Bayer sets another world-leading time, Hubers clocks 2nd in 5K

The IU track and field squad finished the Indiana Relays winning 12 events and surpassing a trio of NCAA automatic qualifying marks.

From the start of the two-day meet, sophomore distance runner Andy Bayer set the pace for the Hoosiers as he clocked a world-leading time for the second straight week.

Bayer now has the fastest mile this year at 3:57.75, as well the leading time in the 3,000-meters from a week ago that garnered him Big Ten Athlete of the Week honors.

Junior distance runner Ben Hubers narrowly captured first in the 5,000-meter race with a time of 13:44.93, a second faster than teammate Andrew Poore.

“I just feel second is not first, and I am not going to let up because he (Poore) is my teammate,” Hubers said. “He had me about 100-meters, and I just said to myself, ‘Go for it now.’ Then I guess I just had more gas in the tank, and it just was awesome that I got the win.”

Hubers time also was clocked in as the second fastest time in IU history in the 5,000-meters as well as the fastest in the world for the season.

The women’s squad was led by junior Chelsea Blanchard and senior Sarah Pease, who both won their events. 

Blanchard, who earned Big Ten Athlete of the Week honors a week ago, followed up her performance by winning the mile at 4:41.18, the fifth-best in IU history and 11th in the world.

Senior Sarah Pease won the 5,000-meter race with a time of 16:38.10, which is second fastest in the world this season.

“It was nice to run second fastest, but I was hoping to run faster,” Pease said. “I really stuck with my race plan and wanted to come straight out of the gates with a fast pace.”

IU coach Ron Helmer said he believes the squad met all the expectations of what they wanted to do, but he saw some surprises in the meet that performed at a higher level.

“We did what we needed to do and we did what we thought we can do,” he said. “We improved our performances, although it doesn’t mean we’re going to the Nationals just yet, but it shows we have potential to do greater things and more individuals are starting to really step up.”