-7.

Iowa State had two top-six finishes in the 400. Tom Ries placed fourth in 50.51. Ryan Boyington was nearly even with him, taking sixth in 50.54.

The Cyclone track teams are preparing for the Iowa State Classic meet, which will be held at the Lied Recreation Center on Friday and Saturday.