The Hoosiers will part ways this week when they split up to take on both the 2018 Florida Relays and the Stanford Invitational.
A majority of the team will be competing in Gainesville, Florida, but the Hoosiers will be without both their distance runners and throwers.
Distance runners, including senior Brenna Calder and juniors Maggie Allen and Katherine Receveur will head to Stanford to take on the 5000 meter race, while the throwers will take this week off from competing.
Moreover, at the Florida Relays, IU Coach Ron Helmer will be switching things up from the indoor season to accommodate the events this weekend.
The Hoosiers will participate in up to six relays this weekend, including the 4x100, the 4x200, the 4x400, the 4x800, the 1600-meter sprint medley and the distance medley relay.
Most notably, the mid- to long-distance runners will be competing in the 4x400 meter race, as well as the 3000 meter steeplechase.
In the 4x400 meter race, IU has entered an A team and a B team. The A team will feature juniors Riley Egbula and Jeyland Valentin, as well as freshman Natalie Price and senior Kendell Wiles. The B team will feature sophomores Megan Grabowski and Mallory Mulzer, as well as freshman Zykeria Williams and junior Kelsey Harris.
Competing in the 3000 meter steeplechase will be freshmen Lexa Barrott and Hannah Stoffel, as well as junior Haley Harris. Harris last competed in the event at the NCAA Division I East Preliminary in 2017, whereas Stoffel and Barrott will be facing their first collegiate race in this event.
IU Coach Ron Helmer commented on the toughest task this week.
“I think the biggest challenge will be getting back into the mindset of racing multiple times,” Helmer said. “Most of the people that we are taking are going to run twice, maybe three times, even four.”
He said that the athletes need to remember that it’s no longer time to be as selective about races, as they are at the end of the indoor season, and it’s time to go back out there and work.
Alexis Oser
